Aso claims Japanese official's suicide sparked by Chinese spies' sex blackmail
February 18, 2006A Japanese consular official who committed suicide in Shanghai was blackmailed by Chinese intelligence agents who set him up with a woman in an attempt to obtain classified information, Japan's foreign minister said Saturday.
Japan defeats Finland 2-0 in Kirin Cup
February 18, 2006Mitsuo Ogasawara set the stage for Tatsuhiko Kubo to score Japan's first goal and then sealed the game in the second half Saturday as Japan defeated Finland 2-0 in the Kirin Cup soccer friendly.
Weather agency detects minor eruption at volcano on Miyake
February 18, 2006A volcano on Miyake Island had a minor eruption, the Meteorological Agency said Saturday, warning residents of volcanic gases and possible mudslides.
Gov't task force to tackle foreign trash in Japan
February 18, 2006The government is poised to set up a task force to deal with the massive amount of garbage from abroad that washes ashore along the Sea of Japan coast, official said.
Japanese rocket lifts off carrying multipurpose satellite
February 18, 2006A Japanese H-2A rocket lifted off from its launch pad Saturday carrying a 4.6-ton weather and navigation satellite, officials said.
Anime characters and 'cosplay' models liven up Amusement Expo
February 18, 2006CHIBA -- Models wearing a variety of costumes explained a range of new arcade games featuring popular animation characters such as Gundam during a major video game exposition held here on Friday and Saturday.
Financial advisor admits to strangling elderly woman after swindling 30 mil. yen
February 18, 2006SAITAMA -- A man working for an insurance-related company was arrested for illegally abandoning the body of a woman in a forest here, police said on Saturday.
Driver stabs high school boy in road rage fit
February 18, 2006ONGA, Fukuoka -- A man who stabbed a high school boy after they argued about a near collision has been arrested for attempted murder, police said.
DPJ flaunts alleged Horie e-mail ordering 30 mil. yen payment to politician's son
February 18, 2006The opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has released a copy of an e-mail in which the party claims Livedoor Co.
Cyclist stages crash with car, steals vehicle containing 2 mil. yen
February 18, 2006NAGOYA -- A cyclist picked a quarrel with a man in a car Friday afternoon by falsely accusing the driver him of hitting the bicycle, then stole the car and 2 million yen in cash that was inside the vehicle, police said.
Computer glitch forces airports across Japan to delay departures
February 18, 2006A glitch in a computer system that provides airlines' flight plans to airports across the country forced 37 departing flights to be delayed at some airports on Friday afternoon, Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry officials said.
Child killer had history of mental instability, insomnia
February 18, 2006NAGAHAMA, Shiga -- A woman, under arrest for fatally stabbing two children she was driving to kindergarten with her own daughter, had a history of mental instability and had difficulty sleeping the night before the crime, police said.
Woman stabs son, self in failed murder-suicide bid
February 18, 2006TOKUSHIMA -- A woman and her teenage son suffered serious injuries Saturday afternoon in an apparent murder-suicide bid, police said.
Doctor accused of negligence after woman dies from botched C-section
February 18, 2006FUKUSHIMA -- A doctor at a hospital here was arrested after a woman giving birth bled to death due to an error the surgeon made while performing a Caesarean section, police said on Saturday.
Ringleader nabbed for blackmailing top city officials out of 27 million yen
February 18, 2006KYOTO -- A man from Fukuoka Prefecture who was part of a criminal ring that blackmailed high-ranking local government officials into buying videos has been arrested, police said.