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The article focuses on the Japanese sport of sumo, a form of wrestling. The sport's important role in the traditions of the country's social life and customs is considered. A series of scandals affecting sumo, including the death of a 17-year old wrestler during training, are examined. An influx of foreign athletes into the sport and a decline in interest among young men and male teenagers in becoming sumo wrestlers is discussed. The role of the rituals of the Shinto religion in sumo is considered. Teenage sumo wrestlers in training discuss their attitudes towards the sport.

The article provides information on and reflections on consumption statistics provided by the book "Hungry Planet" written by Peter Menzel and Faith D'Aluisio. The two went to various countries, recording what different families consume in a week's time. Some of the countries reported on include Japan, Germany and Chad.

Reports on the development of wind farms, which provide alternative power sources in place of fossil fuels. Growth of wind farms in the U.S., including in Texas and Oregon; Explanation of renewable power generated by windmills; Need for diversification of energy sources; Use of clean energy by industrialized nations and oil companies; Efforts to improve the storage of electricity from renewable sources; Need for modern energy in impoverished nations; Necessity for political involvement in order to increase the use of renewable energy.

Focuses on race relations on Okinawa, Japan, which is the site of several United States military bases, in light of rape allegations against a U.S. airman. Details of the case of Air Force staff sergeant Timothy Woodland; Effect of the case on U.S. and Japan relations; American influence on the culture of the archipelago's 60 tropical islands called Okinawa; Mention of a 'kokujo' subculture fetishizing blacks; Topics of racism and sexism.

The article reports on the market for flat screen plasma and LCD televisions. While it seems as though hordes of couch potatoes are snapping up the latest displays, the wonders of LCD and plasma TV technology are still well out of reach for the average shopper. At retailer Circuit City, sales of flat-TV models have tripled over the past year, prompting CEO W. Alan McCollough to label this Christmas "a flat-panel holiday." But as long as the price tag on a flat-screen TV is four or more times as much as a comparable tube TV, many consumers will drool and dream but not bite. "Prices [of flat TVs] will be cheaper for consumers this holiday season, but not cheap enough to have them explode off the shelves," says Chris Connery, vice president of market research at DisplaySearch, a consulting firm based in Austin, Texas. It's a virtual lock that the magic price point--at which flat-panel TVs switch from being a status symbol of the rich and hip to an everyday feature in American living rooms--will be reached in the near future. That's because the Asian consumer-electronics companies that dominate the flat-panel industry are building too many factories too fast. A glut is in the offing, and while prices have already been falling, more rapid declines are expected. Consulting firm iSuppli Corp. estimates that a 37-in. LCD TV that now retails for more than $4,000 will cost half as much in 2006 and is likely to be less than $1,000 by 2008. Plasma TVs will also see prices decline. A 42-in. plasma set that costs on average $2,700 today will probably fall to under $1,000 by 2007.

This article reports on the political decline of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. On September 12, 2007, he resigned his position within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Abe emphasized a strong military and global presence for Japan but citizens were more concerned with economic issues, specifically medical and pension reform. A stunning parliamentary loss to the Democratic Party of Japan in July sealed his fate.

The article features politician Shinzo Abe, who is poised to become Japan's new Prime Minister. Abe had been active on the abductee issue since the late 1980s. The family of Megumi Yokota, who is believed to be abducted in 1977, says Abe is warm and compassionate. Minoru Morita, a liberal political commentator, regards Abe as the most dangerous politician in the country.

The article discusses the succession crisis facing the monarchy of Japan and the Imperial Household Agency, the government body that manages every detail of the royal family's affairs. Japan's royal family has been gripped by a succession crisis. By law, the throne can pass only to males. With the chance of a royal baby boy looking increasingly remote, Prime Minister Juniehiro Koizumi backed an initiative that sought to change the succession rules to allow a female heiress.

The article informs that Asian countries help the brutal military regime of Burma by doing business with the country. Thuang Htun, who participated in a student-led uprising against Burma's military regime and then fled to Thailand when the generals crushed the movement in 1988, has not abandoned hope that one day democracy will come to the country and it will be safe for him to return.

The article informs that Takafumi Horie, founder and chief executive officer of Japan-based Livedoor, one of the country's biggest Internet companies, has been entangled in a fraud investigation. Horie is rattling stock markets and raising doubts about Japan's economic recovery. Also, Horie made the news almost every day.

