2006.03.27

Japan-Aum (Kyodo) Court rejects death sentence appeal from lawyers for sarin gas cult guru. 2006.03.27

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Tonga-Japan (Matangi Tonga) Tonga King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV made his first public appearance in Tonga this year, giving a speech at the opening of Vaiola Hospital's new wing. But the 87-year-old monarch, who has been infirm, appeared to become distressed during the ceremony and was taken away by his concerned attendants. In a short opening address the king thanked the Japanese Government for its generous aid of $17.7 million to finance Phase One of the hosptial upgrade in Nuku'alofa. The King returned from New Zealand on March 18 where he had been living since December last year, and undergoing medical checkups by doctors. The king was scheduled to tour and inspect the new hospital wing, but he left straight after he made his speech looking very uncomfortable and in pain. During the ceremony he was constantly being massaged by his bodyguard and attendants, who looked seriously concerned about the king's condition. 2006.03.27

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Okinawa-USMC (Stars & Stripes) Skeletal remains found inside USMC training base on Okinawa. 2006.03.27

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Japan-Tokyo Tower (Japan Times) Sight selected in Sumida-ku for Tokyo's new TV tower. 2006.03.27

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Memorial honors dead in Battle of Yigo. [Pacific Daily News] Isamu Ikai was 21 years old and fighting in Siberia when he learned that his older brother was one of more than 19,000 Japanese soldiers killed on Guam in World War II. 2006.03.27

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PRC-Japan-UN (China Daily) Communist government in Beijing rejects what it calls Japan's "blackmail" for Tokyo's U.N. ambitions. 2006.03.27

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Guam-Marines (Pacific Daily News). Guam needs to do accurate math on relocation costs of U.S. Marines from Okinawa. 2006.03.27

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Japan Said to Give Up Hope of Finalizing US Troops Deal (AP). Tokyo reportedly has abandoned hopes of finalizing an agreement with Washington over the relocation of U.S. troops in Japan by the end of March because strong differences remain over sharing the $10 billion bill. 2006.03.27

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