17 Mar
Kunio Hatoyama, a former internal affairs minister and the younger brother of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, has encountered difficulty recruiting allies after leaving the Liberal Democratic Party to form a new party, with LDP lawmakers whose support he had counted on remaining cautious Wednesday about joining him.
Kunio Hatoyama effectively quit the LDP with the hope of teaming up at some point with senior LDP members, including former Finance Minister Kaoru Yosano and former Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Yoichi Masuzoe, who have been critical of the party's leadership, to create his envisioned party ahead of the July Upper House election.
Kunio Hatoyama effectively quit the LDP with the hope of teaming up at some point with senior LDP members, including former Finance Minister Kaoru Yosano and former Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Yoichi Masuzoe, who have been critical of the party's leadership, to create his envisioned party ahead of the July Upper House election.
17 Mar
The Tokyo Apache made clutch baskets down the stretch en route to an 88-82 win over the Saitama Broncos on Wednesday night at Yoyogi National Gymnasium No. 2.
The bj-league teams meet again on Thursday night. 
The bj-league teams meet again on Thursday night.
17 Mar
The government's Board of Audit criticized Japan Post Holdings Co. Wednesday over its December 2008 contract to sell its nationwide network of resort inns, saying the government-owned body failed to ensure the transparent and fair sale of the assets.
The audit board's report, presented to the House of Councilors, reaffirmed the assessment almost a year ago of the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry that the low sale price, offered to an Orix Corp. unit, was unfair. The ministry at that time ordered Japan Post to improve its business practices. 
The audit board's report, presented to the House of Councilors, reaffirmed the assessment almost a year ago of the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry that the low sale price, offered to an Orix Corp. unit, was unfair. The ministry at that time ordered Japan Post to improve its business practices.
17 Mar
WASHINGTON (Kyodo) U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will meet with counterpart Katsuya Okada in Washington or Canada in late March during his trip to a Group of Eight foreign ministerial gathering, a senior State Department official said Tuesday.
Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell unveiled the plan as he met reporters at Dulles International Airport on the outskirts of Washington on his return from an Asian tour. 
Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell unveiled the plan as he met reporters at Dulles International Airport on the outskirts of Washington on his return from an Asian tour.
17 Mar
LONDON (AP) Inter Milan eliminated Chelsea 1-0 to squeeze into the Champions League quarterfinals after a four-year absence, while CSKA Moscow made it for the first time at Sevilla's expense on Tuesday.
Samuel Eto'o, who also handed Chelsea its last home defeat in the Champions League four years ago, scored with 12 minutes left to give Inter a 1-0 win and end Chelsea's 21-match unbeaten streak at home in the tournament. 
Samuel Eto'o, who also handed Chelsea its last home defeat in the Champions League four years ago, scored with 12 minutes left to give Inter a 1-0 win and end Chelsea's 21-match unbeaten streak at home in the tournament.
17 Mar
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada on Wednesday did not rule out the possibility nuclear weapons may be brought into Japan by U.S. forces in a future crisis, while reiterating that the government still adheres to the nation's three nonnuclear principles.
"In a case in which Japan's security cannot be protected unless we accept temporary port calls by U.S. ships carrying nuclear weapons, the government at that time would make a decision, even if it may affect its political fortunes," Okada told a parliamentary committee. 
"In a case in which Japan's security cannot be protected unless we accept temporary port calls by U.S. ships carrying nuclear weapons, the government at that time would make a decision, even if it may affect its political fortunes," Okada told a parliamentary committee.
17 Mar
The Tokyo Yakult Swallows made it to the playoffs last year. Now they'll get to see how hard it is to make it back.
The Swallows made an unexpected run into the postseason last season, a result they hope sets the foundation for a prolonged period of success. 
The Swallows made an unexpected run into the postseason last season, a result they hope sets the foundation for a prolonged period of success.
17 Mar
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said Wednesday he has no intention of rethinking restrictions on weapons use by Self-Defense Forces elements deployed to U.N. peacekeeping operations.
Under the current interpretation of the law enabling the deployment of the SDF and other personnel for U.N. peacekeeping activities, use of weapons is limited to self-defense. 
Under the current interpretation of the law enabling the deployment of the SDF and other personnel for U.N. peacekeeping activities, use of weapons is limited to self-defense.
17 Mar
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) The Boston Bruins didn't care who got the credit, as long as they ended their seven-game road trip on a positive note.