The article presents information about various inventions in 2005. The company Intelligent Energy has invented the ENV motorcycle which runs on a hydrogen-powered fuel-cell engine. Fischer GmbH has invented the Magnetic Speed tennis racket. Chef David Burke has created a line of flavor sprays that mimic the taste of high-calorie foods but have no fat, calories or carbohydrates.

The article focuses on the relations between Japan and the U.S. In Kyoto, U.S. president George W. Bush was to meet Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi. It has become conventional wisdom on both sides of the Pacific to assert that the U.S.-Japan alliance is now closer and stronger than it has ever been.

The article reports on the employment opportunities available to the women in Japan. The women in Japan have high level of smartness and entrepreneurial skills. Despite being the world's second largest economy, half of its population is still preserved in the amber of a tradition-bound past. In terms of economic opportunity and political empowerment, Japanese women rank 52nd and 54th respectively out of 58.

This article discusses various issues related to the Japan economic and social conditions which are going through bad phase. As the country struggles to evolve from its mainstay manufacturing base into technology and high-value service industries, several generations of Japanese are in danger of becoming lost in transition. Japan, which prides itself on social harmony, is bifurcating along geographic and social lines resulting in a distinct divide between the rich and the poor.

The article focuses on the relationship between China and Japan which seems to deteriorate due to the influence of some aggressive politicians in the Japanese Diet. China expressed her anger over the inclusion of Japan's most notorious World War II war criminals to the list of war dead who are paid respect in the Yasukuni Shrine, Tokyo. Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is trying to conciliate China but the more representative politicians in Japan are holding a tough stand on the issue.

The article focuses on air pollution in various Asian countries and the efforts of their government to control it. According to the World Health Organization, two-thirds of the 800,000 premature deaths caused by air pollution globally occur in Asia. Long-term exposure to air pollution can raise the risk of pulmonary and heart disease, irritate underlying respiratory conditions and potentially take months or more off a healthy life span.

The article analyses the waning popularity of Japan's Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi, in Japan. Once boasting an approval rating of 87%, Koizumi's power base has always been his overwhelming public mandate. However, popular support has suddenly dissipated at a crucial juncture in his career. According to recent opinion polls, voters are annoyed by the way the citizens' premiums were raised and their payouts were lowered, while little was done to solve the system's fundamental flaws.

The article focuses on the efforts of Asian nations to help the U.S. in rebuilding Iraq. The mission of the Japanese forces is to support the development of water-purification projects and the reconstruction of schools and medical facilities. Protesters against troop dispatches in Iraq have created protests in Bangkok, Seoul and Tokyo. The calculus of helping the U.S. in Iraq was a complicated collision of political and economic interests. INSET: ASIA'S PRESENCE.

The article focuses on the declining sales of Nintendo's video games. The company had to stop the production of GameCubes video game consoles for the first nine months of 2003 due to an inventory of unsold videogames. The company's performance has been affected by its reluctance to sell its products to older teenagers and adults. Technology experts state that Nintendo should concentrate on software development in order to improve its operation.

The article discusses the nuclear proliferation threat posed by North Korea. The country has already been selling deadly weapons to countries including Pakistan, Libya, Syria and Iran as well. But analysts and hard-liners in the U.S. are increasingly concerned that a desperate North Korea is spreading more than conventional arms and it is supplying its atomic weapons technology to Iran, creating far more dangerous alliance between the two.

The article presents information on the international criminal enterprises run by Kim Jong II, leader of Democratic People's Republic of Korea, in North Korea. North Korea is a hotbed of counterfeiting and car smuggling. North Korea supplies drugs to Russia and China, South Korea and Taiwan. North Korea also exports heroin and methamphetamines to its neighboring countries.

Focuses on how the World Cup soccer tournament can unify diverse cultural groups. Idea that a soccer team is an embodiment of national pride and passion; Examples of how soccer fans demonstrate their enthusiasm; Outlook for the 2002 World Cup in Japan; Countries that are favored to win, including France, Brazil and Argentina; Analysis of various teams' strengths and weaknesses.

This article focuses on whether 2007 automobile models being introduced by Nissan will enable the company to boost its sagging sales. After a long run of record sales and profits largely engineered by the multicontinental managing of its CEO, Carlos Ghosn, the company introduced models in 2006 that scored dismally in consumer surveys and which tarnished the company's image.

