North Korean, Japanese envoys tackle abduction issue during Beijing talks
February 5, 2006BEIJING -- North Korea and Japan on Monday focused on diplomatic ties despite making little progress in high-level talks on Tokyo's key condition for opening the ties: a complete account of Pyongyang's past abductions of Japanese citizens.
South African Thys wins Beppu-Oita Mainichi marathon
February 5, 2006BEPPU, Oita -- South African Gert Thys won his second Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon on Sunday, a decade after his first, record-breaking victory in the event.
Japan seeks more cooperation with NATO, but rules out membership
February 5, 2006MUNICH, Germany -- Japan would like to build closer cooperation with NATO as the Western defense pact takes on more missions in Asia, a senior Japanese official said Saturday, but he added that Japan was not seeking NATO membership.
Nakagawa hints at on-sight checks before resuming U.S. beef imports
February 5, 2006Agricultural Minister Shoichi Nakagawa said Sunday that Tokyo may dispatch officials to inspect U.S.
Empress Michiko cancels out-of-town trip after feeling dizzy
February 5, 2006Empress Michiko will cancel an out-of-town trip next week because of occasional dizziness, the Imperial Household Agency said Sunday.
Japan to pull out its troops from Iraq in several months
February 5, 2006Japan will pull its troops out of southern Iraq within the next several months, a media report said, quoting a senior government official.
Japan offers condolences to victims of Egyptian ferry disaster
February 5, 2006Japan offered condolences to the families of victims of an Egyptian ferry disaster in which more than 1,000 people are feared to have died.
'Winter Sonata' image attracts visitors to icy park in Mie
February 5, 2006KOMONO, Mie -- A park on the peak of Mie Prefecture's Mount Gozaisho is attracting visitors with white ice-covered trees and snowy slopes that resemble scenes from the popular South Korean drama "Winter Sonata."
Local chefs create sweets made with spinach
February 5, 2006TONO, Iwate -- Four confectionery chefs have developed five types of sweets made with spinach.
New Pill guidelines to improve quality of life for Japanese women
February 5, 2006"After taking the Pill for years when I was living in Britain, I was shocked when I got back to Japan.
Japanese, North Korean envoys tackle abduction issue during Beijing talks
February 5, 2006BEIJING -- North Korea and Japan on Sunday began discussing the sensitive issue of the abductions of Japanese nationals in their first high-level contact in three years on opening diplomatic relations.
Civil engineering firm employees register river bank as their addresses
February 5, 2006Over 10 workers and executives of a civil engineering company have officially registered makeshift houses that were illegally built on the state-owned riverbank in Ota-ku, Tokyo, as their addresses.
Under international pressure, Japan opening door to asylum seekers, but just a crack
February 5, 2006Last year, Japan's contribution to the United Nations refugee agency was second only to the United States.
Former U.S. sub commander says deadly 2001 crash into Japanese school boat haunts him
February 5, 2006BISMARCK, North Dakota -- The commander of a submarine that plowed into a Japanese fishing boat filled with schoolchildren five years ago, killing nine people on it, says the incident still haunts him and he wants to share the lessons he learned.
Japanese student missing in U.S.
February 5, 2006MADISON, Wisconsin -- Volunteers were distributing posters Saturday to help find a Japanese student who was last seen a week ago leaving his apartment building.