Shoganai Japan

Broadcasters completed the switch to digitized terrestrial TV broadcasting at noon Sunday, ending the analog transmission that began more than a half century ago, except in areas hit hard by March’s earthquake and tsunami.

I am not really sure if beer lovers really need this kind of gadget, but Takara Tomy is ready to sell it (in Japan only – at least initially). The company has showcased the so-called “Beer Hour” in Tokyo today, a small device that’s supposed to make it easier to pour beer from cans into glasses.

The season’s sixth typhoon could cause heavy rain Monday in areas ranging from Kyushu to the Pacific coast of central Japan and is expected to approach western to eastern Japan on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The weather agency issued high wave warnings for most of the southern coast from Kyushu to southeast of Tokyo.

“This is a chance to forget the nuclear disaster and everything else, to just unite and celebrate,” said 22-year-old Toru Komatsu.

All tournament long the teammates reminded the world they were playing for their battered country, still reeling from the devastation of the March 11 quake and tsunami. Did they ever. They held the gleaming trophy high above their smiling faces as confetti swirled around the podium, flecking their hair with gold.

“Before we went to the match tonight we had some commentary on television and we heard comments on the situation in Japan,” coach Norio Sasaki said. “We wanted to use this opportunity to thank the people back home for the support that has been given.”

According to police, Nagaya told his wife he was going out to a night job when robbing stores. He would then return home and hand her the stolen money, telling her it was his wage.

Nagaya allegedly researched his crimes online where webpages exist that explain how to rob Sukiya restaurants. The restaurant was, until recently, considered an easy target for criminals and has been the subject of several robberies recently.

According to police, a Sukiya robber’s “manual” exists online, as well as a map indicating which stores have been hit recently. Police believe Nagaya based his crimes on this information.

A boo by joesolberg