Kabuki actor Onoe Matsusuke dies at 59
December 26, 2005Kabuki actor Onoe Matsusuke died of cancer on Monday at a Tokyo hospital, his family said Tuesday. He was 59. The actor, whose real name was Shinichi Inoue, also performed as the main actor in the television drama "Akado Suzunosuke" in his childho...
Gov't to offer tax breaks for victims of building scandal
December 26, 2005In an unusual move necessitated by a scandal involving structurally defective buildings, the National Tax Agency has decided to offer income tax breaks to residents of affected condominiums, officials said Monday. A total of 85 buildings in 17 pre...
Greenpeace, Japanese whaler play cat and mouse in South Pacific
December 26, 2005A Japanese whaling fleet suspended its work for the second day Monday in stormy conditions as environmental group Greenpeace defended its tactics in disrupting the controversial hunt. The whalers and two Greenpeace ships have been playing cat and...
Lawyers warn ministry over violating Kurds' human rights
December 26, 2005The Japan Federation of Bar Associations warned the Justice Ministry on Monday that Japanese immigration authorities violated the human rights of some Kurdish asylum seekers in Japan by seeking cooperation from the Turkish government in checking thei...
Researchers repair 2nd century Palmyra tomb in Syria
December 26, 2005A team of Japanese researchers said Monday they have repaired a 2nd century underground tomb at Palmyra in Syria. The researchers, headed by Takayasu Higuchi, director of the Archeological Institute of Kashihara, Nara Prefecture, have been excavat...
Chinese fishing boat mislabels Atlantic tuna as Pacific
December 26, 2005A Chinese fishing boat exported 148 tons of big-eye tuna caught in the Atlantic to Japan in November labeling them as coming from the Pacific, escaping tighter regulations for Atlantic products, Fisheries Agency sources said Monday. Japan has urge...
Abductees' families dubious over Japan-N Korea talks
December 26, 2005The families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea expressed doubt Sunday that the agreement between Japan and North Korea on a new format for bilateral negotiations on various topics will lead to a resolution of the abduction issue. "Ther...