Japanese Politics & Culture

A 17-year-old male high school student in Yokohama is suspected of having contracted the rapidly spreading new strain of type A influenza virus, the first such case in Japan, the Yokohama municipal government said Friday.
But it said the second-year student, who stayed in British Columbia, Canada, on a school trip from April 10 to 25, is not in serious condition, adding he walked into a medical ward for infectious diseases on his own at the Yokohama Municipal Citizens Hospital in Hodogaya Ward. None of his family members and schoolmates has shown any flu-like symptoms. (AP)

The government’s Strategic Headquarters for Space Policy on Monday approved a draft of the nation’s first basic space development plan. How will this impact Japan’s future space policy?
The basic plan, which covers fiscal 2009 to 2013, addresses some issues not taken up by the government’s past space development programs. (Yomiuri)

Jutaku-Shimpo-Sha Inc. is recalling copies of a study book aimed at people taking exams to become certified social insurance labor consultants, because the book contains 251 errors, the company said Wednesday. (Yomiuri)

A prefectural government official has been arrested for allegedly selling cell phones registered in his name to foreigners, including illegal immigrants, police sources said Thursday. (Yomiuri)

All 3,900 bus and subway crew members of the Osaka Municipal Transportation Bureau will from June be subject to urine drug tests without advance notice, in the wake of a recent drug arrest of a bureau employee. (Yomiuri)

A suspect who escaped from Mito Police Station during questioning was rearrested in downtown Mito early Thursday morning on suspicion of escaping from police custody, police said. (Yomiuri)

The voice of a Turkish woman brings new life into Japanese songs. Emine Sarı, a Hatay-born singer who left her country to follow her passion for singing, made the finals in a Japanese song contest to select the Best Singer of 2008. She now works on an album project to be released in June. (hurriyet.com.tr)

What we heard: Though rumors of a new PSP have ebbed and flowed throughout the year, this morning a hurricane of speculation descended on Sony’s portable format. (ZDNet)

The a-nation festival of Avex artists is set to embark on a summer tour of Japan for the eighth time. J-pop chart-toppers Ayumi Hamasaki and Kumi Koda will once again headline the line-up, which will also include TRF, Every Little Thing, Do As Infinity, Ai Otsuka, AAA, Girl Next Door, Ami Suzuki, Touhou Shinki and others.
(billboard.biz)

With the opposition in disarray, Prime Minister Aso has the luxury of choice. Either he can push the stimulus through the lower house of the Diet (parliament) in May and then call a snap election-colleagues favour June 7th. Or he can bide his time in the hope of seeing DPJ anguish worsen. Prosecutors may present more details of Mr Okubo’s case in June, after which the options for Mr Ozawa may narrow. (The Economist)