Japan is investigating a possible defect in Apple Inc's iPod Nano after one of the players shot out sparks while recharging, according to reports out of Tokyo today.

Japan’s trade and economy ministry has pointed to the lithium-ion battery in the iPod Nano model number MA099J/A as cause for the suspected defect and has classified the single incident as a “fire,” according to reports.

Apple Japan has been told by the ministry to identify what caused the fire and report back. The reports claim the iPod was assembled in China, but do not name the lithium-ion battery manufacture.

While negative press for its popular iPod line is rare, a lithium-ion battery scare is not unfamiliar territory for Apple. In 2006, the company recalled some 1.8 million lithium-ion laptop batteries as part of the PC industry’s large-scale Sony battery recall. That recall, which also impacted top computer OEMs including Dell and Lenovo, was forced after Sony laptop batteries began overheating and, in some cases, caused personal injury and fires.

However, the lithium-ion battery market has also served to benefit Apple in the past. Indeed, Apple’s stock rose on 2007 news that its iPhone would have a longer battery life than originally expected, based on lithium-ion power.

According to the reports, the iPod Nano problem was first identified in January and Apple reported the problem to the Japan ministry in March. No one was injured, the reports further said.

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