Top 6 banks post FY 2009 net profits totaling 1.13 tril. yen

Top 6 banks post FY 2009 net profits totaling 1.13 tril. yen

TOKYO, Japan - Katsunori Nagayasu (L), president of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc., briefs reporters on the company's earnings report for fiscal 2009 at the headquarters of the Bank of Japan in Tokyo on May 18, 2010. Japan's top six banks, including Mitsubishi UFJ, secured profits in fiscal 2009 ending March with a combined group net profit of 1.13 trillion yen.

Takahashi solid again in spring training game

Takahashi solid again in spring training game

JUPITER, United States - New York Mets left-hander Hisanori Takahashi pitches against the Florida Marlins in their preseason game in Jupiter, Florida, on March 18, 2010. Takahashi, who signed a minor league deal with the Mets last month, threw 2-1/3 shutout innings in relief for his first save of the spring.

Ishikawa makes disastrous start at Transitions C'ship

Ishikawa makes disastrous start at Transitions C'ship

PALM HARBOR, United States - Ryo Ishikawa of Japan hits a shot from the bunker on the 17th hole in the first round of the Transitions Championship tournament at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida, on March 18, 2010. Ishikawa sat alone at the bottom of the 144-man field with a career-worst 83.

Nitta wins Japan's 1st gold in Paralympics

Nitta wins Japan's 1st gold in Paralympics

WHISTLER, Canada - Yoshihiro Nitta (R) of Japan passes Ilkka Tuomisto of Finland in the men's 10-kilometer classic cross country standing race at the Vancouver Paralympics in Whistler on March 18, 2010. Nitta won the country's first gold medal at the event.

Ishikawa makes disastrous start at Transitions C'ship

Ishikawa makes disastrous start at Transitions C'ship

PALM HARBOR, United States - Ryo Ishikawa of Japan looks down after making a disappointing finish in the first round of the Transitions Championship tournament at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida, on March 18, 2010. Ishikawa sat alone at the bottom of the 144-man field with a career-worst 83.

Nitta wins Japan's 1st gold in Paralympics

Nitta wins Japan's 1st gold in Paralympics

WHISTLER, Canada - Yoshihiro Nitta (R) of Japan celebrates with his wife Chisako after winning the men's 10-kilometer classic cross country standing race at the Vancouver Paralympics in Whistler on March 18, 2010. Nitta won the country's first gold medal at the event.

Japan's Morii wins silver at Paralympics

Japan's Morii wins silver at Paralympics

WHISLTER, Canada - Taiki Morii of Japan skies to win the silver in the men's downhill sitting race at the Vancouver Paralympics in Whistler on March 18, 2010.

Nitta wins Japan's 1st gold in Paralympics

Nitta wins Japan's 1st gold in Paralympics

WHISTLER, Canada - Yoshihiro Nitta (R) of Japan celebrates after winning the men's 10-kilometer classic cross country standing race at the Vancouver Paralympics in Whistler on March 18, 2010. Nitta won the country's first gold medal at the event.

Nitta wins Japan's 1st gold in Paralympics

Nitta wins Japan's 1st gold in Paralympics

WHISTLER, Canada - Yoshihiro Nitta (R) of Japan celebrates after winning the men's 10-kilometer classic cross country standing race at the Vancouver Paralympics in Whistler on March 18, 2010. Nitta won the country's first gold medal at the event.

Nitta wins Japan's 1st gold in Paralympics

Nitta wins Japan's 1st gold in Paralympics

WHISTLER, Canada - Yoshihiro Nitta (R) of Japan skies to win the men's 10-kilometer classic cross country standing race at the Vancouver Paralympics in Whistler on March 18, 2010. Nitta won the country's first gold medal at the event.

Bluefin tuna trade ban voted down in Doha confab

Bluefin tuna trade ban voted down in Doha confab

DOHA, Qatar - Masanori Miyahara (R), a senior official of Japan's Fisheries Agency, and Patrick Van Klaveren, Monaco representative, attend a press conference in Doha, Qatar, on March 18, 2010, after a meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. The delegates at the conference voted down a proposal to ban international trade in bluefin tuna from the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.

Nitta wins Japan's 1st gold in Paralympics

Nitta wins Japan's 1st gold in Paralympics

WHISTLER, Canada - Yoshihiro Nitta (R) of Japan celebrates after winning the men's 10-kilometer classic cross country standing race at the Vancouver Paralympics in Whistler on March 18, 2010. Nitta won the country's first gold medal at the event.

Japan 'relieved' on tuna trade ban rejection

Japan 'relieved' on tuna trade ban rejection

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese fisheries minister Hirotaka Akamatsu speaks to reporters in Tokyo on March 18, 2010. He said he was 'relieved' that a proposal to ban international trade in bluefin tuna from the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea had been voted down at the panel meeting of the U.N.-sponsored conference in Doha, Qatar the same day.

Nitta wins Japan's 1st gold in Paralympics

Nitta wins Japan's 1st gold in Paralympics

WHISTLER, Canada - Yoshihiro Nitta (R) of Japan crosses the finish line to win the men's 10-kilometer classic cross country standing race at the Vancouver Paralympics in Whistler on March 18, 2010. Nitta won the country's first gold medal at the event.

