[TODAY'S TOP STORIES] from [The Japan Times]
[NATIONAL NEWS]
Monday, June 8, 2009
China urges U.N. caution on N. Korea
Tokyo wants a 'strong' resolution
(Kyodo News) Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi called Sunday for "an appropriate and balanced" U.N. Security Council resolution over North Korea's nuclear test, apparently signaling that China won't accept tougher sanctions against Pyongyang, a Foreign Ministry official said.
During talks with Yang in Tokyo, Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone emphasized the need to "swiftly" adopt a "strong" resolution and pointed out that China's role is important in preventing North Korea from taking provocative actions.
Yang, however, told Nakasone that peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula are also important and that China wants "an appropriate and balanced" United Nations resolution.
The two foreign ministers meanwhile failed to make any progress on the Japan-China joint gas exploration project in a disputed area of the East China Sea.
Earlier in the day, Asia's two biggest financial powerhouses pledged to help pump up the world economy and called for an early conclusion to global trade liberalization talks.
The agreement was reached between Nakasone and Vice Premier Wang Qishan during a one-day economic meeting.
The two economic giants also agreed to establish a working group to consider creating a legal framework and enforcing crackdowns to curb violations of intellectual property rights, according to a memorandum signed earlier in the day by Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshihiro Nikai and Commerce Minister Chen Deming.
Nikai and Chen agreed that the working group should meet once a year. Nikai asked that it convene its first meeting by the end of the year.
A 2004 study by the Japan Patent Office estimated that Japanese companies lost around 9.3 trillion in China from pirated goods.
Nikai said he asked Chen to drop an envisaged compulsory certification system for information technology products made by foreign companies. Nikai proposed that China refer such cases to an international certification system.
Chen was quoted as telling Nikai that Beijing took note of Japan's high level of interest in the issue.
China says it will introduce the system next May.
[NATIONAL NEWS]
Monday, June 8, 2009
Freed man sees no relief in lay judges
(Kyodo News) Toshikazu Sugaya, freed from prison last week after new DNA testing indicated his innocence in the slaying of a young girl, says he would have been found guilty even if the lay judge system had been in effect for his trial.
"I think lay judges would have believed the result of the (initial) DNA test and judged that I was guilty," said Toshikazu Sugaya, 62, who was released Thursday after spending 17 1/2 years behind bars.
"Even if the district court trial in my case was a lay judge trial, I don't think I would have been acquitted," said Sugaya, who was sentenced to life when he was convicted of kidnapping and murdering Mami Matsuda, a 4-year-old girl, in Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture, in 1990.
Sugaya, who once drove a bus for kindergartners, said the accuracy of analyses used as evidence in criminal trials needs to be improved.
Under the lay judge system, which started in late May, six ordinary people and three professional judges will try serious criminal cases, such as murder, at district courts.
The lay judges should reflect "the sound social common sense of the public" more directly in judgments, according to the government.
Sugaya was convicted mainly based on the results of a DNA test conducted shortly after the slaying, when the accuracy of DNA analyses was much lower than those used now. He was freed after a recent test showed his DNA does not match that of dried body fluid found on Matsuda's clothing.
Sugaya, who claims he was forced by investigators to confess, said all questioning of criminal suspects should be recorded. "I can never forgive (police officers and prosecutors) unless they apologize to me, my parents and siblings . . . I want the judges to apologize, too," he said.
Police and prosecutors have started partial recordings of interrogations on a trial basis.
The Japan Federation of Bar Associations, saying closed-door questioning has been a hotbed for wrongful convictions, has called for enactment of a law requiring full recordings.
A bill toward that end was introduced by the opposition camp in April. It has passed the Upper House, but the Lower House has not taken it up.
Recalling his time behind bars, Sugaya said there were times when he felt he would never get out. He expressed joy for having been released by saying, "White rice is delicious."
[NATIONAL NEWS]
Monday, June 8, 2009
Toyako G8 tourist boom goes bust
SAPPORO (Kyodo) Toyako, the host city for the Group of Eight summit last July, saw a 10 percent drop in tourists in fiscal 2008, it was learned Sunday.
