Japan

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Japanese MP Takes Dare to Drink Fukushima Water

Gulp designed to prove it's safe

(Newser) - Under pressure from journalists to prove that decontaminated water from the Fukushima area is safe, Japanese lawmaker Yasuhiro Sonoda downed a glass of water taken from puddles underneath the reactors themselves during a news conference today, his hands visibly shaking as he did so, the BBC reports. But he did...

2012&#39;s Top Ten Getaways

 2012's Top Ten Getaways 
frommer's list
Oct 26, 2011 5:36 PM CDT

2012's Top Ten Getaways

List includes Ghana, the Yucatan, even Kansas City

(Newser) - What part of the globe should you trek to next year? The writers and editors at Frommer's have released their top 10 destinations for 2012 with selections among unconventional getaways, hot spots hosting high-profile events, and regions that have been re-energized, notes USA Today . Some of the choices:

Japan Eclipses France as Culinary King
 Japan Eclipses France 
 as Culinary King 
michelin guide
Oct 21, 2011 4:14 PM CDT

Japan Eclipses France as Culinary King

But skeptics take issue with Michelin Guide assessment

(Newser) - Japan has overtaken France as the fine dining capital of the world—at least according to the latest Michelin Guide, reports ABC News . The newly released 2012 edition of the influential guide has bestowed 29 Japanese eateries with a 3-star rating—the highest possible grade—compared with 25 in France....

WWII Vets Receive Mystery Cards From China

Befuddled Texas vet gets reporter to snoop online

(Newser) - World War II veterans are discovering mysterious postcards from China in their mailboxes. "It takes a strong man to save himself, a great man to save another," read one card, sent to a befuddled vet living near Houston. "Thank you for 1944. From China." 88-year-old veteran...

Want to Go to Japan? It's Doling Out 10K Flights

Officials reassure foreign travelers that country is safe to visit

(Newser) - How to cope with the unpleasant reality of a major drop in tourism following March's earthquake and tsunami? Free stuff for tourists! Japan will attempt to woo back wary travelers by doling out 10,000 free airline tickets next year, the Japan Tourism Agency announced this week. Officials are...

Poop-Powered Bike to Tour Japan

Driver's feces to fuel 600-mile jaunt

(Newser) - Calling it “clean” fuel would be a bit of a stretch: Japan’s top toilet maker has built a bike that runs on human excrement. TOTO’s Toilet Bike Neo has a seat that looks like a toilet, and it’s powered by bio-gas from the driver’s own...

Japan: We Will Hunt Whales This Year

Activist group will again try to disrupt them in the Antarctic

(Newser) - It could be a nasty December in the Antarctic: Japan says it will go ahead with its annual whale hunt and promises to ramp up security to protects its boats from activists, reports AP . The leading activist group, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, promises to be back in full force....

Japan Firm Builds 'Noah's Ark' For Next Tsunami

Giant tennis ball also functions as toy house

(Newser) - It’s Noah’s Ark for the 21st century: A Japanese firm has built a tiny, floating shelter that can hold four adults, the AP reports. Called the “Noah,” the enhanced-fiberglass contraption looks like a huge tennis ball and doubles as a toy house for kids. Cosmo Power...

Pilot Screw-Up Almost Flips Jet
 Pilot Screw-Up Almost Flips Jet 
Sep 28, 2011 2:27 PM CDT

Pilot Screw-Up Almost Flips Jet

He mistook the rudder trim nob for the cockpit door lock

(Newser) - This will go down in the annals of wacky pilot screw-ups: An All Nippon Airways passenger jet rolled over 131.7 degrees earlier this month—putting it almost belly-up—because a pilot accidentally turned the rudder trim knob instead of the one unlocking the cabin door, Japan’s Transport Safety...

