Today's top news: Okada pitching grand coalition to LDP execs

*** Japan Times E-mail News Service ***
__________ Sunday, March 18, 2012 ________________

TODAY'S TOP STORIES
=========================

[NATIONAL NEWS]
Okada pitching grand coalition to LDP execs
Deputy Prime Minister Katsuya Okada approaches the Liberal Democratic Party about forming a grand coalition, hinting at the possibility of a general election.
[MORE] ->
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120318a1.html

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[NATIONAL NEWS]
Facial ID system mulled to speed up airport immigration
The Justice Ministry is considering the use of facial identification systems at airports to speed up immigration procedures, and may start tests this summer.
[MORE] ->
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120318a2.html

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[NATIONAL NEWS]
Toyama concludes cadmium cleanup
Toyama celebrates the end of a cleanup project to restore cadmium-tainted farmland that led to the emergence of "itai itai disease" more than three decades ago.
[MORE] ->
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120318a3.html

[More news]
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news.html

OTHER NEWS
=========================

[NATIONAL NEWS]
Japan, U.S. lock horns over report on Futenma repairs
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120318a4.html

[NATIONAL NEWS]
Number of visa overstayers plunges 14% to all-time low
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120318a5.html

[NATIONAL NEWS]
Oe, other Japanese writers featured at Paris Book Fair
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120318a6.html

[NATIONAL NEWS]
Honda fuel economy suit settled in U.S.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120318a7.html

[NATIONAL NEWS]
Station renamed after Sky Tree
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120318a8.html

[NATIONAL NEWS]
Food poisoning deaths jumped in '11
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120318a9.html

[NATIONAL NEWS]
KANSAI: Who & What
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120318k1.html

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OPINION
=========================

[JT EDITORIAL]
Time for antinuclear protests
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/ed20120318a1.html

[JT EDITORIAL]
No graduation for too many
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/ed20120318a2.html

[More Op-Ed stories]
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion.html

FEATURES
=========================

[BOOKS]
A metro area that excels in architectural details
GIANNI SIMONE
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fb20130318a1.html

[BOOKS]
Mystery, history and excitement in old Japan
MARK SCHREIBER
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fb20130318a2.html

[MEDIA]
Yu Darvish under the magnifying glass
MARK SCHREIBER
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fd20120318bj.html

[MEDIA]
Goro plays up comic side; the journey of the cherry blossom tree; CM of the week: Kirin Hyoketsu
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fd20120318cs.html

[MEDIA]
Quake insurance is but a token offering
PHILIP BRASOR
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fd20120318pb.html

[ENVIRONMENT]
Birds of a feather
MARK BRAZIL
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fe20120318mb.html

[LIFE IN JAPAN]
Frog battles carp, indignant seamen strike, Roppongi the new night-life hub, passive-smoking case stubbed out
EDAN CORKILL
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20120318ec.html

[LIFE IN JAPAN]
There may be no time like the present -- but the present's no time at all
ROGER PULVERS
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20120318rp.html

[LIFE IN JAPAN]
Lucky Dragon's lethal catch
MARK SCHREIBER
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20120318x1.html

[LIFE IN JAPAN]
Plan to N-shrine reactors for millennia
EDAN CORKILL
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20120318x2.html

[LIFE IN JAPAN]
Ryunosuke Akutagawa in focus
ERIKO ARITA
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20120318x3.html

[TRAVEL]
Dazaifu's rich past still delights today
MANDY BARTOK
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fv20120318a1.html

[For features]
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life.html
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/entertainment.html

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SPORTS
=========================

[BASEBALL]
After year off, Pettitte returns to Yanks
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sb20120318a1.html

[BASEBALL]
Wada awaits spring training debut
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sb20120318a2.html

[BASEBALL]
Tokyo Dome turns 25
WAYNE GRACZYK
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sb20120318wg.html

[SOCCER]
FIFA given reassurances
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sc20120318a1.html

[AMERICAN FOOTBALL]
Play for Peyton down to 49ers, Titans, Broncos
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sf20120318a1.html

[GOLF]
Dufner takes lead in Transitions
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sg20120318a1.html

[ICE HOCKEY]
Sens top Habs, move into first place
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sh20120318a1.html

[J.LEAGUE SOCCER]
Despotovic goal delivers victory for Reds against Reysol
ANDREW MCKIRDY
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sj20120318a1.html

[BASKETBALL]
Lehigh stuns second-seeded Duke
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sk20120318a1.html

[BASKETBALL]
Parker, Duncan lead Spurs past Thunder
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sk20120318a2.html

[BASKETBALL]
Brex, Palmer part ways
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sk20120318a3.html

[BASKETBALL]
UAB dismisses hoop boss Davis
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sk20120318a4.html

[BASKETBALL]
T-Wolves' Rubio set for knee surgery
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sk20120318a5.html

[BASKETBALL]
Evessa nab emotional victory without star Washington
ED ODEVEN
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sk20120318b1.html

[SPORTS]
Shinshu's Raivio making impression with speed, skills
ED ODEVEN
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sp20120318eo.html

[SPORTS]
Q-chan, ex-trainer likely to tie knot
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sp20120318t1.html

[SUMO]
Kakuryu, Hakuho tied for lead in Spring Basho
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/ss20120318b1.html

[TENNIS]
Rafa, Roger to battle again
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/st20120318a1.html

[More Sports Stories]
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports.html
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/sumo.html

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