Officials in the southern Hokkaido city had been counting on a huge increase, since Toyako is now better known than ever both at home and abroad thanks to the media coverage of the gathering of the world's leaders.
"We didn't expect at all (that the figures) would drop below the level of the previous year," one Toyako official said. "It's beyond our imagination."
The city drew 685,000 tourists in the fiscal year that ended in March.
According to the municipal government, the number of tourists was on the increase until July, but numbers started to fall after August as rising gasoline prices took the wind out of the domestic tourism market.
The global financial crisis in the fall cut into foreign tourists. The number of non-Japanese visitors in February was only 40 percent of the number a year earlier, the municipal government said.
Numbers are also down for this fiscal year. A number of schools in the Kansai region canceled excursions due to the swine flu outbreak, Toyako officials said.
The city had hoped the G8 summit would boost tourism to Lake Toya and the surrounding area known for its natural scenery and the luxury resort hotel that served as the summit venue.
[INTERNATIONAL SOCCER]
Monday, June 8, 2009
Japan edges Uzbekistan
Qualifies for 2010 World Cup
TASHKENT (Kyodo) Japan survived a late onslaught to become the first country to join host South Africa at next year's World Cup finals after a gritty 1-0 win away to Uzbekistan in an Asian qualifier on Saturday.
Shinji Okazaki's ninth-minute goal proved enough to ensure 2002 cohost Japan claimed its fourth consecutive berth at the World Cup, sealing qualification with two matches to spare in Group A.
"It was a tough game but the players held their nerve and battled through. We are excited. The challenge begins here," said Japan coach Takeshi Okada, who was ejected from the bench for apparently protesting Makoto Hasebe's 89th-minute sendoff.
"I couldn't believe what a referee we had. I was only giving instructions to the players and he sent me off. It was unbelievable," added Okada.
Japan claimed one of the two automatic spots from the group after improving its record to 14 points with four wins and two draws from six games.
Uzbekistan started with purpose at Pakhtakor Stadium, but it was Japan that took the lead with its first real raid on goal. Kengo Nakamura picked out Okazaki's run and the in-form Shimizu S-Pulse striker headed in after Uzbekistan goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov had blocked his initial shot.
Yasuhito Endo hit the post with a free kick on 13 minutes and Yoshito Okubo thought he had doubled Japan's lead when he snapped up the rebound, only to see his effort ruled out for offside.
Alexander Geynri nearly forced an equalizer as Uzbekistan raced up the other end and the Central Asians went on to dominate the rest of the half, but were unable to find a way through as Japan's defense comfortably dealt with a succession of set pieces.
Hasebe hit the post early in the second period but the home side continued to force the pace and was unfortunate not to be rewarded with an equalizer for the efforts. Server Djeparov saw a free kick deflected centimeters wide 10 minutes from time and Seigo Narazaki had to be alert to push away a dangerous corner from the Uzbekistan captain.
Japan endured a nerve-jangling finish as Hasebe saw red for apparently elbowing Djeparov, Okada was ejected and Narazaki pulled off a wonderful stop to preserve his side's lead, pushing Islom Tuhtahuja's shot against the crossbar in the dying seconds.
"I had only been able to score in the (last week's friendly) Kirin Cup tournament and games like that so I feel like I have really done something for the team," said Okazaki of his contribution.
"I want to target the World Cup semifinals and raise my game. This isn't the end, it is just the beginning. I'm just pleased we were able to get through the qualifiers."
Japan plays Qatar at home on Wednesday and Okada's side wrap ups the qualifiers away to Australia in Melbourne on June 17.
"These two games will be important for us to keep building," said Okada, who also guided Japan to its World Cup debut in France in 1998 in his first stint at the helm of the national team.
The top two teams in Groups A and B advance directly to the finals. The two third-placed sides meet in a playoff, with the winner of that two-leg tie to take on Oceania champions New Zealand for a ticket to South Africa.
