Japanese craft makes landmark asteroid landing
Kyoko HasegawaA Japanese spacecraft successfully landed on a far-away asteroid on Saturday for a second time and almost certainly collected the first-ever samples from such a celestial body, Japan's space agency said. The Hayabusa probe is on a landmark mission to bring back material from the Itokawa asteroid.
Cyborg-walkers stride toward Japan's robotics future
Kyoko HasegawaThree cyborg lookalikes turned heads on busy Tokyo streets on Monday as they made their way to a robotics conference -- without breaking a sweat.
Japan troops search ravaged resort after killer quake
Kyoko HasegawaHundreds of troops sifted through the splintered remains of a resort hotel in Japan on Sunday in search of survivors after a powerful earthquake.
Greenspan says oil costs to stifle growth for 'some time'
Kyoko HasegawaUnited States Federal Reserve chairperson Alan Greenspan said on Tuesday that the world would have to learn to live with high oil prices and their negative impact on economic growth "for some time to come". He said the recent shutdown of US oil production and refinery facilities battered by hurricanes was "an accident waiting to happen".
Japan opposition looks left, right after crushing defeat
Kyoko HasegawaJapan's largest opposition party is looking both at veteran leaders and fresh young faces to help it recover after it lost to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in a record drubbing. The Democratic Party of Japan is set to elect a new leader on Saturday after Katsuya Okada, a dour former civil servant, quit over the election rout in which the party lost one third of its seats.
Japanese zoo proves hit with walk on wild side
Kyoko HasegawaSurrounded by a crowd of admirers, 24-year-old Jack has no idea how close his home came to being shut down a decade ago as he dangles from a rope, scratching his shaggy red fur. The orangutan plays happily at a zoo in northern Japan that was saved from the brink of closure and redesigned as a playground for animals that is now the country's top wildlife attraction.
Japanese lawmaker defects in blow to 'old guard'
Kyoko HasegawaA senior lawmaker defected from Japan's ruling party on Tuesday, denouncing beleaguered Prime Minister Taro Aso as an "old-guard crony"
Reviving a dying culture through eco-tourism
Kyoko HasegawaAs he escorts yet more visitors through Shari, a town of fish and icebergs on the northern tip of Japan, tour guide Yoshiji Ishii stops and folds inward his outstretched arms. "When entering an abode of the gods, you have to pray like this," explains Ishii, one of Japan's indigenous Ainu people.
Japan plans Cabinet reshuffle to cool China island row
Kyoko HasegawaJapan's prime minister will use a Cabinet reshuffle to try to mend fences with China and to boost his flagging popularity ahead of general elections.
Japan PM resigns after US base row
Kyoko HasegawaJapan's centre-left Prime Minister, Yukio Hatoyama, tearfully resigned on Wednesday, just nine months after a stunning election win.
