Princess Kiko pregnant
February 7, 2006Princess Kiko, wife of Prince Akishino, is pregnant, a development that may influence debate on a bill that would allow female members of the Imperial Family to ascend to the throne, it was learned Tuesday.
Aso says Taiwan quote was taken out of context
February 7, 2006Foreign Minister Taro Aso Tuesday defended his assertion that Japanese colonial rule benefited Taiwan, saying his comments were taken out of context.
Man who set up fake Yahoo auction site nabbed for phishing fraud
February 7, 2006A man who set up a fake Yahoo auction site, which he used to steal customers' online identification and passwords and commit fraud using the information, has been arrested in Japan's first case of phishing fraud, police said.
More men want Valentine's Day gift from skater Miki Ando than any other Olympian
February 7, 2006Figure skater Miki Ando has topped the list of athletes in Japan's Turin Winter Olympic team that men most want to receive a Valentine's Day gift from.
Japan demands return of Russian-held islands
February 7, 2006Foreign Minister Taro Aso on Tuesday renewed a Japanese demand that Russia return a group of islands seized near the end of World War II, saying the prolonged dispute hurts relations between the two countries.
Cash-strapped local gov't plans to cut wages of officials whose spouses also work
February 7, 2006HITA, Oita -- The municipal government here plans to cut the wages of employees whose spouses also work by 20 percent over a two-year period beginning in April this year, officials said.
Convicted ex-prosecutor claims in appeal that he was framed
February 7, 2006OSAKA -- A convicted former Osaka prosecutor who claims he was arrested and charged to prevent him from disclosing a misappropriation scandal, asked for the charges against him to be dropped as his appeal opened in the Osaka High Court on Tuesday.
12 injured after slipping in snow in Tokyo
February 7, 2006Snow that began falling across the Kanto and Koshin regions of Japan on Monday night peaked in the predawn hours of Tuesday, disrupting morning railway services and creating slippery roads that resulted in several injuries.
4 face arrest over fatal arson attack on Kobe telephone-dating club
February 7, 2006KOBE -- Police have obtained arrest warrants for four people, including a man linked to a gang, over a fatal arson attack at a telephone-dating club here in March 2000, investigators said.
Tokyo police apologize to man they mistakenly arrested for crime he never committed
February 7, 2006Red-faced Tokyo police officers have apologized for mistakenly arresting a man in his 20s late last month for a crime he never committed, officials said Tuesday.
Horie suspected of insider trading
February 7, 2006Scandal-tainted Livedoor Co.
Foreign Minister Aso denies labeling Taiwan a 'country'
February 7, 2006Foreign Minister Taro Aso has defended comments in which he used the word "country" to refer to Taiwan during a speech by saying he never said Taiwan actually was a country.
2 men busted for tattooing teenage girls
February 7, 2006ICHINOMIYA, Aichi -- Two tattoo artists have been arrested here for tattooing underage teenage girls in separate incidents, police said.
Woman faces charges for lying over whereabouts of missing elementary school boy
February 7, 2006OKAYA, Nagano -- A woman who faces charges for lying to police that she spotted a missing elementary school boy has told investigators that she was lonely and wanted to attract attention from the public, local police said.
Kaori Manabe takes part in 'Jarhead' preview at Waseda University
February 7, 2006Celebrity Kaori Manabe appeared at "seminar" at prestigious Waseda University on Monday to mark a preview screening of the Gulf War film "Jarhead."