Japan National News
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Hibakusha: 'Peace starts with an ability to feel the pain of others' (May 14)
First I'd like to tell how Senji Yamaguchi, 77-year-old resident of a care facility in the city of Unzen, Nagasaki Prefecture, came to recover his shattered health.


Chemical used in plastic products a threat to babies (May 14)
A potential hormone-damaging chemical used in plastic products could affect fetuses and newborn babies even though it meets safety standards, a study has found.


Breast-grabbing U.S. Marine sent to prosecutors on drinking charge (May 14)
MISAWA, Aomori -- A U.S.


Beer garden opens doors to Osaka customers with unusual dishes (May 14)
OSAKA -- A beer garden is attracting customers to the rooftop of Hankyu Railway's Umeda Station building with a unique Osaka flavor in its dishes including a dish using blackened Chinese noodles to resemble an old lady's permed hair.


Yakuza, Korean cohort given life, huge fines for smuggling massive speed haul (May 14)
A yakuza gang boss and his South Korean cohort were Wednesday given life sentences, fined and ordered by the Tokyo District Court to pay an additional penalty of nearly 1 billion yen for smuggling a massive cache of speed into Japan from North Korea.


Police probing fatal collision report company to prosecutors over vehicle maintenance (May 14)
NAGOYA -- Police investigating an incident in which a truck hit and killed a 5-year-old boy have sent public prosecutors documents on the transportation company that operated the truck, accusing it of allowing the vehicle to operate with an obstructed windshield.


Ramen restaurateur poses as policeman to lure lass for lechery (May 14)
TSUKUBA, Ibaraki -- A ramen noodle restaurant operator awaiting a sex crime trial was slapped with further charges after he posed as a lawman to lure a young woman into his clutches, police said.


Teen baseball bat attacker undergoes court evaluation (May 14)
MATSUDO, Chiba -- A 17-year-old boy who viciously attacked a schoolboy with a baseball bat following online arguments has been sent to a court here for evaluation with the recommendation he face criminal charges, according to prosecutors.


Poppy festival turns farcical as field filled with opium (May 14)
SHIMOTSUMA, Ibaraki -- Local officials were shocked to find large fields in a flower festival being held in a park here were actually illegal opium poppies.


Piggyback dancing ceremony held in Kagoshima (May 14)
KAGOSHIMA -- A traditional dancing ceremony in which baby girls ride piggyback on dancers was held in the Sagata district of Akune, Kagoshima Prefecture, with about 400 people taking part.