And so they begin: Benvenuto! Welcome to the Winter Games
February 10, 2006TURIN, Italy -- This gritty city below the Alps gave a heartfelt "benvenuto" Friday night to the Winter Games, a fiery opening ceremony dedicated to passion and to igniting the competitive spirits of more than 2,500 of the world's best athletes.
Skater Kato leads Japan in as Turin Winter Olympics kick off in a blaze
February 10, 2006TURIN, Italy -- The 20th Winter Olympic Games Opening Ceremony has started here with Japan among the 80 countries taking part.
Skater Takahashi gets giant Valentine's Day chocolate from actress Aya Ueto
February 10, 2006Japanese figure skater Daisuke Takahashi has received a boost of support ahead of his performance in the Turin Winter Olympics, being handed a 5-kilogram chocolate heart from actress Aya Ueto as a Valentine's Day gift.
Over half of gangsters in Japan belong to Yamaguchi-gumi
February 10, 2006Over half of all gangsters in Japan belong to the Yamaguchi-gumi, the nation's largest crime syndicate, according to the National Police Agency (NPA).
2 Livedoor subsidiaries decide to break off ties with parent company
February 10, 2006Two Livedoor Co. subsidiaries -- Livedoor Auto Co. and Media EXchange, Inc.
Court scraps retrial over wartime suppression incident
February 10, 2006YOHOHAMA -- The Yokohama District Court on Thursday put an end to a retrial of five deceased people involved in the "Yokohama Incident," considered to be Japan's biggest case of wartime suppression of free speech.
Gov't likely to delay bill to allow females to ascend to Imperial throne
February 10, 2006The top government spokesman suggested Friday that the government will abandon submitting to the current Diet session a bill that would allow female members of the Imperial Family to ascend to the throne following revelations that Princess Kiko is pregnant.
Avalanche hits women bathing in open-air hot spring bath
February 10, 2006SENBOKU, Akita -- Two women were seriously injured and some others were slightly hurt when they were hit by an avalanche while bathing in an open-air hot spring bath here Friday morning, police said.
Police hunt for serial rapist, attacker in joint investigation
February 10, 2006Police have launched a search for a middle-aged criminal suspected of raping and assaulting over 20 women and young girls in a spate of attacks in Osaka, Hyogo and Nara prefectures since the summer of 2004.
Patient dies strapped to hospital bed
February 10, 2006KAIZU, Gifu -- A 31-year-old man being treated for schizophrenia was found dead at a hospital here after he was strapped to a bed to prevent him from becoming violent, police said.
Bullet train comes to halt after running into snow in Akita
February 10, 2006SENBOKU, Akita -- A bullet train came to a halt after running onto thick snow that covered the tracks of the Akita Shinkansen Line on Friday afternoon, the railway operator said.
Overseas media not optimistic about Japan's medal hopes at Turin
February 10, 2006TURIN -- Japan has set a goal of winning five medals at the Winter Olympics in Turin, but overseas publications are projecting a bleaker outlook for the nation, which won only one silver and one bronze medal in the last games.
Woman who fatally stabbed her 2 children ordered to spend 8 years behind bars
February 10, 2006TAKASAKI, Gunma -- A jobless woman who fatally stabbed her two children before unsuccessfully attempting to kill herself was ordered Friday to spend eight years behind bars.
4 busted for arson attacks on rival telephone-dating club
February 10, 2006KOBE -- A former telephone-dating club operator and three others have been arrested over fatal arson attacks on a rival telephone-dating club here, police said Friday.