2 Kyoto hotels banned from taking customers over quake weakness

2 Kyoto hotels banned from taking customers over quake weakness

KYOTO, Japan - The 11-story, 515-room Apa Hotel Kyoto-Eki-Horikawadori, one of two Kyoto hotels banned by the Kyoto city government on Jan. 25 from taking customers due to their vulnerability to earthquakes. The other hotel is the 10-story, 139-room Apa Villa Hotel Kyoto-Ekimae, which opened in 2004. Apa Hotel Kyoto-Eki-Horikawadori opened in 2005. The city government said construction of the two facilities was based on quakeproof data fabricated by Tamura Mizuochi Sekkei, a building planning firm based in Toyama.

Condo developer Huser sues local gov'ts over building screenings

Condo developer Huser sues local gov'ts over building screenings

TOKYO, Japan - Condominium developer Huser Ltd. President Susumu Ojima speaks during a news conference in Tokyo on Jan. 30 after his company filed a lawsuit earlier in the day with the Tokyo District Court demanding 18 local governments pay 14 billion yen in damages for overlooking quakeproof data fabrications despite their screenings of building plans for its condominiums.

Police probe condo built on fake quakeproof data

Police probe condo built on fake quakeproof data

TOKYO, Japan - Police conduct an on-site probe Jan. 26 of Stage Daimon, a Tokyo condominium built based on fabricated quake-resistance data.

Condo developer Huser sues local gov'ts over building screenings

Condo developer Huser sues local gov'ts over building screenings

TOKYO, Japan - Condominium developer Huser Ltd. President Susumu Ojima speaks during a news conference in Tokyo on Jan. 30 after his company filed a lawsuit earlier in the day with the Tokyo District Court demanding 18 local governments pay 14 billion yen in damages for overlooking quakeproof data fabrications despite their screenings of building plans for its condominiums. (Kyodo)

2 Kyoto hotels banned from taking customers over quake weakness

2 Kyoto hotels banned from taking customers over quake weakness

KYOTO, Japan - The 11-story, 515-room Apa Hotel Kyoto-Eki-Horikawadori, one of two Kyoto hotels banned by the Kyoto city government on Jan. 25 from taking customers due to their vulnerability to earthquakes. The other hotel is the 10-story, 139-room Apa Villa Hotel Kyoto-Ekimae, which opened in 2004. Apa Hotel Kyoto-Eki-Horikawadori opened in 2005. The city government said construction of the two facilities was based on quakeproof data fabricated by Tamura Mizuochi Sekkei, a building planning firm based in Toyama. (Kyodo)

Police probe condo built on fake quakeproof data

Police probe condo built on fake quakeproof data

TOKYO, Japan - Police conduct an on-site probe Jan. 26 of Stage Daimon, a Tokyo condominium built based on fabricated quake-resistance data. (Kyodo)

General meeting at Fukushima plant

General meeting at Fukushima plant

TOKYO, Japan - Handout photo shows Masao Yoshida, director of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, attending a general meeting of officials in a quakeproof building of the plant in Fukushima Prefecture on May 30, 2011. They hold such a meeting twice a day with the Tokyo headquarters of Tokyo Electric Power Co. as part of operations to put the crippled plant under control, according to TEPCO. (Photo courtesy of Tokyo Electric Power Co.) (Kyodo)

General meeting at Fukushima plant

General meeting at Fukushima plant

TOKYO, Japan - Handout photo shows officials holding a general meeting in a quakeproof building of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in Fukushima Prefecture on May 27, 2011. They hold such a meeting twice a day with the Tokyo headquarters of Tokyo Electric Power Co. as part of operations to put the crippled plant under control, according to TEPCO. (Photo courtesy of Tokyo Electric Power Co.) (Kyodo)

General meeting at Fukushima plant

General meeting at Fukushima plant

TOKYO, Japan - Handout photo shows the Japanese national flag Hinomaru with encouraging messages sent from the United States displayed on the wall as officials hold a general meeting in a quakeproof building of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in Fukushima Prefecture on May 30, 2011. They hold such a meeting twice a day with the Tokyo headquarters of Tokyo Electric Power Co. as part of operations to put the crippled plant under control, according to TEPCO. (Photo courtesy of Tokyo Electric Power Co.) (Kyodo)

General meeting at Fukushima plant

General meeting at Fukushima plant

TOKYO, Japan - Handout photo shows officials holding a general meeting in a quakeproof building of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in Fukushima Prefecture on May 25, 2011. They hold such a meeting twice a day with the Tokyo headquarters of Tokyo Electric Power Co. as part of operations to put the crippled plant under control, according to TEPCO. (Photo courtesy of Tokyo Electric Power Co.) (Kyodo)

Kaieda visits Fukushima nuke plant

Kaieda visits Fukushima nuke plant

FUKUSHIMA, Japan - In this handout photo, Japan's industry minister Banri Kaieda is briefed by employees of Tokyo Electric Power Co. inside a quakeproof building at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station on April 9, 2011. Kaieda visited the plant to encourage workers engaged in restoration efforts and check the condition of the troubled reactors. (Photo taken and supplied by Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency) (Kyodo)

Meeting at Fukushima nuke plant

Meeting at Fukushima nuke plant

TOKYO, Japan - Handout photo shows an emergency disaster headquarters meeting held inside a quakeproof building at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in Fukushima Prefecture on April 1, 2011. (Photo courtesy of Tokyo Electric Power Co.) (Kyodo)

Fukushima Daiichi plant

Fukushima Daiichi plant

TOKYO, Japan - Handout photo shows lead plates (back) stuck to windows inside a quakeproof building at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in Fukushima Prefecture on March 31, 2011. Many workers struggle in the building to put the crippled plant under control. Tokyo Electric Power Co. released photos inside the building on April 8, 2011. (Photo courtesy of Tokyo Electric Power Co.)(Kyodo)

Fukushima Daiichi plant

Fukushima Daiichi plant

TOKYO, Japan - Handout photo shows a control area at the entrance of a quakeproof building at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in Fukushima Prefecture on March 31, 2011. Many workers struggle in the building to put the crippled plant under control. Tokyo Electric Power Co. released photos inside the building on April 8, 2011. (Photo courtesy of Tokyo Electric Power Co.)(Kyodo)

Fukushima Daiichi plant

Fukushima Daiichi plant

TOKYO, Japan - Handout photo shows a ventilator with an activated carbon control in a quakeproof building at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in Fukushima Prefecture on March 31, 2011. Many workers struggle in the building to put the crippled plant under control. Tokyo Electric Power Co. released photos inside the building on April 8, 2011. (Photo courtesy of Tokyo Electric Power Co.)(Kyodo)

Fukushima Daiichi plant

Fukushima Daiichi plant

TOKYO, Japan - Handout photo shows a meeting held inside a quakeproof building at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in Fukushima Prefecture on April 1, 2011. Many workers struggle in the building to put the crippled plant under control. Tokyo Electric Power Co. released photos inside the building on April 8, 2011. (Photo courtesy of Tokyo Electric Power Co.)(Kyodo)