TOKYO (AFP) — Japan’s Crown Prince Naruhito, celebrating his birthday Monday, said he was pleased his reclusive wife, who has been suffering from stress-induced illness, is now able to carry out more public duties.
But he expressed concerns for the health of Emperor Akihito, who had surgery for prostate cancer in 2003.
Masako, 45, has skipped most public duties over the past five years because of her illness as the former career diplomat Read the rest of this entry »

Japan emperor turns 75, pledges to care for family
TOKYO (AFP) — Japanese Emperor Akihito turned 75 on Tuesday, pledging to work for the betterment of the imperial family as his worries about the state of the world’s oldest monarchy inflict a toll on his own health.
Akihito, who next year marks 20 years on the Chrysanthemum Throne, cancelled a customary annual news conference and part of the ceremonies for his birthday.
The son of wartime Read the rest of this entry »

The Philippines should move quickly and purposely to fill the shortage of fresh bananas in Japan, where the “Banana Morning Diet” has become a huge craze, Cotabato Rep. Emmylou Taliсo-Mendoza said.
Due to the growing popularity of the Banana Morning Diet, Taliсo-Mendoza said that over the last six months, bananas have been flying off supermarket racks in Japan faster show they would be replenished.
Created by a pharmacist in Osaka, Read the rest of this entry »

TOKYO (AFP) — Japanese Emperor Akihito turned 75 on Tuesday, pledging to work for the betterment of the imperial family as his worries about the state of the world’s oldest monarchy inflict a toll on his own health.
Akihito, recovering from illness, was seen in public for the first time in about two weeks as he greeted some 18,000 well-wishers in three appearances at the Imperial Palace.
“I have caused you all to worry since my health declined Read the rest of this entry »

Japan's Current Diet Session Set to Be Extended, Kawamura Says
Nov. 25 (Bloomberg) — Japan's government is set to extend
the current parliament session as it seeks to push through
legislation to support banks.
“The government will decide to extend the diet session
today,'' Chief Cabinet Secretary
said. Parliament
is scheduled to recess Nov. 30.
The opposition Democratic Party of Japan has threatened to
boycott upper house Read the rest of this entry »

OKYO – Japanese Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa’s resignation today over his controversial behavior at a news conference in Rome came as a fresh blow to the already fragile administration of Prime Minister Taro Aso, political analysts said.
The resignation was aimed at appeasing the commotion over Nakagawa’s questionable behavior – which was suspected to have been caused by his consumption of alcohol – as early as possible in the face Read the rest of this entry »

Morning Banana Diet has Japan … well … bananas!
Banana prices are rising and shortages are being reported in Japan, where a Morning Banana Diet has people in a frenzy.
Huh?
, which claimed that eating only bananas and room-temperature water for breakfast jumpstarted weight loss, regardless of what was eaten during the rest of the day.
So who came up with the diet?
A guy who studied preventive medicine in Tokyo. He says
bananas Read the rest of this entry »

TOKYO (AP) — Japan has acknowledged that Allied prisoners of war were put to work in a coal mine owned by Prime Minister Taro Aso’s family, reversing previous denials after newly found documents provided proof.
The Health and Welfare Ministry said Friday that the wartime documents showed that 300 British, Dutch and Australian prisoners worked at the Aso family mine in Fukuoka, southern Japan, from April 1945 through Japan’s surrender four Read the rest of this entry »

The grisly knifing death of a former Health Ministry official and his wife by an unknown assailant and the killing's possible links to a scandal involving lost pension records have thrown this normally low-crime nation into an unusualuproar.
The Japanese police have begun a nationwide manhunt for the killer of Takehiko Yamaguchi, 66, a retired vice minister of health, and his wife, Michiko, 61, whose bodies were found in the entryway of their Read the rest of this entry »

Sumo wrestling’s most senior official resigned today and two wrestlers were given lifetime bans after testing positive for marijuana.
Kitanoumi, chairman of the Japan sumo association and mentor of one of the disgraced wrestlers, denied he had been forced out by other officials desperate to avoid further damage to the ancient sport’s reputation.
“It was my decision to resign,” he said.
on all 69 wrestlers in the top two divisions following the Read the rest of this entry »