Radish resembling woman nicknamed 'Monroe'
February 11, 2006SUSAMI, Wakayama -- A Japanese radish that looks like a human figure is gathering attention in the Wakayama town of Susami.
Harada disqualified from normal hill ski jumping
February 11, 2006PRAGELATO, Italy -- Japanese ski jumper Masahiko Harada was disqualified Saturday from the normal hill competition for having skis that were too long for his weight.
Meter-high ice sculpture dumped at public gymnasium
February 11, 2006TATSUNO, Nagano -- An ice statue of an eagle has been found left at the entrance to a public gymnasium here.
Tuna fisherman in Wakayama hook into lucrative shark fin market
February 11, 2006NACHIKATSUURA, Wakayama -- Shark fins caught by local tuna fisherman are being shipped to local fish markets where they are considered a delicacy in Chinese foods.
Booze bravery can lead to a limp show
February 11, 2006"Before having sex, I'm always so worried that I won't be able to get it up that I have a drink to steady my nerves.
Unemployed man busted for stalking female legislator
February 11, 2006A jobless man who inundated legislator Sanae Takaichi with more than 100 messages asking her to date him has been arrested for violating the anti-stalking law, Tokyo police said.
Couple wins 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th prize in New Year's lottery
February 11, 2006USUKI, Oita -- A couple here won prizes in all four levels of the 2006 New Year's greeting card lottery, it has been revealed.
Body found on back seat of burning car in Yamagata car park
February 11, 2006YONEZAWA, Yamagata - The body of an adult was recovered from the back seat of car that was found burning in a parking lot here early Saturday morning, police said.
Horie faces fresh arrest warrant for window-dressing
February 11, 2006Scandal-hit Livedoor Co.
Special spaghetti sauce aims to help Turin athletes taste gold
February 11, 2006OBIHIRO, Hokkaido -- An Italian restaurant here has started selling spaghetti topped with a sauce containing pure gold flakes as a show of support for athletes competing at the Turin Winter Olympics.
Bullet train services suspended to remove snow from tracks
February 11, 2006AKITA -- Services on the Akita Shinkansen Line remained suspended on Saturday to remove snow from its tracks following an accident in which a bullet train ran onto thick snow and came to a halt Friday, the operator of the line said.
Police to conduct autopsy on body of a strangled woman found on riverbank
February 11, 2006ASAKA, Saitama -- Police are set to conduct an autopsy Sunday to identify a woman found dead on a riverbank here, local police said Saturday.
2 elderly people die in Osaka apartment fire
February 11, 2006KADOMA, Osaka -- Two elderly people died and three others were sickened in a fire that burned down an apartment complex here early Saturday morning, police said.
Starlets plug film adapted from book finished after author's death
February 11, 2006Actresses Maki Horikita and Aiko Sato marked the opening Saturday of their new movie "Haru no Ibasho" by greeting fans at a Tokyo movie theater.
8 climbers hit by avalanche, 3 airlifted to hospital
February 11, 2006CHINO, Nagano -- Eight climbers who were hit by an avalanche on a Nagano Prefecture mountain Saturday morning have been rescued, and three of them airlifted to hospital, police said.
Couple crushed to death by excavator in tea plantation
February 11, 2006WAZUKA, Kyoto -- A couple have been crushed to death under an excavator they were operating at a farm here, police said.