JAPANESE HIGHWAY ANGERS MOTORISTS

The Umecha Highway in northern Kysushu is in the spotlight today, as a Local Council meets in Fukuoka to decide whether events taking place yesterday were justified. According to the Council, three motorists travelled the length of the 30km highway, only to be turned back at the toll booth because today was a "bus and truck only day". The motorists protested that there were no signs warning them of this, and that they would be willing to pay the full toll and pass through. However, highway personel are alleged to have consulted their manuals and turned the drivers back, the latter of whom faced a close to 100km round trip to their destinations. Whether they attempted to charge the angry drivers for their mistake was not disclosed. The meetings are scheduled every day for the next 10 days, where more news will no doubt surface.