Workers Trade Places and Ideas At Honda

Workers who are transferred from Ohio to Japan -- and the other way around -- build their experience and share ideas on a whole new scale.http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2008/03/02/honda_trio.ART_ART_03-02-08_D1_BV9GDHF.html?sid=101

US Marine in Japan Rape Case Released

TOKYO (Reuters) - A U.S. Marine arrested earlier this month on suspicion of raping a 14-year-old girl was released by the Japanese authorities on Friday, a spokesman for the U.S. military in Okinawa, southern Japan, said. The 38-year-old Marine, Tyrone Hadnott, was released because prosecutors decided not to press charges as the girl had dropped the accusation against him, Kyodo news agency reported.The arrest had caused outrage in Japan and revived bitter memories of the rape of a 12-year-old schoolgirl on the island in 1995, which sparked huge protests against U.S. bases there and raised doubts about the bilateral security alliance.http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/news-japan-okinawa.html?hp

Japan's Best Sellers Go Cellular

By NORIMITSU ONISHI
Published: January 20, 2008
In Japan, cellphone novels have not only infiltrated the mainstream but have come to dominate it. Of last year’s 10 best-selling novels, five were originally cellphone novels, mostly love stories written in the short sentences characteristic of text messaging but containing little of the plotting or character development found in traditional novels. What is more, the top three spots were occupied by first-time cellphone novelists, touching off debates in the news media and blogosphere. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/20/world/asia/20japan.html?ex=1358571600&en=4de7902175b0143f&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink