Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010
DPJ kingpin Ichiro Ozawa is given the go sign to remain as the party's secretary general by Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama despite mounting public calls that he step down over his fund management body's involvement in a shady Tokyo land purchase.
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NEEDLEWORK
Feb. 9, 2010
Two men in the sewing industry dump old needles into a pot Monday during the annual "harikuyo" rite at Shojuin Temple in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo. The needles were brought in by tailors and others seeking improved skills and to avoid needle-related injuries.
SATOKO KAWASAKI
CHAIN SAW SCULPTING
Feb. 7, 2010
Tetsuya Kajitani, a lumberjack in Nara Prefecture, sculpts a 90-year-old cedar log using a chain saw to create "A cabin in the forest" during an event in Tokyo's Akihabara district on Friday. Kajitani's artwork was part of the two-day event that ended Saturday aimed at familiarizing people with the forestry industry and its employment opportunities.
SATOKO KAWASAKI PHOTO
IN COD WE TRUST
Feb. 5, 2010
Cod hanging on a bar are dedicated to Konourasan Shrine in Nikaho, Akita Prefecture, on Thursday as part of the annual Kakeyo Matsuri, a festival held to mark the first day of spring and pray for a large catch for the year.
KYODO PHOTO
LET 'EM HAVE IT
Feb. 4, 2010
Children throw beans at a "setsubun" festival to mark the coming of spring at Fukagawa Shinmeigu Shrine in Koto Ward, Tokyo, on Wednesday. The beans are thrown to drive away evil spirits and bring in good luck.
SATOKO KAWASAKI PHOTO
GOOD PACKING
Feb. 3, 2010
A priest cleans up snow at Rengeji Temple in Suginami Ward, Tokyo, on Tuesday morning after the capital saw the season's first accumulation overnight.
SATOKO KAWASAKI PHOTO
HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE?
Jan. 31, 2010
A diver feeds a heart-shaped squid fillet to a pitted stingray at Sunshine International Aquarium in Tokyo Saturday. The Saint Valentine's Day event runs through Feb. 14.
AP PHOTO
STAGE OF MATRIMONY
Jan. 30, 2010
Kabuki actor Ichikawa Ebizo, 32, and his fiancee, TV celebrity Mao Kobayashi, 27, greet the media Friday at their engagement announcement in Minato Ward, Tokyo. Their wedding is scheduled for July.
KYODO PHOTO
GREAT WALL OF 'HINA'
Jan. 29, 2010
Some 500 "hina" dolls are displayed Thursday at a festival preview for the Hyakudan Hina Matsuri at Meguro Gajoen in Tokyo.
YOSHIAKI MIURA PHOTO
PROTECTING THE ASSETS
Jan. 27, 2010
A fire drill is staged at Horyuji Temple in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, on Tuesday, the day designated to protect cultural properties from disaster. On Jan. 26, 1949, one of the main halls of the temple, which dates back to 607, was damaged in a blaze and 12 wall paintings designated as national treasures were lost.
KYODO PHOTO
Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010
Kirin Holdings and Suntory Holdings say their tieup negotiations failed because they could not agree on the merger ratio.
Japan Airlines is expected to remain in the oneworld grouping led by American Airlines and drop plans to ally with Delta Air Lines and its SkyTeam members.
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NEWS FEATURE SERIES
 For Your Information
FYI is a weekly series that gives background information on current news topics in Japan. The aim is to help readers better understand domestic news and
put events in their political, economic and social contexts.
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