Boeing Finally Delivers Dreamliner— Take a Tour

First plane delivered after years of delays

(Newser) - The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is finally taking off—just three years behind schedule. Yesterday, the much-anticipated jet was officially delivered to its first customer, Japan’s All Nippon Airways. With a ceremony planned for today in Everett, Wash., reporters are getting a look at the nifty features that set the...

16 Dead, Missing as Typhoon Clears Japan

But Fukushima nuclear plant sustains little damage

(Newser) - Typhoon Roke cleared out of Japan today, leaving 16 people dead or missing—and the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant intact. The storm, Japan’s second major typhoon in one month, dumped as much as 17 inches of rain, causing landslides and flooding. Winds snapped power lines, leaving more than...

1.3M Flee as Typhoon Closes In on Japan

Two missing as waters rise ahead of storm

(Newser) - More than a million people in central Japan were urged to evacuate today as a powerful typhoon approached, triggering floods that left two people missing. Public broadcaster NHK said about 1.3 million people have been ordered or advised to leave their homes, including 80,000 people in Nagoya. Heavy...

Mini Japanese Robot Preps for Ironman Triathlon

Evolta has already climbed Grand Canyon

(Newser) - It’s no bigger than your hand, but a Panasonic robot is ready to take on a supersized task: The Evolta, which has already clambered up the walls of the Grand Canyon, will soon take on one of the hardest triathlon courses on the planet. Hawaii’s Ironman Triathlon “...

Japan Minister Quits Over Nuke Joke

PM moves quickly to quell gaffe fallout

(Newser) - Japan still isn't laughing about the devastating nuclear meltdown at Fukushima Dai-ichi, but its newest ex-minister of the nuclear industry apparently thinks it's quite amusing. After returning from a trip to Fukushima on Thursday, Yoshio Hachiro reportedly rubbed against a journalist, joking, "I'll give you radiation....

Oops: Tokyo Blogger Posts Flight Plan of Air Force One

Air traffic controller apparently just wanted to impress friends

(Newser) - An air traffic controller in Tokyo is in hot water after posting secret information on his blog, including the flight plan of Air Force One when President Obama visited last year. The controller apparently wasn't looking to cause trouble but to impress his friends with all the cool stuff...

Domino's Says It Plans Store on the Moon

... though opening date is a little fuzzy

(Newser) - It’s tough to get a decent pizza in space—so tough that astronauts at the International Space Station once received a delivery from an earthbound Pizza Hut. Now, Domino’s Japanese operation is going a step further in the publicity wars: The chain swears it plans to open a...

Noda Gain: Japan Gets 6th Leader in 5 Years

Former finance minister picked for country's top job

(Newser) - Yoshihiko Noda is Japan's new prime minister and he has some tough challenges ahead of him, not least of which is unifying his own bickering party. Noda, formerly the country's finance minister, was elected as leader today by the country's parliament, winning majorities both in the lower...

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan Resigning
 Japan PM Resigning 
Aug 26, 2011 8:27 AM CDT

Japan PM Resigning

Naoto Kan will officially quit next week

(Newser) - Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan announced today he would resign after almost 15 months in office amid plunging approval ratings over his government's handling of the tsunami disaster and nuclear crisis. In a nationally televised speech, Kan said he was stepping down as chief of the ruling Democratic Party...

Japan&#39;s Credit Rating Cut
 Japan's Credit Rating Cut 
Aug 24, 2011 5:05 AM CDT

Japan's Credit Rating Cut

Moody's drops country to fourth-highest rating

(Newser) - Japan has joined the US on the list of countries to have its credit rating downgraded because of debt worries. But for the Japanese, the downgrade is just the latest in a long series of bad news. Moody's has cut Japan's rating by a notch to the fourth...

Towns Near Fukushima May Be Shut for Decades

Surrounding 12 miles show continuing radiation

(Newser) - Japan has been telling residents of the 12-mile evacuation zone around Fukushima Dai-ichi that they'll likely be going home next year—but now it looks like the government is finally ready to say otherwise. With dangerous radiation still evident in the area, it could be decades before those who...

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