Mantokun, a character created to celebrate the upcoming 1,300th anniversary of Heijokyo, an ancient capital of Japan, greeted the public "in person" for the first time Tuesday, at Kasuga Taisha shrine in Nara.

The government Tuesday began talks with the ruling parties to review the current fiscal discipline policy, including a freeze on cuts of 220 billion yen from the projected automatic annual increases in social security spending, as it formulates a budget for fiscal 2009, according to sources.  (Dec.3) [More...]

• 350 bil. yen cut urged in NPO funding / Government panel deems 37% of spending by recognized bodies wasteful (Dec.3)
• Bank official 'made illicit 20 mil. yen' (Dec.3)
• Maker of 'deadly' airsoft guns held (Dec.3)