Japan hangs two more on death row

Japan has hanged two convicted murderers, including one who strangled two schoolgirls with his bare hands. The latest executions bring the total number of death penalties implemented this year to 15, thought to be the highest total in many years.  " Justice...

Japan concerned at geographical names becoming Chinese trademarks

" TOKYO — Japan has decided to step up its efforts to protect Japanese place names, such as Kyoto and Hiroshima, from being registered as trademarks in China, government officials said Wednesday. As the Chinese and Japanese languages share many kanji characters, an...

Selfless cop's story made into children's book

"The story of a police officer hit and killed by a train last year in Itabashi Ward, Tokyo, while trying to rescue a woman on the train tracks has been turned into an illustrated book. The commemorative publication will be offered at a memorial service in Tokyo on Saturday to...

Germany using PV to reduce carbon emissions and strengthen economy

"Germany is the world's largest PV market. It will add 1.5 gigawatts (GW) of installed PV capacity in 2007-an improvement over 2006 when it added 1.15 GW.PV production is increasing because Germany is creating the conditions to make PV investments profitable.For example,...

World's Oldest Person, Dies At 114

"The world's oldest person, a Japanese woman who counted eating well and getting rest as her hobbies, has died Monday at age 114, a news report said. Yone Minagawa, a widow who lived in a nursing home but was still sprightly late in life, died "of old age" Monday evening,...

Sony may launch PS3 with larger hard disk capacity - Presented by Michael Fomkin

"TOKYO (Reuters) - Sony Corp. said on Tuesday it is considering launching PlayStation 3 (PS3) game consoles with larger hard disk drive capacity, in a bid to cater to the needs of hardcore gamers and other heavy users.  Sony currently offers the basic version of the PS3...

Phelps Sets 200m Freestyle Record

Ian Thorpe has barely hung up his goggles before Oz's American arch-rivals make their move, led by Michael Phelps. "Phelps’s time of 1 minute 43.86 seconds took two tenths of a second off the record Thorpe, the Australian freestyler who retired last year, set in the 2001...

Japanese Art Trucks

Came across a great collection of photographs of Dekotora this morning. A Dekotora is (from wikipedia) " is a loudly decorated truck found often in Japan. Dekotora commonly have neon or ultraviolet lights, extravagant paints, and shiny stainless or golden exterior parts....

Corrugated cardboard house painting

"These photos show painted cardboard shelters in the homeless city that took root in the underground sprawl of Shinjuku station’s western wing in the mid-1990s. A deadly fire swept through the community in February 1998, forcing the inhabitants out and conveniently...