Residents just outside Fukushima seek damages in nuclear crisis
May 21, 2013
Hundreds of residents and evacuees from just outside Fukushima Prefecture say they have been unfairly denied full compensation despite high radiation levels in their area caused by nuclear disaster in 2011.
Philippines protests China warship's presence
May 21, 2013
CAVITE, Philippines--The Philippines has protested the presence of a Chinese warship and other vessels off a Filipino military-occupied shoal in the disputed Spratly Islands.
SUMO/ Hakuho, Kisenosato extend unbeaten streak on Day 10
May 21, 2013
Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho and Japanese ozeki Kisenosato demolished their opponents to remain unbeaten on the 10th day of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on May 21.
China says its legal ivory trade not to blame for poaching
May 21, 2013
BEIJING--China's small traditional trade in carving uses ivory acquired through legal auctions and in no way encourages or worsens the problem of elephant poaching in Africa, a senior Chinese official said on May 21.
Myanmar Muslims jailed for killing Buddhist monk
May 21, 2013
MEIKHTILA, Myanmar--A court in Myanmar sentenced seven Muslims to terms ranging from life to two years in prison on May 21 for the killing of a Buddhist monk during sectarian violence that is posing a serious challenge to President Thein Sein's reformist government.
Fishermen net fish in Fukushima waters to measure radiation levels
May 21, 2013
A fishing vessel from Fukushima Prefecture caught fish in waters south of the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant on May 20 to test them for levels of radiation contamination, as local fishing cooperatives hope to soon resume fishing in the area.
Chinese nurses flourish in Japan as Indonesians, Filipinos struggle
May 21, 2013
KYOTO--Walking with slow, careful steps, Yao Hongwei helps one of her patients, an elderly man with brain disease, complete his walking exercises at Takeda General Hospital.
Hitachi to more than double female managers by 2020
May 21, 2013
Hitachi Ltd. announced May 20 it plans to more than double its number of female managers from the current 400 to 1,000 by fiscal 2020.
Roppongi exhibition connects with design in everyday life
May 21, 2013
What is design? If you have ever pondered that question, the “Design Ah!” Exhibition now showing at 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT facility in the Tokyo Midtown complex in Tokyo's Roppongi district might give you the answer.
Mega-solar power plant taking shape in tsunami-hit park
May 21, 2013
HIGASHI-MATSUSHIMA, Miyagi Prefecture--Workers have installed panels at a park here in what is expected to be the first mega-solar power plant in the disaster area of the Tohoku region.
PHOTO: Season of 'ukai' cormorant fishing starts in southern Japan
May 21, 2013
ASAKURA, Fukuoka Prefecture--The reflection of 3,000 fireworks colored the surface of the Chikugogawa river in the Harazuru hot springs area of Haki district here on May 20, commemorating the opening of the "ukai" traditional cormorant fishing season and heralding the start of summer.
Flood-prevention system eliminates need for electricity, human operators
May 21, 2013
OSAKA--Engineers say they have created a flood-prevention system that runs on the forces of nature, eliminating the risk to human operators and problems caused by power outages.
Hashimoto: S. Korean military used women for sex in Vietnam War
May 21, 2013
Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto’s mouth was flapping again on May 20 in defense of his views on “comfort women,” saying even the South Korean military was guilty of using women for sex during wartime.
North Korea releases detained Chinese fishing boat, owner says
May 21, 2013
BEIJING--North Korea released a Chinese fishing boat on May 21 after it was taken from waters between the two countries, the boat's owner said, in an incident that had proved a new irritant in ties between the often uneasy allies.
VOX POPULI: Government should keep politics out of pregnancies
May 21, 2013
Believe it or not, the following is the gist of a Cabinet-approved document: Marriage age should be lowered three years from the present age. Couples should have an average of five children. Employment of women should be restricted. Heavier taxes should be imposed on single people. Birth control and abortion should be banned.
Abe: North Korea must return all Japanese believed abducted
May 21, 2013
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe raised the bar with Pyongyang on May 20, saying all Japanese believed to have been abducted by North Korea must be repatriated to resolve the long-standing issue.
Kyodo axes former department chief for dodgy conduct with student
May 21, 2013
Kyodo News fired the former head of its personnel department for “inappropriate acts” against a female university student who was searching for a job, the news agency said May 20.
Move to publicize submarine locations proves ineffective
May 21, 2013
The unusual government decision to publicize the moves of foreign submarines near Japanese territorial waters is not serving as a deterrent as initially hoped for.
634-meter-tall Tokyo Skytree welcomes 6.34 millionth visitor ahead of first anniversary
May 21, 2013
Tourism figures at the world's tallest free-standing broadcasting structure have gone sky-high.
EDITORIAL: Hashimoto has only himself to blame
May 21, 2013
We are pretty sure that Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, co-head of the opposition Japan Restoration Party, understands that words are a powerful tool, especially for politicians. But his recent utterances would seem to belie that fact.
Obama vows U.S. support as Myanmar leader visits
May 21, 2013
WASHINGTON--President Barack Obama told Myanmar's president during a long-awaited White House visit that he appreciates the leader's efforts to lead the Asian country on its long, and sometimes difficult, path to democracy and assured him of U.S. support.
China trying to manage exposure of corruption online
May 21, 2013
BEIJING--China's Internet is brimming with disclosures of officials collecting bribes, homes and luxury accessories as casually as they do mistresses.
Obama to meet with China's Xi in California June 7-8
May 21, 2013
WASHINGTON--President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold their first meeting since Xi became president in March when they sit down for a June 7-8 summit in Rancho Mirage, California, the White House announced on May 20.
U.S. says Korea tensions relatively low, despite missile tests
May 21, 2013
WASHINGTON--The Pentagon on May 20 appeared to play down North Korea's six short-range missile launches over the past three days, describing tensions on the Korean peninsula as relatively low.
ANIME NEWS: 'Thermae Romae,' '20th Century Boys' and other Japanese comics nominated for Eisner Awards
May 21, 2013
Mari Yamazaki's "Thermae Romae," Naoki Urasawa's "20th Century Boys," Osamu Tezuka's "Barbara" and Shigeru Mizuki's "Nonnonba" find themselves in good company this year.
