World

Japan Moving Toward Signing Accord to Ban Cluster Bombs

rie — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:30:39 -0800

TOKYO (Kyodo) — The Japanese government is making arrangements to sign an international accord to ban cluster bombs, Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said Nov. 14.

“I have heard that (the government) is making arrangements’’ toward signing the accord, Kawamura told a news conference. The signing ceremony for the accord will be held in Oslo in early December.

Nagasaki to Grant A-bomb Passbook to Dutch Ex-POW

rie — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:48:40 -0800

NAGASAKI (Kyodo) — The Nagasaki city government has decided to grant an atomic-bomb sufferer’s health passbook to a Dutchman who experienced the U.S. atomic bombing of the city in August 1945 while in a camp being held as a prisoner of war, municipal officials and the man said Nov. 12.

The city government made the rare decision to give the certificate to a former POW after confirming his exposure to the bombing through the examination of documents.

U.S. Nuclear Sub Calls Unannounced at Okinawa

rie — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:16:57 -0800

TOKYO (Kyodo) — A U.S. nuclear-powered submarine made a port call in Okinawa on Nov. 10 without giving the agreed prior notice to Japanese authorities, prompting Japan to lodge a protest and demand the U.S. Navy take measures to prevent any recurrence of such an incident, the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s top diplomat said.

IJF to Introduce Ranking System

rie — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:04:10 -0800

BANGKOK (Kyodo) — The International Judo Federation will introduce a ranking system at the beginning of next year and use it for the qualification of athletes for major competitions, judo officials said Oct. 20.

The IJF executive committee has decided to give points to men’s and women’s judoka in all weight classes depending on their results in international tournaments, including the Olympic Games and world championships, which are both ranked in the top tier under the new system.

Disapproval Rating for Aso Cabinet Tops Approval Rate

rie — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:01:29 -0800

TOKYO (Kyodo) — The disapproval rating for Prime Minister Taro Aso’s Cabinet has risen to 42.2 percent, exceeding the approval rating, which came to 40.9 percent, for the first time since the launch of the Cabinet in late September, a Kyodo News weekend survey showed Nov. 10.

The approval rating declined 1.6 percentage points from the previous survey on Oct. 18 to 19, while the disapproval rating climbed 3.2 points, according to the nationwide telephone survey conducted Nov. 8 and 9, which received responses from 1,027 eligible voters.

Obama's Win Celebrated in Obama

rie — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:33:19 -0800

OBAMA, Japan (Kyodo) — Residents of the Japanese city of Obama in Fukui Prefecture
expressed delight Nov. 5 over Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's victory in the U.S. presidential election Nov. 4.

About 200 residents, U.S. students and Obama supporters gathered at a rally at a culture center in the city on the Sea of Japan coast chanting Obama's name and his campaign slogan, ''Yes, we can!''

Takahashi Announces Her Retirement

james — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:39:09 -0700

TOKYO (Kyodo) — Sydney Olympic gold medalist Naoko Takahashi announced her retirement Oct. 28, saying she has reached the end of the road as a top women’s professional marathon runner.

“I’ve reached the point where I’m no longer able to stand confidently and run in front of my fans as a professional marathon runner,’’ Takahashi said at a press conference in Tokyo.

Takahashi failed in a final bid for a spot in the Beijing Olympics after placing 27th at the Nagoya International Women’s Marathon in March this year.

Japan to Decorate Nobel Laureates, Conductor, Scholar

james — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:26:39 -0700

TOKYO (Kyodo) — The Japanese government decided Oct. 28 to decorate three Japanese Nobel laureates in physics and chemistry, conductor Seiji Ozawa, scholar in Japanese literature Donald Keene and three others with its highest honor for their contributions to the nation’s culture.

The three other recipients of the Order of Culture are novelist Seiko Tanabe, mathematician Kiyoshi Ito, and Hironoshin Furuhashi, chairman emeritus of the Japan Swimming Federation.

Leakey Prize for Primatologist Nishida

rie — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 16:45:40 -0700

The awarding of the Leakey Prize to noted primatologists Dr. Jane Goodall and Dr. Toshisada Nishida will be celebrated with a series of events in San Francisco next week.

The Leakey Prize was established in 1990 to reward intellectual achievement and express appreciation for research performed with courage and perseverance in the fields of ape and human evolution. The intention of the award is to honor a scientist for achievement transcending the boundaries of his or her discipline and linking widely differing branches of science.

East Asian Leaders Meet to Discuss Economic Crisis

rie — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 16:42:40 -0700

BEIJING (Kyodo) — East Asian leaders met Oct. 24 to discuss the impact of the ongoing global financial crisis on the regional economy and ways to overcome the turmoil.

The leaders of China, Japan and South Korea along with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations gathered for an informal breakfast meeting at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting.