A FORMER Japanese finance minister who stepped down after appearing to be drunk at an overseas news conference was found dead in his home yesterday, police said, ruling out foul play.

The man who killed seven people in a stabbing rampage in Tokyo had an arsenal of knives during the attack, police said today.

The death toll from a midday stabbing spree in Tokyo has risen to six.

The US Embassy in Tokyo today said it had received a possible threat against US facilities in Japan and warned American citizens to be on guard against suspicious activity.