2006.01.28

Japan-Yasukuni (Kyodo) Japan's outspoken foreign minister, Taro Aso, says China and South Korea should just quit harping about Prime Minister Koizumi visiting Yasukuni Jinja and it would be a good idea if Emperor Akihito also paid his respects at the controversial war shrine. 2006.01.28

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Japanese protest crimes by USN personnel (AFP). A mere 800 Japanese showed up for a protest near the U.S. Naval Base in Yokosuka to demand an end to crimes committed by U.S. military personnel after the Kitty Hawk's William Oliver Reese, 21, is indicted for beating a Japanese woman to death. 2006.01.28

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DPRK-Bird Flu North Korea denies reported December outbreak of avian influenza in birds and, at least, one human. 2006.01.28

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Japan-Beer Robot (New Scientist) Asahi Breweries giving away 5,000 "bartender robots." 2006.01.28

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Japan-Space (Kyodo) Bad luck continues to haunt JAXA -- newly deployed Japanese satellite experiencing trouble. 2006.01.28

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Rare guitars, $50,000 per string (MSN Money). Nobody picks rare guitars like Japan's Mac Yasuda. 2006.01.28

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JAL pilots faulted in turbulence accident (Asahi Shimbun). A new safety report sharply scolds pilots of Japan Airlines and air traffic controllers. 2006.01.28

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USN submariner flips car, dies in Guam crash. [Pacific Daily News] A 20-year-old U.S. Navy sailor became Guam's first traffic fatality this year when he lost control of the green Mazda Millennia he was driving near Polaris Point in Piti . 2006.01.28

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USA battles DPRK fakes at expense of nuclear talks. [AFP] From fake Viagra to contraband cigarettes and heroin, and from mock American postage stamps to crisp counterfeit US dollar bills, North Korea is allegedly milking millions of dollars from the United States. 2006.01.28

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DPRK Bans Powered Fishing Boats. [Dong-A Ilbo] North Koreas bans the use of Ttororegi boats for fishing. 2006.01.28

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Lunar New Year spells fun, family and tradition for Asia. [AFP] The Chinese diaspora in southeast Asia and elsewhere welcome the Year of the Dog with firecrackers and lion dances while Vietnam and South Korea mark the turn of the year with their own culturally distinct celebrations. 2006.01.28

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Japanese Lab Develops Robot for Errands (AP). Though his movement is a bit stiff, slow and voice monotonous, he willingly turns on the television with a chest-mounted remote control, and brings a can of drink for you. Within years, a humanoid robot HRP-2  -- currently under development by a Japanese national technology institute -- could be a little domestic helper. 2006.01.28

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Japan-USA Beef (AP) Japan will allow American beef back into the country -- eventually. 2006.01.28

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