Police on Monday arrested a 40-year-old man on suspicion of starting a mountain forest fire after he threw a smoldering charcoal briquette into the woods following a barbecue in Ako, Hyogo Prefecture, on Sunday afternoon.
The blaze started in the mountains at around 3 p.m. It spread to near the Sanyo and Harima expressways which were closed to traffic for seven hours on Sunday night, Fuji TV reported. The fire forced more than 80 families to evacuate from their homes.
The fire was not extinguished until around 6 a.m. Monday morning. Six self-defense force helicopters carrying water joined 25 fire engines to combat the blaze.
May 12
Man arrested for starting forest fire after barbecue in Hyogo Police on Monday arrested a 40-year-old man on suspicion of starting a mountain forest fire after he threw a smoldering charcoal briquette into the woods following a barbecue in Ako, Hyogo Prefecture, on Sunday afternoon. (Japan Today 
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May 12
Soccer: Okubo the surprise pick as Japan name World Cup squad Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni had a trick up his sleeve in naming his 23 for the World Cup finals, calling up in-form Kawasaki Frontale striker Yoshito Okubo out of the blue on Monday. (Kyodo )
May 12
Japan's current account surplus marks record low in FY 2013 Japan's current account surplus in fiscal 2013 was the smallest since comparable data became available in fiscal 1985, as soaring fossil fuel imports drove up its trade deficit amid the prolonged halt of nuclear power plants, government data showed Monday. (Kyodo )
May 12
Japan bus-jacker 'wanted to see parents' A middle-aged man who allegedly hijacked a bus because he wanted to visit his parents was arrested in Japan, police said Monday, after he let the driver go to the toilet. (Sun Daily )
May 12
Japan debates lowering voting age Japan's House of Representatives has passed a bill to lower the minimum voting age for national referendums. (The Age )
May 12
Int'l street entertainment event held in Ibaraki Street entertainers have shown off their skills and talent during an annual event in a city north of Tokyo. (NHK )
May 12
Elementary school principal arrested for possession of stimulants Parents of children at Otani elementary school in Kasuga, Fukuoka Prefecture, expressed concern Saturday after the school principal was arrested for possession of stimulants. (Japan Today )
May 11
Six cars mysteriously catch fire in parking lot in Kitakyushu Police said Saturday they are investigating a case of serial arson after six cars caught fire in a parking lot in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, early Friday morning. (Japan Today )
May 11
70 percent of sexual minorities experience bullying: Japanese survey Nearly 70 pct of sexual minorities in Tokyo and neighboring prefectures have experienced bullying in school, according to a survey by a support group for such people. (Jiji Press )
May 11
NPA calls meeting to discuss more effective measures to deal with stalkers The National Police Agency last week assembled approximately 120 senior police officials from across Japan to discuss ways for police departments to more effectively deal with stalking cases. (Japan Today )
May 10
McCartney set to play Budokan for first time since '66 invasion Paul McCartney is to play at Tokyo's Nippon Budokan Hall this month, marking his first return to the venue since appearing there with The Beatles in 1966. (Japan Times )
May 10
The specter of 3D-printed guns rises in gun-free Japan Yoshitomo Imura, a 27-year-old employee of the Shonan Institute of Technology, was arrested for 3D-printing guns, and the incident quickly made headlines around the globe. (vice.com )
May 10
Police make bitcoin-linked drug arrest A suspected drug importer who allegedly used bitcoin to pay his Mexican suppliers has been arrested in Japan, police said Friday, in reportedly the country's first case of its kind. (Japan Today )
May 09
10 injured after truck rear-ends bus in Saitama Ten people were injured Friday morning when a large truck rammed into the back of a bus in Miyoshi, Saitama Prefecture. (Japan Today )
May 09
Taxi driver held for drugging women with diuretics A Japanese taxi driver who got a sexual thrill out of watching women desperate to urinate has been arrested for allegedly feeding passengers snacks laced with diuretics, police said Thursday. (The West )