Taliban, Karzai representatives meet at Kyoto conference
June 28, 2012
KYOTO--Although warring sides in the Afghan conflict stuck to their guns at an international conference here, their rare readiness to appear in public together could provide the spark that leads to dialogue and peace.
Lawmakers' group identifies Japan's most dangerous nuclear reactors
June 28, 2012
The No. 1 and No. 2 reactors at Fukui Prefecture's Oi nuclear power plant are the most dangerous in Japan, according to a cross-party group of lawmakers opposed to nuclear power.
ASAHI POLL: Only 15% of voters have expectations for Ozawa's new party
June 28, 2012
An overwhelming 78 percent of voters do not expect much from a new party that political heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa says he may form, as opposed to 15 percent who do, an Asahi Shimbun survey shows.
Miyagi fishermen release their haul back into the ocean
June 28, 2012
ISHINOMAKI, Miyagi Prefecture--After catching a decent number of sea bass in Sendai Bay, Hisayoshi Otomo went through the normal routine of weighing the fish at a pier--and then tossing them back alive into the ocean.
Local governments turn their backs on utilities
June 28, 2012
As key shareholders in electric power companies, local governments could not afford to ignore calls to move away from nuclear power.
Plaintiffs seek preservation of TEPCO teleconference videos
June 28, 2012
Plaintiffs will seek a court order to prevent Tokyo Electric Power Co. from erasing videos of teleconferences that could clear up lingering questions surrounding the response to the nuclear disaster in Fukushima Prefecture.
Website determines elevation with just a click of the mouse
June 28, 2012
Internet users can now find the elevation of anywhere in the nation with the mere click of a mouse, thanks to the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI).
China starts "combat ready" patrols in disputed seas
June 28, 2012
BEIJING--China has begun combat-ready patrols in the waters around a disputed group of islands in the South China Sea, the Defense Ministry said on June 28, the latest escalation in tensions over the potentially resource-rich area.
MARATHON/ Competitive late bloomer gets Olympic ticket at 30
June 28, 2012
For Yoshimi Ozaki, it's always "better late than never." Now, at age 30, Ozaki will be representing Japan in the women's marathon at this summer's London Olympics.
Honeymoon over for Hong Kong leader before it's begun as China's Hu visits
June 28, 2012
HONG KONG--Chinese President Hu Jintao oversees the swearing-in of Hong Kong's embattled leader on July 1, stepping beyond his comfort zone of staid one-party rule in Beijing into a former British colony used to scandal and raucous protest.
@Mali: 'Somalialization' of Mali has international impact
June 28, 2012
“Large amounts of weapons were being carried from Libya to the west," a resident of a town in central Niger told me. I heard the resident's account when I visited the West African country last autumn to interview people who had fled from Libya, which was in the midst of civil war.
Chinese paper slams U.S. candidates for playing "China card"
June 28, 2012
BEIJING--China's top newspaper slammed both U.S. presidential candidates on June 28 for playing the "China card" in their election campaigns, saying the real economic problems confronting the United States were being ignored in the process.
Nomura: Management to take responsibility for insider trading
June 28, 2012
Under a barrage of criticism from angry shareholders, the CEO of Nomura Holdings Inc. said executives will take some degree of responsibility for the insider trading scandals rocking the nation’s largest brokerage.
Unoura: NTT will not offer iPhones
June 28, 2012
Japan’s largest mobile phone operator has no plans to sell the iPhone or other Apple Inc. devices, according to the president of its parent company.
PHOTO: For the summer heat, frozen flowers go on the block
June 28, 2012
KYOTO--To provide a sense of cool during the summer months, a company here is creating blocks of ice that contain flowers.
'Cyborg 009' and other classic manga get reboot
June 28, 2012
A nostalgic mood seems to have taken hold of the manga world recently, with a slew of revivals of long-dead series getting prominent billing in Japan’s top manga magazines.
Bank of China opens 1st branch in Taiwan
June 28, 2012
TAIPEI--The state-owned Bank of China opened a Taipei branch on June 27, the first by a Chinese bank in Taiwan.
