Japan

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New Zealand to Japanese Whalers: Go Home!

'Deception' blasted as fleet sails for 'research'

(Newser) - As a Japanese whaling fleet churned to Antarctic waters, a furious New Zealand prime minister today blasted the "deception" of Japan's claim that the killing ships will conduct research rather than commercial whaling. It would be better "if the Japanese stayed home," said Helen Clark. The fleet...

Dolly Scientist Dumps Embryo Cloning Method

Switches to less controversial Japanese technique

(Newser) - The scientist who created the cloned sheep Dolly is now abandoning the technique he pioneered in favor of a rival method of cell modification developed in Japan. The Japanese approach, which genetically manipulates adult human cells, has proven less controversial than embryonic stem cell research. But scientist Ian Wilmut insists...

Bullying Cases Spike in Japan
Bullying Cases Spike in Japan
Nov 16, 2007 10:44 PM CST

Bullying Cases Spike in Japan

Six students commit suicide, 125K cases reported despite government plan

(Newser) - School bullying cases have spiked sixfold in Japan this year, according to a new survey that highlights a dark issue in Japanese education. Officials blame the 125,000 cases on a recent, broader definition of bullying and the addition of more schools to the tally—but admit to six student...

Bush, Japanese PM Boost Ties
Bush, Japanese PM Boost Ties
Nov 16, 2007 5:25 PM CST

Bush, Japanese PM Boost Ties

Leaders offer assurances on Afghanistan, North Korea

(Newser) - President Bush and new Japanese PM Yasuo Fukuda today vowed to reconcile hot-button issues concerning North Korea and Afghanistan that have strained relations, Reuters reports. In his first visit to the White House, Fukuda pledged to do his "utmost" to renew a refueling mission for coalition forces in Afghanistan,...

Bush's Japan Policy Lost in Translation

Expect discord as new PM arrives in US for weekend summit

(Newser) - As President Bush welcomes the third Japanese prime minister in 3 years to Washington today, a former Tokyo correspondent writes in the Los Angeles Times that current difficulties with arguably our most important ally stem from a fundamental Bush misunderstanding. W has confused Japan with the US's other "special...

Your Phone Could Tell You Where to Eat

Magitti knows where you are, reads your texts and sees your calendar

(Newser) - Looking for the perfect evening? Your phone could know you well enough to do the planning. Prototype software called Magitti scans its user’s text messages and calendars, monitors his position with GPS, and then recommends nearby activities. Over time, Technology Review reports, Magitti knows its customer more closely, and...

Japanese PM Pushes Restart of Afghan Duty

Bill passes one house, but showdown could still trigger an early election

(Newser) - The lower house of Japan's Diet approved a bill today that would resume the country's naval support for the war in Afghanistan. The legislation, pushed through just days before PM Yasuo Fukuda travels to Washington, will allow the Japanese self-defense force to refuel American ships on their way to the...

Asian Stocks Plunge on US Slowdown Worries

(Newser) - Renewed anxiety over the US sub-prime crisis and Friday's Wall Street slump ignited a stock dump in Asian markets today, hammering the Japanese Topix index to a two-year low and sending the dollar’s value against the yen to its lowest point in 18 months. Hong Kong’s Hang Sang...

Breakthrough May Put Japan Back on Board Afghan Mission

Bill would OK fueling US 'terror inspection' ships

(Newser) - A Japanese parliamentary committee has apparently broken a deadlock that halted aid to US ships in the Indian Ocean headed to Afghanistan. The nation's constitution forbids involvement in overseas wars, but Japanese fuel tenders have provided 126 million gallons of fuel to coalition ships. The opposition party blocked the operation...

US Jump-Rope Team Seeks Edge
US Jump-Rope Team Seeks Edge
Nov 8, 2007 10:06 PM CST

US Jump-Rope Team Seeks Edge

NC squad aims to wrest double dutch title by borrowing from Japanese champs

(Newser) - After a long tenure as an America-dominated pastime, jump-rope has gone global in recent years—and Japanese teams are leading the way. With a key competition on the horizon, the Wall Street Journal reports on a North Carolina team that is trying to reclaim America's glory by taking a page...

