Jan 12, 2012

Onus on aides as Ozawa 'can't recall' fund details

Ichiro Ozawa maintained Wednesday he had nothing to do with the alleged falsification of political funding reports, telling the Tokyo District Court he left all financial matters to his secretaries and doesn’t remember what one of his secretaries says he told the political don ...

Jan 11, 2012

Only aides handled the accounts, Ozawa says

Former Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa on Tuesday once again flatly denied that he conspired with his aides to falsify his political fund management body’s reports in 2004 and 2005 over a ¥400 million land deal in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo. The point ...

Dec 1, 2011

Former Ozawa aide denies involvement in funds fraud

A former aide to Ichiro Ozawa claimed in court Wednesday that he was never involved in drafting or submitting the political funds statements of the Democratic Party of Japan power broker’s political funds management body, despite holding the title of secretary in charge of ...

Nov 2, 2011

Aide denies Ozawa saw fund reports

A former aide to Democratic Party of Japan kingpin Ichiro Ozawa testified Tuesday that he never consulted with his former boss about making alleged false entries in the financial statements for Ozawa’s political fund management body, Rikuzankai, in 2004 and 2005. During the fourth ...

Sep 29, 2011

Radioactive soil can fill 23 Tokyo Domes

Radioactive soil and vegetation that must be removed in Fukushima and four adjacent prefectures could reach up to 28.79 million cu. meters, equal to filling the Tokyo Dome 23 times, according to a recent Environment Ministry estimate. But finding a disposal or temporary storage ...

Aides' convictions bode ill for Ozawa

| Sep 28, 2011

Aides' convictions bode ill for Ozawa

The convictions Monday of Democratic Party of Japan ex-leader Ichiro Ozawa’s former aides for making false entries in his political funds records will inevitably impact the kingpin’s own trial that starts next month and weaken his clout in the ruling party, legal and political ...

Former Ozawa aides judged guilty

Sep 27, 2011

Former Ozawa aides judged guilty

Three former secretaries of Democratic Party of Japan kingpin Ichiro Ozawa were given suspended prison terms Monday for making false entries in the financial reports of Ozawa’s political fund management body Rikuzankai in 2004, 2005 and 2007. The outcome is likely to influence a ...

Mainali's kin submit retrial request

Sep 16, 2011

Mainali's kin submit retrial request

The wife and brother of Govinda Prasad Mainali, a Nepalese man serving life in prison for the 1997 robbery-murder of a 39-year-old woman, on Thursday called for his immediate release and demanded a retrial be held to prove his innocence. It is the first ...

Hosono to reshape nuclear policy

| Sep 13, 2011

Hosono to reshape nuclear policy

New Environment Minister Goshi Hosono has vowed to reduce Japan’s reliance on nuclear power but has said that halted reactors that pass stringent safety tests may be restarted if the nation’s energy needs are not being met. The 40-year-old Hosono, who is doubling as ...

Six months on, few signs of recovery

Sep 11, 2011

Six months on, few signs of recovery

After the March 11 earthquake and tsunami destroyed everything from houses to street lights, the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, has been so dark and quiet at night it’s unnerving. But the light coming from a convenience store that reopened in late July has ...

Sep 10, 2011

Massive debate slowed quake aid: Red Cross

The delay in quake aid distribution was caused by an unprecedented 15-prefecture effort to draw up a fair set of criteria for determining the amount of money each person should receive, the Japanese Red Cross Society said Friday. The donations are being doled out ...