[NATIONAL NEWS]
Monday, June 8, 2009
China urges U.N. caution on N. Korea
Tokyo wants a 'strong' resolution
(Kyodo News) Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi called Sunday for "an appropriate and balanced" U.N. Security Council resolution over North Korea's nuclear test, apparently signaling that China won't accept tougher sanctions against Pyongyang, a Foreign Ministry official said.
During talks with Yang in Tokyo, Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone emphasized the need to "swiftly" adopt a "strong" resolution and pointed out that China's role is important in preventing North Korea from taking provocative actions.
Yang, however, told Nakasone that peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula are also important and that China wants "an appropriate and balanced" United Nations resolution.
The two foreign ministers meanwhile failed to make any progress on the Japan-China joint gas exploration project in a disputed area of the East China Sea.
Earlier in the day, Asia's two biggest financial powerhouses pledged to help pump up the world economy and called for an early conclusion to global trade liberalization talks.
The agreement was reached between Nakasone and Vice Premier Wang Qishan during a one-day economic meeting.
The two economic giants also agreed to establish a working group to consider creating a legal framework and enforcing crackdowns to curb violations of intellectual property rights, according to a memorandum signed earlier in the day by Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshihiro Nikai and Commerce Minister Chen Deming.
Nikai and Chen agreed that the working group should meet once a year. Nikai asked that it convene its first meeting by the end of the year.
A 2004 study by the Japan Patent Office estimated that Japanese companies lost around 9.3 trillion in China from pirated goods.
Nikai said he asked Chen to drop an envisaged compulsory certification system for information technology products made by foreign companies. Nikai proposed that China refer such cases to an international certification system.
Chen was quoted as telling Nikai that Beijing took note of Japan's high level of interest in the issue.
China says it will introduce the system next May.
[NATIONAL NEWS]
Monday, June 8, 2009
Freed man sees no relief in lay judges
(Kyodo News) Toshikazu Sugaya, freed from prison last week after new DNA testing indicated his innocence in the slaying of a young girl, says he would have been found guilty even if the lay judge system had been in effect for his trial.
"I think lay judges would have believed the result of the (initial) DNA test and judged that I was guilty," said Toshikazu Sugaya, 62, who was released Thursday after spending 17 1/2 years behind bars.
"Even if the district court trial in my case was a lay judge trial, I don't think I would have been acquitted," said Sugaya, who was sentenced to life when he was convicted of kidnapping and murdering Mami Matsuda, a 4-year-old girl, in Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture, in 1990.
Sugaya, who once drove a bus for kindergartners, said the accuracy of analyses used as evidence in criminal trials needs to be improved.
Under the lay judge system, which started in late May, six ordinary people and three professional judges will try serious criminal cases, such as murder, at district courts.
The lay judges should reflect "the sound social common sense of the public" more directly in judgments, according to the government.
Sugaya was convicted mainly based on the results of a DNA test conducted shortly after the slaying, when the accuracy of DNA analyses was much lower than those used now. He was freed after a recent test showed his DNA does not match that of dried body fluid found on Matsuda's clothing.
Sugaya, who claims he was forced by investigators to confess, said all questioning of criminal suspects should be recorded. "I can never forgive (police officers and prosecutors) unless they apologize to me, my parents and siblings . . . I want the judges to apologize, too," he said.
Police and prosecutors have started partial recordings of interrogations on a trial basis.
The Japan Federation of Bar Associations, saying closed-door questioning has been a hotbed for wrongful convictions, has called for enactment of a law requiring full recordings.
A bill toward that end was introduced by the opposition camp in April. It has passed the Upper House, but the Lower House has not taken it up.
Recalling his time behind bars, Sugaya said there were times when he felt he would never get out. He expressed joy for having been released by saying, "White rice is delicious."
[NATIONAL NEWS]
Monday, June 8, 2009
Toyako G8 tourist boom goes bust
SAPPORO (Kyodo) Toyako, the host city for the Group of Eight summit last July, saw a 10 percent drop in tourists in fiscal 2008, it was learned Sunday.
