JAL B747 jumbo in sky for 7 months with engines on wrong side
December 21, 2005Japan Airlines had been flying a Boeing jumbo jet for seven months without realizing the plane's left and right outer engines had been placed on the wrong sides during maintenance in Singapore in February, airline officials admitted Wednesday. Som...
Documentary on abductee Yokota selected for U.S. film festival
December 21, 2005A U.S. documentary that tells the story of Megumi Yokota, a Japanese girl abducted by North Korea, has been selected by Slamdance Film Festival for new independent films on Jan 19-27 in Park City, Utah, the documentary's co-directors said Tuesday. "A...
Gov't eyes volunteer program to keep kids safe after school
December 21, 2005In light of a spate of crimes and accidents involving young children during after school hours, the government plans to implement a pilot program of having retirees and experienced housewives volunteer to take care of children until their working par...
Urine test for SDF personnel to be introduced
December 21, 2005The Defense Agency has decided to regularly conduct urine tests of Self-Defense Forces personnel in the light of a series of illegal drug use cases involving Maritime Self-Defense Force members, its officials said Wednesday. While the SDF members...
Japan to provide $4.8 million for Palestinian refugee aid
December 21, 2005Japan has decided to contribute $4,826,000 to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees to help improve the lives of Palestinian refugees, the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday. The disbursement to the agency is part of $100...
Japan to open consulate in Bali
December 21, 2005The government will set up a consulate general in Denpasar, Indonesia, on Jan 1 and close two consulates general, in Anchorage, Alaska, and Porto Alegre, Brazil, government officials said Wednesday. More than 360,000 Japanese visitors travel to Ba...
S Korea asks Japan to improve rights of ethnic Koreans
December 21, 2005South Korea on Tuesday asked Japan to give ethnic Koreans living in the country the right to vote in local elections, Japanese officials said. South Korea also asked Japan to make humanitarian considerations to the case of ethnic Koreans in the Ut...
Emperor to get new limousines
December 21, 2005A request for replacements of the limousines used by Emperor Akihito and state guests, last updated between 1967 and 1972 — was approved in the Finance Ministry's drafting of Japan's fiscal 2006 budget Tuesday. Toyota Motor Corp's Century Roy...
Court says cab operators should protect drivers from passive smoking
December 21, 2005The Tokyo District Court said Tuesday that taxi companies have a duty to protect drivers from passive smoking, while dismissing 26 cab drivers' demands that the state pay 13.6 million yen in compensation for health damage caused by passive smoking in...