US Urges Japan to Return to Afghanistan

Japanese naval contribution halted by domestic politics

(Newser) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates urged Japan today to resume a naval support mission for US operations in Afghanistan, Reuters reports. Japan has conducted refueling operations in the region for the past six years at a cost of approximately $195 million. The mission was stopped earlier this month after an opposition...

Tree-Hugging Bra Hits Japan
Tree-Hugging Bra Hits Japan
Nov 8, 2007 12:38 PM CST

Tree-Hugging Bra Hits Japan

Eco-friendly product features chopstick compartment

(Newser) - The latest weapon in the fight to save trees? The Chopstick Bra, which offers a handy pouch to slide chopsticks into. Each Japanese citizen goes through 200 pairs of disposable wooden chopsticks in a year—a grand total of 25 billion pairs nationwide. One lingerie company is responding with the...

Japanese Opposition Leader Un-Quits
Japanese Opposition Leader Un-Quits
Nov 6, 2007 12:20 PM CST

Japanese Opposition Leader Un-Quits

About-face after 2 days reflects party pressure, government turmoil

(Newser) - The leader of Japan's opposition party has withdrawn his resignation after 2 days of wrangling in the country's latest political crisis, Bloomberg reports. "This is truly embarrassing," a party official quoted Ichiro Ozawa as saying. The Democratic Party of Japan had asked Ozawa to reconsider, fearing a split...

Top 20 International Travel Hits
Top 20 International Travel Hits
Nov 6, 2007 11:05 AM CST

Top 20 International Travel Hits

The dollar may be down—but that isn't keeping Americans from spending their money abroad

(Newser) - Money may not be flowing the way it once did, but Americans are traveling more than ever. Forbes Traveler lists the top 20 destinations for Yankee jetsetters:
  1. Mexico
  2. Canada
  3. UK

Japanese Party Scrambles to Keep Boss to Dodge Chaos

Opposition chief to quit amid deadlock mess

(Newser) - Members of Japan's opposition party are pleading with their leader to rethink his announced resignation, fearing the move will break up the party and hurt its chances at the polls. The head of the Democratic Party of Japan said he would resign yesterday after the party leadership resoundingly voted to...

Hiroshima Bomb Pilot Dead at 92
Hiroshima Bomb Pilot Dead at 92
Nov 1, 2007 3:19 PM CDT

Hiroshima Bomb Pilot Dead at 92

Pilot defended his role to the last, said he had 'no regrets'

(Newser) - The commander and pilot of the B-29 that dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945—the first military use of nuclear weapons—died today, the Associated Press reports. Paul Tibbets was 92, and requested no funeral or headstone for fear that they might attract anti-nuclear protesters. Tibbets always...

250 Taliban Surrounded, Villagers Flee

But Afghan mission loses support of Japanese ships ordered home

(Newser) - Some 250 Taliban fighters are surrounded by coalition troops just 15 miles north of the Taliban’s old power base of Kandahar, the AP reports. Villagers fled as the insurgents took over their homes. “They’re surrounded and in big trouble,” said Kandahar police. But the coalition lost...

Japan Backs Off Support of Afghan War

Standoff with domestic opposition leaves PM in hot water with US

(Newser) - Japan's PM is being forced to withdraw the country's support for coalition forces in Afghanistan because the opposition party refuses to back the mission without UN support. Yasuo Fukuda's party could swing the votes for an override, but doing so would probably lead to an early election—which Fukuda might...

Asian Space Race Stirs Friction, Pride

Moon shots spark suspicion about military plans in space

(Newser) - With China, India and Japan all launching civilian moon missions, the Christian Science Monitor examines the  Asian space race, driven by what one expert calls "techno-nationalism."  They "generate pride domestically and they demonstrate prowess internationally," but they're also inflaming security concerns and suspicions, as all...

Phones Goose Transit Gropers
Phones Goose Transit Gropers
Oct 25, 2007 10:24 AM CDT

Phones Goose Transit Gropers

Let your phone do the talking

(Newser) - Commuters tired of being groped on Japan's crowded trains are fighting back with their cell phones. The popular application flashes increasingly angry messages on the phone's screen for the offending feeler-upper. Messages range from "Excuse me, did you just grope me?" to "Shall we head to the police?"...

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