The article discusses the economic outlook for Sony as it rolls out the Play Station 3 (PS3). CEO Sir Howard Stringer has been revamping the company by laying off workers and appointing new division heads in the wake of problems with Sony-made lithium-ion batteries, which had an occasional tendency to caiuse some laptop computers to catch fire. Otherwise, the company has had a profitable year. Analysts worry that the PS3s coming to market are too few, too expensive, and potential earnings dampeners.

This article focuses on inventions involving toy robots. The ApriAlpha and ApriAttenda, invented by Toshiba Corp., can distinguish voices and recognize people and use that recognition to follow its target around. Takara of Japan invented the Walkie Bits, miniature turtles that walk around a mimic rhythmic patterns. Philips Research in the Netherlands invented the iCat, which can display different facial expressions depending on its mood. ZMP Inc. invented Nuvo, a 15-inch robot that can walk around, do tricks and take pictures from its cyclops camera lens.

This article focuses on inventions related to sports and outdoor recreation. LandRoller has invented a pair of skates with oversized wheels that angle inward to help skaters keep their balance. Cam Bresinger invented Nemo Equipment's inflatable tent, which has two supporting beams that are pumped with air and are virtually unpopable. Morey's Taloa III bodyboard, invented by Chris Taloa, has a stiff, lightweight polypropylene core and graphite rod for strength, and mesh reinforcement for optimal flexibility. Hydro Epic surfboards, invented by Mark Itnyre and Peter Mehiel, are hollow inside and have an extra-sturdy shell of a carbon fiber-Kevlar composite.

This article focuses on inventions related to health and medicine. Deborah Adler invented Target Pharmacy's new drug containers, called ClearRx, which are flattened out so crucial information can be read without turning the bottle. The LifeStraw, invented by Vestergaard Frandsen Group, uses many filters to remove contaminants to make water safe enough to drink. The ELI plug, invented by Randall Roberts, is a wireless cell-phone headset that plugs into hearing-aids. Ellis Developments Ltd. invented the Bioimplantable Device, an implantable internal bandage that helps patients swiftly recover from shoulder-joint-replacement surgery. Yoshiyuki Sankai invented the Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL), which is an exoskeleton support system that can help elderly and motion-impaired people walk.

This article focuses on inventions related to food and drink. The Topsy-Turvy planet invented by Bill Felknor allows people to grow certain vegetables upside-down and Greg Drouillard has invented natural-light labeling for fruit, which uses lasers to etch information onto the side of fruits and vegetables without damage. The TurboTap, invented by Matthew Younkle eliminates the need for bartenders to tilt glasses to avoid a big head. The Dream Taste glass pitcher invented by Gérard Michel removes trichloroanisole molecules from wine corks that can taint the wine. David Burke has invented a line of flavor sprays that mimic the taste of high-calorie foods but have no fat.

This article presents information on several inventions related to wheels and transportation. Michelin had developed an airless tire called the Tweel that is more rugged than pneumatic tires because it never goes flat. The ENV bike, which looks like a motorcycle, can travel at speeds of up to 50 m.p.h. on its hydrogen-powered fuel-cell engine. Yoshiaki Kato, of Tokyo, has invented the i-unit, a four-wheel personal transport system powered by lithium-ion batteries.

Profiles Japanese-American singer Utada Hikaru, who is attending Columbia University in New York City. Her success in Asia; Comparisons between Hikaru and singer Britney Spears; Her desire to retire and work in neuroscience.

The article profiles Japanese author Haruki Murakami, who has returned to his birth country after several years abroad. The author examines Murakami's career, from his first novel entitled "Hear the Wind Sing" to his latest book, "After Dark," as well as his translation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby."

The article focuses on how despite their old age, the elderly in Japan feel motivated to excel in every field and contribute to the society. Around 71% of Japanese men between 60 and 64 are still working. Many of those who are not drawing a paycheck remain active as volunteers for charitable causes. Japanese senior citizens are ready and eager to work overtime. A 2001 government report found that 72% of Japanese believed the ideal retirement age was about 65 or 70.

The article focuses on issues related to the Chinese currency, the yuan. Pegged to the U.S. dollar since 1994, China's currency had come to embody the industrialized world's fears of a hypercompetitive mainland staging a hostile takeover of global manufacturing. Led by the U.S., critics accused China of clinging to the dollar peg in order to keep the yuan artificially weak, making its exports extra cheap and fostering a worrisome trade gap with the U.S.