Five players scored goals Tuesday night for the Bruins, who got 30 saves from Tuukka Rask to hold on to eighth place in the Eastern Conference with a 5-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. 
Five players scored goals Tuesday night for the Bruins, who got 30 saves from Tuukka Rask to hold on to eighth place in the Eastern Conference with a 5-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.
17 Mar
Japan Airlines Corp. President Masaru Onishi said Wednesday the carrier will probably forgo hiring of new employees for spring 2011 as it undergoes state-led rehabilitation.
In a joint press conference in Tokyo, JAL Chairman Kazuo Inamori also emphasized that the carrier will turn itself around while keeping its international routes, even though they have been seen as a drag on its loss-making operations. 
In a joint press conference in Tokyo, JAL Chairman Kazuo Inamori also emphasized that the carrier will turn itself around while keeping its international routes, even though they have been seen as a drag on its loss-making operations.
17 Mar
NEW YORK (Kyodo) Honda Motor Co. said Tuesday it will recall about 344,000 Odyssey minivans and 68,000 Element small trucks due to a brake problem.
American Honda Motor Co. said the company filed the recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, citing complaints from customers who said brake pedals feel "soft" or that their distance from the floor when depressed gradually decreases. 
American Honda Motor Co. said the company filed the recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, citing complaints from customers who said brake pedals feel "soft" or that their distance from the floor when depressed gradually decreases.
17 Mar
NAGOYA (Kyodo) Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday that President Akio Toyoda has decided not to take part in this May's 24-hour endurance race in Germany as a member of the Lexus LFA supercar's racing team.
Toyoda himself disclosed the decision Monday night in an entry of his blog called, "Driver Morizo's Blog." 
Toyoda himself disclosed the decision Monday night in an entry of his blog called, "Driver Morizo's Blog."
17 Mar
Received wisdom dictates that a league table is not even worth looking at until two months of a new season have passed, but one glance after just two weeks of this year's J. League campaign says plenty about Kawasaki Frontale.
Last year's runnerup has taken a maximum six points from games against Albirex Niigata and Nagoya Grampus, with North Korean striker Chong Tese securing a 3-2 win over the latter with an injury-time cannonball at Toyota Stadium on Saturday. 
Last year's runnerup has taken a maximum six points from games against Albirex Niigata and Nagoya Grampus, with North Korean striker Chong Tese securing a 3-2 win over the latter with an injury-time cannonball at Toyota Stadium on Saturday.
17 Mar
Japan Post Holdings Co. is considering giving regular employment status to about 100,000 of its groups' nonregular workers over a five-year period starting in April, sources said Wednesday.
The five group firms had around 437,000 workers as of last October, and about 200,000 of them were nonregular employees. If realized, the plan would expand personnel costs by about ¥300 billion annually, the sources said. 
The five group firms had around 437,000 workers as of last October, and about 200,000 of them were nonregular employees. If realized, the plan would expand personnel costs by about ¥300 billion annually, the sources said.
17 Mar
Japan Tobacco Inc., the world's third-largest publicly traded cigarette maker by volume, wants to expand production in India as the smoking rate declines in its home market.
The company has been waiting for government approval to make additional investments in its venture in India since June 2008, Executive Deputy President Masakazu Shimizu said Tuesday in Tokyo. "It's to expand production and sales locally," he said, declining to provide details or the planned investment amount. 
The company has been waiting for government approval to make additional investments in its venture in India since June 2008, Executive Deputy President Masakazu Shimizu said Tuesday in Tokyo. "It's to expand production and sales locally," he said, declining to provide details or the planned investment amount.
17 Mar
The Tokyo High Court ordered Kodansha Ltd. Wednesday to pay ¥4.4 million in damages to the Japan Sumo Association and its former chairman, Kitanoumi, ruling that the story in Kodansha's weekly magazine on alleged match-fixing in sumo wrestling was not true.
While the libel damage was set at ¥15 million by the Tokyo District Court last year, the high court reduced it by more than ¥10 million. "The social status that the former chairman has established as yokozuna, or grand champion, is so solid that it cannot easily be damaged by an article in a popular weekly magazine," said presiding Judge Satoru Fujimura. 
While the libel damage was set at ¥15 million by the Tokyo District Court last year, the high court reduced it by more than ¥10 million. "The social status that the former chairman has established as yokozuna, or grand champion, is so solid that it cannot easily be damaged by an article in a popular weekly magazine," said presiding Judge Satoru Fujimura.
