Japan's economy posts healthy growth in latest quarter, signaling recovery underway
February 17, 2006Japan's economy grew at a stunning 5.5 percent annual pace in the fourth quarter, the government said Friday, indicating a convincing recovery is underway.
3 men busted for placing small spy camera in ATM booth
February 17, 2006Three men were arrested for installing a spy camera at a UFJ Bank automatic teller machine (ATM) booth in an attempt to learn customers' banking information, police said on Friday.
Woman stabs two children to death while driving them to kindergarten
February 17, 2006NAGAHAMA, Shiga -- A 34-year-old Chinese woman was arrested on Friday for stabbing to death two children while driving them to kindergarten, police said.
Girl left dangling on outside of train for 1 kilometer
February 17, 2006KITAMI, Hokkaido -- A high school girl was left dangling on the outside of a train for one kilometer as it sped along the tracks, railway officials said.
Horie denies ordering 30 million yen be given to son of LDP member
February 17, 2006Former Livedoor President Co.
Man handed 7-year prison term for trying to slash judges at court
February 17, 2006SAPPORO -- A jobless man was slapped Friday with a seven-year prison term for attempting to slash judges at a court here who were trying his lawsuit.
Takahashi falls to 8th place after unsettled free skating performance
February 17, 2006Japanese figure skater Daisuke Takahashi, who achieved fifth place in the men's short program at the Turin Olympics, performed awkwardly in the free skating on Thursday, falling to eighth place overall.
Man handed 8-year jail term for sex attacks on young girls
February 17, 2006SAPPORO -- A 28-year-old man accused of sex attacks on two young girls less than a year after his release from prison has been sentenced to eight years behind bars.
Japanese singer AI teams up with South Korean performer Rain for live performance
February 17, 2006Japanese singer AI, who has continued to gain popularity since her appearance in last year's NHK Red and White Singing Contest, put on a special live performance in Tokyo on Thursday, alongside popular South Korean performer Rain.
2 trading firms raided for exporting chemical weapon-related machine to N. Korea
February 17, 2006Two Tokyo trading companies were raided by police on Friday for illegally exporting to North Korea a machine that can be used to produce chemical weapons, law enforcers said.
Number of drug cases in 2005 rises for first time in five years
February 17, 2006The number of suspected drug users arrested or reported to prosecutors reached 13,346 in 2005, marking the first increase in five years, the National Police Agency (NPA) said.
4 Kyoto University students watch porno video at school library
February 17, 2006KYOTO -- Four male students at prestigious Kyoto University watched an adult video using a large television set at the institute's library, university officials have revealed.
Mom, foster dad arrested for pricking her daughter with needle for horses
February 17, 2006URAKAWA, Hokkaido -- A woman and her live-in boyfriend have been arrested for pricking her daughter with a syringe needle for horses under the pretext of discipline, police said.