Gaffe touches a nerve

Even his wife was angry when Health Minister Hakuo Yanagisawa called women “birth-giving machines”, he outraged the many Japanese who have shed traditional gender stereotypes, confirming their suspicions that Japan’s leaders are out of step with the times. The gaffe has prompted opposition party calls for Yanagisawa to step down and has given the ruling camp another headache.
 
Japan's towering rage

Italy’s foreign minister has defended his country’s new cultural institute in the heart of Tokyo. Italy’s biggest overseas culture institute is 12 storeys high and bright red. Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara, an outspoken nationalist, last year joined a group of local residents in complaining that the building jarred Japanese sensibilities.

China border bloodbath

Chinese police are probing an apparent murder-suicide after finding seven bodies drenched with blood in a village near the Hong Kong border. Police found the victims, aged between 14 and 81 and including a family of five, in Baishayun village, Guangdong province. Yan’s son has also been arrested over the family murders.

Politician's quixotic quest

Taiwan legislator Alan Leong has announced that he had enough support to stand in a race for Hongkong’s top job, although he is almost certain to lose. The Civic Party legislator said he had secured the 100 nominations necessary to stand against the incumbent Donald Tsang in the election for chief executive on March 25.

History book battle

China has lashed out at Taiwan for dropping phrases from high school history text books that link the two as one country, saying the move was another step towards promoting the island’s independence. One of the most important changes is to substitute the word “China” for “our country” and “the mainland”.