"A Japanese minister apologised Tuesday over the escape of a 'model' inmate who fled an open prison more than a week ago, as the number of police hunting him passed 6,000"

Yahoo:

The case is making headline news in Japan with TV channels picking over the manhunt in minute detail.

...

Slowing the search is the fact that there are about 1,000 vacant houses on the island, but police need permission from owners each time they search inside, according to the Mainichi Shimbun.