Interesting news and stories translated into English from Japan and the Japanese-language internet.
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A meeting last month between Osaka Mayor Hashimoto Toru and Zaitokukai leader Makoto Sakurai quickly devolved into a slanging match; netizens were amused.16 -
Members of the Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan's largest yakuza organization, handed out candy to children on Halloween this year from their HQ in Kobe; netizens shocked. -
China's Ministry of National Defense calls on Japan to stop scrambling its jets against Chinese planes after 103 scrambles in two months; 2ch.net netizens critical. -
A policeman whose job was to prevent groping incidents on trains is arrested for touching the ass of a female university student after drinking session; responses. -
Japan deals with first suspected Ebola case as journalist returns from Liberia with fever and is quarantined at Haneda Airport; Yahoo and 2ch netizens unsympathetic. -
Economy Minister Obuchi Yuko is widely expected to resign on Monday due to a scandal involving money distributed to backers by her supporters; netizens disappointed. -
A man who knew he was HIV-positive is found guilty of raping four women after breaking into their homes in Kanagawa; 2ch netizens denounce crimes as "terrorism". -
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Official unofficial mascot of Funabashi City, Funasshii, now has a little brother, but netizens think things are going too far; responses from Yahoo! and 2ch.net. -
Traditional Okinawan festival Paantu, where residents are smeared with mud by Paantu gods to bring good fortune upsets bewildered tourists; Yahoo! and 2ch respond. -
A man was arrested in Nara Prefecture for breaking the knee of an 18 year old biker with an iron bar after he was unable to bear the noise; netizens supportive. -
A Chinese newspaper claims Doraemon has a hidden Japanese political agenda, and cautions its readers against the character; 2ch netizens respond to the news. -
Bookstore promotes racist book "The Great Anti-Korean Age" on Twitter provoking immediate backlash, book goes viral as result; responses from Yahoo! and 2ch.net. -
Part-timers working at a major Japanese sushi chain deep-fried some scissors during working hours and posted a picture of their exploits online; responses. -
Mount Ontake, Japan's second-highest volcano, erupted yesterday leaving dozens of climbers dead and many others seriously injured; reactions from Yahoo! and Twitter. -
At the 2014 Asian Games, 76 lunchboxes for athletes were found to contain salmonella and were disposed of by officials; responses from 2ch.net and Yahoo! netizens. -
An 11-year old girl is found dead at her parents' home in Fukushima Prefecture in an apparent suicide; school says she was a happy child. Responses from mixi news. -
Two fans revealed to have secretly dated members of girl group Aoyama Saint Hachamecha High School are sued by the group's management company; netizens disapprove.
