Strong quake shakes Tokyo area
February 1, 2006A magnitude 5.1 earthquake shook central Japan on Wednesday evening, but there was no danger of a tsunami, the Meteorological Agency said.
Japanese seismologist arrested for fraudulent sale to Norway university
February 1, 2006A leading Japanese seismologist was arrested for fraudulently selling scientific equipment to a Norwegian university, a report said Wednesday.
China cancels release of 'Memoirs of a Geisha'
February 1, 2006NEW YORK -- The Chinese government has canceled the release of "Memoirs of a Geisha" -- a decision made amid speculation that officials are worried the sight of Chinese actresses playing Japanese geisha would stir a backlash.
Kagoshima police withhold identity of assembly speaker's son over drug arrest
February 1, 2006KAGOSHIMA -- A man police said they had arrested for selling illegal drugs but refused to identify has turned out to be the second son of a local assembly speaker.
Deadly derailment prompts JR West to slow down rail services -- by 21 seconds
February 1, 2006A train operator in Japan, a country famous for its punctual rail service, said Wednesday it will add 21 seconds to its average rush hour journey after tight timetables and speeding were blamed for a derailment that killed 107 people last year.
Leniency petition for killer of 'nuisance sister' ignored
February 1, 2006NAGOYA -- A man who killed his drunken, foul-mouthed sister because he didn't want her to become a nuisance for her family and their neighbors was Wednesday jailed by the Nagoya District Court despite a strong plea for leniency from associates.
Skater Asada passes entrance exam for high school attached to Chukyo University
February 1, 2006Talented young ice skater Mao Asada passed the entrance examination for a high school attached to Chukyo University on Wednesday.
Top court quashes 78-year-old woman's appeal for murder case retrial
February 1, 2006The Supreme Court has quashed a special appeal made by convicted killer Ayako Haraguchi for a retrial of her case.
17 missing hikers return safely after night on snowy mountain
February 1, 2006YAMAKITA, Kanagawa -- A group of 17 hikers missing on a mountain here returned safely Wednesday morning, police said.
Bobsleigh athletes scrape their way into Turin team
February 1, 2006NAGANO -- Japanese Olympic bobsleigh athletes Suguru Kiyokawa and Chisato Nagaoka made it to a ceremony Wednesday for Nagano Prefecture competitors heading to Italy for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games, but only just.
Tailor busted for strangling wife after getting into an argument
February 1, 2006A Tokyo tailor has been arrested for strangling his wife to death at their home after getting into an argument, police said.
Ex-pachinko parlor manager arrested for theft after calling cops over row
February 1, 2006SAGAMIHARA, Kanagawa -- An ex-pachinko parlor manager wanted for stealing 300,000 yen from his former workplace was arrested after getting into a dispute with an employee at a parlor here, police said.
Toymaker to sell replica of Masked Rider superhero's belt
February 1, 2006Toy manufacturer Bandai Co.
15-year-old boy killed in hit-and-run accident in Shizuoka
February 1, 2006MISHIMA, Shizuoka -- A high school boy has been killed in an apparent hit-and-run accident here, police said Wednesday.
Hokkaido looks to outlaw purchase of used underwear from teenage girls
February 1, 2006SAPPORO -- The Hokkaido Prefectural Government is considering outlawing the purchase of used underwear from teenage girls, local government officials said.
Livedoor, Horie kept billions of yen from shady share deals in accounts overseas
February 1, 2006Scandal-tainted Livedoor Co.
Tokyo's 14-year run as world's priciest city ends, Oslo takes over
February 1, 2006LONDON -- Oslo has overtaken Tokyo as the world's most expensive city, according to a survey published Tuesday.