Japan News for July 25, 2007
Japan-related news links for today:
Costly Quake: Last week’s deadly earthquake has caused an estimated 1.5 trillion yen in damage to Niigata Prefecture, nearly half of it stemming from the shutdown of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant. [Link]
Long Shutdown: The revelations of the extent of the damage to the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant have made it impossible for Tokyo Electric Power Co. to draw up a specific schedule for the resumption of operations at the plant. [Link]
DPJ Lead: Opposition Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) has stretched its lead over the ruling Liberal Democratic Party with a week to go before the Upper House election, according to an Asahi Shimbun survey. [Link]
Rainy Season Ending: Summer skies created by a high-pressure ridge signal the end of the annual rainy season in Shikoku, northern Kyushu and the Chugoku region. [Link]
Domestic Fighter: The Defense Ministry will include in its fiscal 2008 budgetary request funds to develop a manned prototype fifth-generation fighter jet equipped with stealth capabilities and other advanced technologies, sources said Monday. [Link]
More Checks: Japan will set up an independent panel to investigate radiation leaks, burst pipes, flooding and other problems that plagued a nuclear plant after an earthquake earlier this month. [Link]
Not A Quitter: Japan’s beleaguered Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will not resign no matter how badly his coalition fares in Sunday’s elections, a top aide vowed Tuesday. [Link]
Yakuza Trouble: The LA Times has an article profiling Tetsuya Shiroo, the struggling yakuza who murdered the mayor of Nagasaki earlier this year. [Link]
Magic Injury: Magician Hikita “Princess” Tenko suffered serious injuries on Sunday when her “Spikes of Death” trick went horribly wrong. [Link]
A-Bomb Day: Representatives from a record 42 countries are expected to take part in the Aug. 6 ceremony in Hiroshima to commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing, and North Korea has been invited to attend as well, the city said Monday. [Link]
Sumo Promotion: Sekiwake Kotomitsuki had a hangover from a bittersweet Sunday but said he is happy with the way he wrestled throughout the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, where he secured promotion to the second-highest rank of ozeki. [Link]
Science Prize: Two of five Japanese participants won gold medals Sunday at the International Physics Olympiad held in Iran, marking the first time Japanese participants have won gold in the physics knowledge competition for precollege contestants. [Link]
Rich Netizens: The higher the income, the more frequent utilization of the internet among the Japanese people, according to the Information and Communications White Paper for 2007 announced by the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry on July 3, 2007. [Link]
Foreigner Charged: A Nepalese woman under detention for illegally staying in Japan was served a fresh arrest warrant on Tuesday for murdering her uncle and abandoning his body. [Link]
Skin Problems: Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Norihiko Akagi explained on Tuesday that the reason he had adhesive plasters on his face last week was because he was suffering from a skin ailment. [Link]
Please Don’t Die: A private organization once again set up signboards in a field near Mount Fuji on Tuesday in a bid to prevent people from committing suicide. [Link]
Stinky Hotels: Osaka hotels are installing air purifiers in rooms to remove the smell of cigarette smoke and other odors as many foreign guests are expected to visit the city for the World Athletics Championships in August. [Link]
Sekuhara Cop: An assistant police inspector who drunkenly harassed a woman on a train, telling her that she was sexy and had beautiful legs, was arrested Monday in Saitama Prefecture. [Link]