Officials in the southern Hokkaido city had been counting on a huge increase, since Toyako is now better known than ever both at home and abroad thanks to the media coverage of the gathering of the world's leaders.
"We didn't expect at all (that the figures) would drop below the level of the previous year," one Toyako official said. "It's beyond our imagination."
The city drew 685,000 tourists in the fiscal year that ended in March.
According to the municipal government, the number of tourists was on the increase until July, but numbers started to fall after August as rising gasoline prices took the wind out of the domestic tourism market.
The global financial crisis in the fall cut into foreign tourists. The number of non-Japanese visitors in February was only 40 percent of the number a year earlier, the municipal government said.
Numbers are also down for this fiscal year. A number of schools in the Kansai region canceled excursions due to the swine flu outbreak, Toyako officials said.
The city had hoped the G8 summit would boost tourism to Lake Toya and the surrounding area known for its natural scenery and the luxury resort hotel that served as the summit venue.
[INTERNATIONAL SOCCER]
Monday, June 8, 2009
Japan edges Uzbekistan
Qualifies for 2010 World Cup
TASHKENT (Kyodo) Japan survived a late onslaught to become the first country to join host South Africa at next year's World Cup finals after a gritty 1-0 win away to Uzbekistan in an Asian qualifier on Saturday.
Shinji Okazaki's ninth-minute goal proved enough to ensure 2002 cohost Japan claimed its fourth consecutive berth at the World Cup, sealing qualification with two matches to spare in Group A.
"It was a tough game but the players held their nerve and battled through. We are excited. The challenge begins here," said Japan coach Takeshi Okada, who was ejected from the bench for apparently protesting Makoto Hasebe's 89th-minute sendoff.
"I couldn't believe what a referee we had. I was only giving instructions to the players and he sent me off. It was unbelievable," added Okada.
Japan claimed one of the two automatic spots from the group after improving its record to 14 points with four wins and two draws from six games.
Uzbekistan started with purpose at Pakhtakor Stadium, but it was Japan that took the lead with its first real raid on goal. Kengo Nakamura picked out Okazaki's run and the in-form Shimizu S-Pulse striker headed in after Uzbekistan goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov had blocked his initial shot.
Yasuhito Endo hit the post with a free kick on 13 minutes and Yoshito Okubo thought he had doubled Japan's lead when he snapped up the rebound, only to see his effort ruled out for offside.
Alexander Geynri nearly forced an equalizer as Uzbekistan raced up the other end and the Central Asians went on to dominate the rest of the half, but were unable to find a way through as Japan's defense comfortably dealt with a succession of set pieces.
Hasebe hit the post early in the second period but the home side continued to force the pace and was unfortunate not to be rewarded with an equalizer for the efforts. Server Djeparov saw a free kick deflected centimeters wide 10 minutes from time and Seigo Narazaki had to be alert to push away a dangerous corner from the Uzbekistan captain.
Japan endured a nerve-jangling finish as Hasebe saw red for apparently elbowing Djeparov, Okada was ejected and Narazaki pulled off a wonderful stop to preserve his side's lead, pushing Islom Tuhtahuja's shot against the crossbar in the dying seconds.
"I had only been able to score in the (last week's friendly) Kirin Cup tournament and games like that so I feel like I have really done something for the team," said Okazaki of his contribution.
"I want to target the World Cup semifinals and raise my game. This isn't the end, it is just the beginning. I'm just pleased we were able to get through the qualifiers."
Japan plays Qatar at home on Wednesday and Okada's side wrap ups the qualifiers away to Australia in Melbourne on June 17.
"These two games will be important for us to keep building," said Okada, who also guided Japan to its World Cup debut in France in 1998 in his first stint at the helm of the national team.
The top two teams in Groups A and B advance directly to the finals. The two third-placed sides meet in a playoff, with the winner of that two-leg tie to take on Oceania champions New Zealand for a ticket to South Africa.
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