Emperor celebrates 72nd birthday
December 22, 2005Emperor Akihito, on the occasion of his 72nd birthday Friday, showed a favorable view of the roles of the female members of the imperial family, though declining to comment in relation to a government panel report on imperial succession which propose...
Japanese whaling vessel in Australia
December 22, 2005The Australian government ruled out Thursday any suggestion a Japanese whaling vessel will be prevented from leaving port once it docks in Tasmania this weekend due to a medical emergency onboard. With a crew member suffering from appendicitis, th...
Soga, Jenkins talk to Thai abductee's kin
December 22, 2005Repatriated Japanese abductee Hitomi Soga and her American husband Charles Jenkins told family members of a Thai woman, who is also believed to have been abducted to North Korea, about what the couple know about the Thai woman on Thursday, according...
Snow knocks out power to 1.34 mil households in Niigata, Kinki
December 22, 2005Heavy snowfall hit Sea of Japan coastal areas Thursday, causing power failures at 697,200 households in the Kinki region and at 650,000 in Niigata Prefecture as well as paralyzing railway transportation. Power was cut in Osaka, Kyoto, Shiga and Na...
Snow shuts down runway at Nagoya's Central Japan airport
December 22, 2005Central Japan International Airport, serving the Nagoya metropolitan region, decided Thursday to keep its runway closed until 4 p.m. due to snow. The airport initially shut down its runway for around two hours from 7 a.m. because of freezing cause...
Japan's population starts declining in 2005 for 1st time
December 22, 2005Japan's population has started shrinking for the first time this year, government data showed Thursday, presenting the government with pressing challenges on the social and economic front including ensuring provision of social security services and s...