17 Mar
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) LeBron James was shaky early and spectacular late.
James had 29 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists for his fourth triple-double of the season, lifting the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 113-101 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night. 
James had 29 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists for his fourth triple-double of the season, lifting the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 113-101 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night.
17 Mar
Renault SA, Nissan Motor Co.'s French partner, is in talks with Germany's Daimler AG to form an alliance that would involve cross-shareholdings between the European automakers, sources said Wednesday.
If the tieup goes ahead, a Daimler-Renault-Nissan combination would be the world's third-largest automotive concern, following the partnership between Germany's Volkswagen AG and Japan's Suzuki Motor Corp., and the Toyota Motor Corp. group. 
If the tieup goes ahead, a Daimler-Renault-Nissan combination would be the world's third-largest automotive concern, following the partnership between Germany's Volkswagen AG and Japan's Suzuki Motor Corp., and the Toyota Motor Corp. group.
17 Mar
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) For everything Roger Federer did right, the world's top-ranked tennis player did something wrong. Eventually, his errant shotmaking did him in.
Marcos Baghdatis upset Federer 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (7-4) Tuesday night in the third round of the BNP Parabas Open, beating the Swiss for the first time in seven meetings. 
Marcos Baghdatis upset Federer 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (7-4) Tuesday night in the third round of the BNP Parabas Open, beating the Swiss for the first time in seven meetings.
17 Mar
AKITA (Kyodo) An Akita motorcyclist who repeatedly broke the speed limit last year while making a "thumbs up" gesture toward a speed-monitoring camera was sentenced Wednesday to a suspended nine-month prison term.
Masashi Moriai, 34, "lacks the awareness of the need to observe traffic rules," the Akita District Court's presiding judge, Sumio Baba, said as he handed down the sentence. 
Masashi Moriai, 34, "lacks the awareness of the need to observe traffic rules," the Akita District Court's presiding judge, Sumio Baba, said as he handed down the sentence.
17 Mar
NAHA, Okinawa Pref. (Kyodo) A child was slightly injured in a hit-and-run incident involving a U.S. military vehicle in Okinawa Tuesday night, police said Wednesday.
The U.S. Navy in Okinawa said military police took into custody a female sailor suspected in the incident. Later in the day, U.S. MPs said the woman had been drinking alcohol before the hit-and-run. 
The U.S. Navy in Okinawa said military police took into custody a female sailor suspected in the incident. Later in the day, U.S. MPs said the woman had been drinking alcohol before the hit-and-run.
17 Mar
The government will consider requiring the children of foreign parents living in Japan to also live here to qualify for child allowances, health minister Akira Nagatsuma said Wednesday, as the House of Councilors began deliberations on the subsidies.
"We will consider stipulating a residency requirement for children to be eligible for the provisions when we give full consideration to the (allowance) structure for fiscal 2011," Nagatsuma said during the plenary session. 
"We will consider stipulating a residency requirement for children to be eligible for the provisions when we give full consideration to the (allowance) structure for fiscal 2011," Nagatsuma said during the plenary session.
17 Mar
Most major manufacturers Wednesday offered to resume automatic annual pay hikes this year as demanded by their trade unions, after freezing such pay hikes last year amid the global recession.
Their offer, coming at the peak of annual spring labor-management wage negotiating, reflected a recovery in business performance from the devastation of early last year. 
Their offer, coming at the peak of annual spring labor-management wage negotiating, reflected a recovery in business performance from the devastation of early last year.
17 Mar
OSAKA (Kyodo) Promotion-chasing sekiwake Baruto dodged a bullet to floor Aminishiki and retain his share of the lead alongside yokozuna Hakuho at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on Wednesday.
Baruto looked set to taste his first "kuroboshi" defeat of the 15-day tournament when he was tipped off balance at the start of an absorbing encounter at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium. 
Baruto looked set to taste his first "kuroboshi" defeat of the 15-day tournament when he was tipped off balance at the start of an absorbing encounter at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium.
17 Mar
Consumers are turning to innovative food storage containers to help stretch their food budgets amid the economic slowdown.
Companies are keeping up with demand by giving plastic freezer bags, soy sauce dispensers and instant coffee refill cartridges a technological edge. 
Companies are keeping up with demand by giving plastic freezer bags, soy sauce dispensers and instant coffee refill cartridges a technological edge.