The article presents information about an exhibition displaying the treasures of Kotohira-gu, commonly called Konpira, an important Shinto shrine in Kotohira on Shikoku island in southern Japan. The greatest joy of the exhibition--and what sets it apart from more standard museum displays of Japanese master-pieces--is the chance to view the art in the environment for which it was created.

The article focuses on issues concerning risks faced by Asians in Iraq following recent kidnappings of Japanese and Korean civilians. Civilians from Japan and South Korea, as well as Canada, Britain, the U.S., Italy and Israel, were taken hostage across Iraq. As terror attacks metastasize across the globe, many are worried that an Asian capital may be next, particularly given that the Madrid train attack prompted the new Spanish government to pledge to withdraw its troops from Iraq.

The article presents information related to Takashi Murakami, painter, sculptor, cartoonist and handbag king. Murakami is best known for his giant, swirling, phantasmagorical canvases starring a cartoon imp named Mr. DOB. He asserts that in Japan, there is little money, prestige or exposure in being a fine artist.

Discusses how the birth of a baby girl to Princess Masako and Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan is lifting the spirit of the nation. Hopes for the country's rejuvenation; Public's response to the birth; History of Japanese royals since the end of World War II; Issue of a law that allows only male heirs to take the throne; Details of the celebration; Attitudes toward the royal family.

The article reports on the small village of Taiji, the birthplace of Japan's whaling industry. Described is the significant consumption of meat derived from whales and dolphins, many of which are caught in the waters off Taiji and are processed there. The article examines the threat posed by mercury contamination in the meat of cetaceans.

The article profiles Japanese engineer Shuji Nakamura and his work on researching ultra high efficiency light emitting diodes (LEDs). These lightbulbs waste minimal amounts of power, last about 100 times longer and are created with semiconductors. Nakamura hopes this is the lightbulb of the future.

The article focuses on current problems that Japanese professional baseball is having. It is suggested that among other things, the recent sales of players to U.S. teams has caused the waning popularity of professional baseball in Japan. Particular focus is given to the sale of pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka to the Boston Red Sox.

A 2007 meeting of the International Whaling Commission (I.W.C) will attempt to stop Japanese whale hunting for the sake of scientific research. Conservationists in Australia and the United States will vote to reinstate a moratorium on commercial whaling that was overturned last year by Japanese allies.

This article presents information about some new electronic equipment. The article presents the names of the inventors and descriptions of the equipment including Slingbox which allows you to watch anything on your home TV or TiVo anywhere on any Web-enabled device outfitted with special software, a door that opens only as much as the size of the person or object passing through called Fukuda's Automatic Door, and Scooba, iRobot's robotic tile, linoleum, and hardwood floor cleaner and squeegee-vac.

This article focuses on the AntWorks ant farm invented by Fascinations and the Hand Roll Piano invented by Yamano Music. AntWorks is a new kind of ant farm that uses a clear, seaweed-based gel packed with the nutrients ants need to survive. Incorporating technology used in remote control buttons and touch panels, the silicone-rubber Hand Roll Piano has 61-keys and rolls up like a blanket.

This article focuses on inventions related to papers and fabrics. Cannondale's new Carbon LE line of cycling wear, invented by Greg Haggquist, is made from moisture-wicking, odor-absorbing, UV-ray-protective polyester. Takao Someya, a researcher at the University of Tokyo, has created an electric film that can detect pressure and temperature and which may be used as a sense of touch in robots. Sally Ramsey of Ecology Coatings has invented a new type of waterproof paper that might be perfect for shipping labels.

This article focuses on the Partner Ballroom Dance Robot, a 5-ft. 5-in. waltzing humanoid. The robot has upper-body sensors that allow it to predict its partner's next steps. Dancing is just one application, and robotics professor Kazuhiro Kosuge will also be able to help provide better service for older people. The dancing droid was designed by Tohoku University, Nomura Unison Group and TroisO Co. Ltd.

This article focuses on the Smart Rope from Squid Labs, the Sleeptracker watch invented by Lee Loree and the PlayStation Portable (PSP) by Sony Computer Entertainment. The Smart Rope is imbedded with electrically conductive metal fibers that can sense the amount of weight it is bearing and alerts users to a load that is too great. The Sleeptracker senses the wearer's motion to determine the best time to set off the alarm in order to prevent grogginess in the morning. The PSP can play games and movies on its widescreen display.