Indigenous Ainu launch party

Indigenous Ainu launch party

SAPPORO, Japan - Shiro Kayano (L), leader of the Ainu Party of Japan, speaks during a meeting in Ebetsu, Hokkaido, on Jan. 21, 2012, as members of the Ainu indigenous group, who primarily reside in Hokkaido, launch the party, aiming to field 10 candidates in the House of Councillors election in 2013. To the right is vice leader Shizue Ukaji.

Indigenous Ainu launch party

Indigenous Ainu launch party

SAPPORO, Japan - Shiro Kayano (2nd from L), leader of the Ainu Party of Japan, speaks during a meeting in Ebetsu, Hokkaido, on Jan. 21, 2012, as members of the Ainu indigenous group, who primarily reside in Hokkaido, launch the party, aiming to field 10 candidates in the House of Councillors election in 2013.

Nobel laureate Suzuki departs for award ceremony

Nobel laureate Suzuki departs for award ceremony

SAPPORO, Japan - Akira Suzuki, a winner of the 2010 Nobel Prize in chemistry and a professor emeritus at Hokkaido University, leaves his home in Ebetsu, Hokkaido, on Dec. 3, 2010, to attend the award ceremony in Stockholm on Dec. 10. Suzuki shared the prize with another Japanese scientist, Eiichi Negishi, and American chemist Richard Heck.

Nobel laureate Suzuki

Nobel laureate Suzuki

EBETSU, Japan - Akira Suzuki, a professor emeritus at Hokkaido University, leaves his home in Ebetsu, Hokkaido, on Oct. 7, 2010, the morning after winning the 2010 Nobel Prize in chemistry with Eiichi Negishi and Richard Heck for ''palladium-catalyzed cross couplings in organic synthesis.''

DPJ lawmaker says she has 'moral' responsible for arrests

DPJ lawmaker says she has 'moral' responsible for arrests

EBETSU, Japan - Chiyomi Kobayashi, a Democratic Party of Japan lower house member, speaks to reporters in Ebetsu, Hokkaido, on March 6, 2010. The ruling party lawmaker, under fire over four arrests in connection with illegal donations for her election campaign, said she has a moral responsibility in the cases but denied any intention of stepping down any time soon.

(2)Japan declares domestic beef safe to eat

(2)Japan declares domestic beef safe to eat

SAPPORO, Japan - A veterinarian checks cows at a meat hygiene inspection center at Ebetsu, Hokkaido, on Oct. 18. The government declared domestic beef to be free of mad cow disease after launching a nationwide examination of cows to be processed for human consumption.