The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Japanese government is still pressuring Apple regarding the first-generation iPod Nano risk of overheating, and possibly catching fire.

The ministry is requesting Apple Japan to explain the cause of overheating, whether similar incidents have been reported domestically and abroad and what prevention and cautionary measures have been taken to counter such incidents, according to Seiji Shimagami, a ministry official who works in consumer product safety.

The order came following an incident in Tokyo that took place on July 13, when sparks flew from a user’s device while it was recharging, according to Masahiro Yamazaki, the head of the consumer product safety unit at METI.

The Japanese bureaucracy in charge of consumer oversight has documented 27 instances of sparks flying from the devices while being charged. Six of these incidence have occurred since a consumer warning was issued two years ago.

“iPods are incredibly well designed and safety is the highest priority for Apple. We are taking METI’s letter in regard to the first generation iPod nano very seriously and are working closely with them to answer their concerns,” Apple said in a statement.

We heard a similar story from South Korea this time last year, and Apple has told concerned customers to contact the company with any questions, all while acknowledging the possibility of overheating in their support document.

MacRumors reports that over the weekend, two prototype iPod touches were listed on eBay before they were removed. Photos were posted by 9to5Mac and a YouTube video by Bilsta57 recorded the rest(this is where MacRumors got most of their information).
The eBay description:

“Well..These were R & D units..One wont turn off and has some wierd OS…or lack of firmware So it will be dead when you get it,,,but will power up when you plug it in…The other won’t turn on has a brown spot on the screen. Both have cameras”

The video poster noted that he he had contacted the eBay poster inquiring about the device’s origins. The response:

“Sorry… Have no idea… I bought them from a guy at a flea market and he bought them from a live auction here in the Bay Area.”

This removes what little doubt was remain regarding last year’s iPod touch rumors that suggested the new model would indeed have a camera. However, it seems that Apple, shortly before launch, decided to remove the camera, and thus current iPod touch models have no such camera.