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Japan's oldest lion dies at zoo in Nagano

NAGANO -- Japan's oldest lion has roared his last, dying at a zoo here.

Posted on July 31, 2010 at 10:42 AM

2 original woodblock prints by famous artist found in Tochigi house

TOCHIGI -- Two original woodblock prints (ukiyo-e) by legendary Edo-period artist Utamaro Kitagawa, which had not been located for nearly 35 years, have been found at the home of an elderly family in Tochigi, city officials have announced.

Posted on July 31, 2010 at 10:12 AM

Convention on Cluster Munitions to come into force on Aug. 1

The Convention on Cluster Munitions banning the use, development, production, acquisition, stockpiling and exports of the weapons is set to come into force on Aug.

Posted on July 31, 2010 at 9:46 AM

Gov't to pull plug on eco-car subsidy system at end of September

The government has announced that it will end its subsidy system for eco-cars at the end of September as tight financial conditions continue.

Posted on July 31, 2010 at 9:43 AM

Family of dead '111-year-old' man told police he was a 'human vegetable'

The family of a man who was thought to be alive at the age of 111 until the recent discovery of his mummified corpse told police and local ward workers that he couldn't get up to see them because he was a "human vegetable."

Posted on July 31, 2010 at 9:35 AM

Train derails after hitting landslide debris, 2 injured

IWAIZUMI, Iwate -- A train has derailed after hitting earth covering railway tracks here following a landslide, slightly injuring two passengers, police and the railway operator said.

Posted on July 31, 2010 at 9:33 AM

Woman arrested for abandoning bodies of her 2 children says she wanted free time

OSAKA -- A woman arrested for abandoning the bodies of her two children at their apartment here has told investigators that she neglected them because she was tired of caring for them and wanted free time, police said.

Posted on July 31, 2010 at 9:29 AM

Court likely to acquit 2 men in retrial of 1967 murder case after rejecting DNA test

TSUCHIURA, Ibaraki -- A court here is likely to acquit two men being retried over a 1967 murder case as it dismissed prosecutors' request for DNA tests on articles left at the scene of the crime.

Posted on July 31, 2010 at 9:24 AM

University research team applies to produce human reproductive cells from stem cells

A research team at Keio University has applied to the university's ethics committee to produce human reproductive cells from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, it has been learned.

Posted on July 31, 2010 at 9:12 AM

Gov't urged to take steps toward reducing Okinawa's U.S. base burden

The prospects for reducing Okinawa Prefecture's burden of hosting U.S. bases are growing uncertain. The process of relocating U.S.

Posted on July 31, 2010 at 6:59 AM

July 31, 2010 - Haiku in English

some drizzlelast nights argumentnot quite as bad--Stephen A. Peters (Bellingham, WA, USA)

Posted on July 31, 2010 at 2:30 AM

Megabanks Sumitomo Mitsui and Tokyo-Mitsubishi ban financing of cluster bomb production

The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd. and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp.

Posted on July 30, 2010 at 11:06 AM

Researchers pinpoint enzymes affecting outbreak of stomach ulcers

Japanese researchers have discovered an enzyme that plays a part in the outbreak of stomach ulcers, providing hope for the development of methods to treat and prevent the painful ailments.

Posted on July 30, 2010 at 10:55 AM

DPJ suffers new blow after LDP secures chairman's post for key panel

The ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), which suffered a defeat in the July 11 House of Councillors race, lost its initiative in the chamber after the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) captured the post of the chairman of the house's steering panel.

Posted on July 30, 2010 at 10:50 AM

Grandson lied to welfare officer about '111-year-old' man

The 49-year-old grandson of a man hailed as the oldest living male in Tokyo until the recent discovery of his mummified body lied to a welfare officer about the older man's whereabouts in February, it has been learned.

Posted on July 30, 2010 at 10:08 AM

Former actress Noriko Sakai gets divorce

Former actress Noriko Sakai, who received a suspended sentence after being convicted last year of stimulant possession and use, has divorced her husband, it's been learned.

Posted on July 30, 2010 at 10:04 AM

Mitsui releases photos of damaged oil tanker

Shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. has released photographs of its M.

Posted on July 30, 2010 at 9:38 AM

Akihabara mass murder defendant says he felt he had no choice but to go through with attack

A 27-year-old man standing trial for murdering seven people and injuring 10 in a killing spree in Tokyo's Akihabara district has testified that he felt he had no choice but to go on the rampage.

Posted on July 30, 2010 at 8:51 AM

Decomposing bodies of 2 young children found in Osaka apartment

OSAKA -- The badly decomposed bodies of two young children were discovered by police in an apartment here early on the morning of July 30.

Posted on July 30, 2010 at 8:47 AM

Crowds flock to see Hayabusa asteroid probe capsule

SAGAMIHARA, Kanagawa -- Crowds flocked to the Sagamihara City Museum on July 30, as a sample capsule released by the Hayabusa asteroid probe on its return to Earth was unveiled there for the first time to the public.

Posted on July 30, 2010 at 8:39 AM