Int'l talks on proposed ban on bluefin tuna trade begin in Doha

Int'l talks on proposed ban on bluefin tuna trade begin in Doha

DOHA, Qatar - Representatives of signatory states of the so-called Washington Convention meet in Doha, Qatar, on March 18, 2010, to discuss a proposal to ban trade in bluefin tuna from the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.

Int'l talks on proposed ban on bluefin tuna trade begin in Doha

Int'l talks on proposed ban on bluefin tuna trade begin in Doha

DOHA, Qatar - Representatives from Japan's Fisheries Agency attend a meeting of signatory states of the so-called Washington Convention in Doha, Qatar, on March 18, 2010, to discuss a proposal to ban trade in bluefin tuna from the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.

Gov't to accept settlement for Minamata disease suit: Hatoyama

Gov't to accept settlement for Minamata disease suit: Hatoyama

TOKYO, Japan - Environment Minister Sakihito Ozawa speaks to reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on March 18, 2010, after talks with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama. Later, Hatoyama told reporters that he has decided to accept a court-brokered settlement plan for a damages suit filed by unrecognized sufferers of Minamata mercury poisoning disease.

French Foreign Minister Kouchner meets with Hatoyama

French Foreign Minister Kouchner meets with Hatoyama

TOKYO, Japan - Visiting French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner (L) shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on March 18, 2010, as he pays a courtesy call on Hatoyama.

Ozeki hopeful Baruto steamrolls to stay tied for Osaka lead

Ozeki hopeful Baruto steamrolls to stay tied for Osaka lead

OSAKA, Japan - Estonian sekiwake Baruto (R) sends No. 1 maegashira Wakanosato to the ground on the fifth day of the 15-day Spring Grand Sumo Tournament at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium in Osaka on March 18, 2010, maintaining a share of the lead with five wins and no loss.

U.S. agrees with Japan to return Okinawa air control on March 31

U.S. agrees with Japan to return Okinawa air control on March 31

TOKYO, Japan - Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Seiji Maehara speaks about a Japan-U.S. agreement on air traffic control rights around the main Okinawa island at a news conference in Tokyo on March 18, 2010. Maehara said the United States agreed to return to Japan on March 31 the rights that have long been controlled by U.S. forces in Japan.

Ozeki Harumafuji beats Kyokutenho to stay tied for Osaka lead

Ozeki Harumafuji beats Kyokutenho to stay tied for Osaka lead

OSAKA, Japan - Mongolian ozeki Harumafuji (L) pushes compatriot second-ranked maegashira Kyokutenho out of the ring at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium in Osaka on March 18, 2010, remaining unbeaten during the first five days of the 15-day competition.

Japan urged to join Hague Convention on int'l parental abduction

Japan urged to join Hague Convention on int'l parental abduction

TOKYO, Japan - William Duncan, deputy secretary general of the Hague Conference on Private International Law, speaks at a news conference at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo on March 18, 2010. Duncan urged Japan to join the convention which covers international parental abduction, saying there are no technical reasons preventing Japan from doing so.

23 bil. yen settlement proposed for JR dispute

23 bil. yen settlement proposed for JR dispute

TOKYO, Japan - Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Seiji Maehara speaks to reporters at the transport ministry in Tokyo on March 18, 2010, after receiving a proposal for a 23 billion yen settlement package to resolve a 23-year-old dispute over the dismissal of unionized workers at the former state-run Japanese National Railways. Representatives of the ruling coalition parties and the New Komeito party met with Maehara to submit the proposal.

23 bil. yen settlement proposed for JR dispute

23 bil. yen settlement proposed for JR dispute

TOKYO, Japan - Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Seiji Maehara speaks to reporters at the transport ministry in Tokyo on March 18, 2010, after receiving a proposal for a 23 billion yen settlement package to resolve a 23-year-old dispute over the dismissal of unionized workers at the former state-run Japanese National Railways. Representatives of the ruling coalition parties and the New Komeito party met with Maehara to submit the proposal.

23 bil. yen settlement proposed for JR dispute

23 bil. yen settlement proposed for JR dispute

TOKYO, Japan - Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Seiji Maehara speaks to reporters at the transport ministry in Tokyo on March 18, 2010, after receiving a proposal for a 23 billion yen settlement package to resolve a 23-year-old dispute over the dismissal of unionized workers at the former state-run Japanese National Railways. Representatives of the ruling coalition parties and the New Komeito party met with Maehara to submit the proposal.

Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho unbeaten at spring sumo

Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho unbeaten at spring sumo

OSAKA, Japan - Mongolian yokozuna (grand champion) Hakuho (L) slaps down komusubi Kisenosato at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium in Osaka on March 18, 2010, remaining unbeaten during the first five days of the 15-day competition.

Universal Studios theme park opens in Singapore

Universal Studios theme park opens in Singapore

SINGAPORE, Singapore - Universal Studios new theme park in Singapore opens its doors to the public on March 18, 2010. The new theme park, Southeast Asia's largest, is located on Sentosa Island, which is connected by bridge, light rail and cable car to the main island.

IBM hit by Japan's largest corporate tax allegation

IBM hit by Japan's largest corporate tax allegation

TOKYO, Japan - Photo shows the headquarters of IBM Japan Ltd. in the Nihombashi district in Tokyo's Chuo Ward on March 18, 2010. The IBM Japan group is suspected of failing to declare more than 400 billion yen in income, an amount believed to be the largest ever in the country.