Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion

Kan trades barbs with Ozawa over money-politics problems

Politics › 05:44 PM JST - 2nd September

TOKYO — Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Thursday engaged in heated debate with his sole opponent in the upcoming Democratic Party of…

6 arrested over illegal receipt of crime proceeds wired from U.S.

Crime › 12:12 PM JST - 2nd September

TOKYO — Six people have been arrested in a suspected money laundering case involving illegally receiving a total of about 570 million…

Headline News

Kobe eyes tattoo ban at Suma beach after marijuana case (125)
Woman suspected of keeping father's body in closet for over 5 years (48)
Ken Watanabe to appear in Docomo ad with Darth Vader (26)
Japan, Caribbean nations agree to cooperate on climate, Haiti (2)
Tokyo stocks extend gains on upbeat U.S. data
Walkman sales surpass iPod sales in Japan in August (41)
NHK to resume live coverage of sumo (6)
China calls for compromise on N Korea talks (2)
What do you think the yen-dollar exchange rate should be in order to benefit the Japanese economy? (30)

Kobe eyes tattoo ban at Suma beach after marijuana case

National › 07:10 AM JST - 2nd September

KOBE — The Kobe municipal government is considering banning people with tattoos from a beach in Suma Ward following the…

Woman suspected of keeping father's body in closet for over 5 years

Crime › 08:35 AM JST - 2nd September

OSAKA — A 58-year-old woman is suspected of keeping her father's body inside a closet in their house in Izumi,…

Ken Watanabe to appear in Docomo ad with Darth Vader

Entertainment › 03:15 AM JST - 2nd September

TOKYO — Actor Ken Watanabe, 50, is the star of a new ad campaign by NTT Docomo featuring "Star Wars"…

Japan, Caribbean nations agree to cooperate on climate, Haiti

Politics › 04:56 PM JST - 2nd September

TOKYO — Japan and 13 Caribbean nations agreed in Tokyo on Thursday to cooperate with each other in curbing global…

Tokyo stocks extend gains on upbeat U.S. data

Business › 03:15 PM JST - 2nd September

TOKYO — Tokyo stocks advanced Thursday, building on the previous day's gains, as stronger-than-expected U.S. manufacturing data helped ease economic…

Walkman sales surpass iPod sales in Japan in August

Technology › 06:47 AM JST - 2nd September

TOKYO — Sales in Japan of Sony Corp's Walkman portable digital music players topped those of Apple Inc's iPod in…

NHK to resume live coverage of sumo

Sports › 05:57 PM JST - 2nd September

TOKYO — Public broadcaster NHK said Thursday it will resume live coverage of sumo when the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament…

China calls for compromise on N Korea talks

World › 07:10 PM JST - 2nd September

BEIJING — China called Thursday for a compromise among the parties to talks aimed at disarming North Korea's nuclear program…

BSE and foot-and-mouth disease give beef producers plenty to chew on

Lifestyle

TOKYO — “Any of us would kill a cow, rather than not have beef.” While it’s unlikely that too many…

Beetle Bailey nears retirement age, but stays put

Entertainment / Arts

STAMFORD, Connecticut — Beetle Bailey is slouching toward retirement age, but the lazy Army private won't be getting rest anytime soon…

We youngsters lack passion and ambition? Hardly

Commentary

I was watching NHK recently and a show came on in which young adults were having a heated…

Where, oh where has my little car gone?

Kuchikomi / Shukan Post

Five years ago, Sagamihara City resident Atsuko Kuwata's Toyota Land cruiser was stolen. In May of this year,…

The ultimate serviced office

Executive Impact

TOKYO — For many companies looking to set up shop in Japan, it is usually not worth the investment early…

Electronic treadmill

New Products

TOKYO — Manufacturer Alinco will release an electronic walking treadmill -- the Electric Walker 3010 -- that comes with voice…

Blair memoir excites booksellers, riles critics

Book Reviews

LONDON — It's a political memoir with celebrity trappings -- secrecy, security, a multimillion-dollar deal and, crucially, controversy. Tony Blair's…