News reading humanoid Parlo

News reading humanoid Parlo

TOKYO, Japan - This photo shows Fujisoft Inc.'s humanoid Parlo moving during a demonstration in Tokyo on Feb. 1, 2010. The Japanese firm will start to sell the 40-centimeter-tall, 1.6-kilogram robot that can talk and read out online news articles to educational institutions for 298,000 yen starting March 15.

Diamond-studded Christmas tree going for 200.7 million yen

Diamond-studded Christmas tree going for 200.7 million yen

TOKYO, Japan - A diamond-studded Christmas tree is on display at the Nihonbashi Takashimaya department store in Tokyo on Nov. 13. The 40-centimeter-tall Christmas tree is studded with 400 diamonds, the largest weighing 3 karats, and lined with chemically treated miniature roses. The Christmas tree comes with a teddy bear with a diamond necklace. Takashimaya says the set was specially designed for Christmas 2007 with the price set at 200.7 million yen. Without the diamonds, the tree and the teddy bear carry a more affordable price tag: 52,500 yen. The diamond Christmas tree set will be displayed for public viewing from Nov. 14 to Dec. 4.

New version of 'Dragon Quest' to be marketed in Sept.

New version of 'Dragon Quest' to be marketed in Sept.

TOKYO, Japan - Game software developer SQUARE ENIX Co. will put on the market Sept. 19 a new version of its popular ''Dragon Quest'' home video game software that includes a plastic sword (foreground) and a small camera (background). If users move the 40-centimeter sword some 1.5 meters away from a TV screen, the camera captures the sword's movement and shows it on the screen.

Giraffe at Akita zoo gets artificial leg

Giraffe at Akita zoo gets artificial leg

AKITA, Japan - A nine-month-old giraffe named Taiyo, who underwent an operation to receive an artificial leg on his front right leg on May 14, looks well in his stall at Omoriyama Zoo in Akita on May 16. Doctors made a 40-centimeter-long incision in order to attach the artificial leg. The giraffe stands about 280 centimeters tall and weighs 200 kilograms.

News reading humanoid Parlo

News reading humanoid Parlo

TOKYO, Japan - This photo shows Fujisoft Inc.'s humanoid Parlo moving during a demonstration in Tokyo on Feb. 1, 2010. The Japanese firm will start to sell the 40-centimeter-tall, 1.6-kilogram robot that can talk and read out online news articles to educational institutions for 298,000 yen starting March 15. (Kyodo)

Diamond-studded Christmas tree going for 200.7 million yen

Diamond-studded Christmas tree going for 200.7 million yen

TOKYO, Japan - A diamond-studded Christmas tree is on display at the Nihonbashi Takashimaya department store in Tokyo on Nov. 13. The 40-centimeter-tall Christmas tree is studded with 400 diamonds, the largest weighing 3 karats, and lined with chemically treated miniature roses. The Christmas tree comes with a teddy bear with a diamond necklace. Takashimaya says the set was specially designed for Christmas 2007 with the price set at 200.7 million yen. Without the diamonds, the tree and the teddy bear carry a more affordable price tag: 52,500 yen. The diamond Christmas tree set will be displayed for public viewing from Nov. 14 to Dec. 4. (Kyodo)

New version of 'Dragon Quest' to be marketed in Sept.

New version of 'Dragon Quest' to be marketed in Sept.

TOKYO, Japan - Game software developer SQUARE ENIX Co. will put on the market Sept. 19 a new version of its popular ''Dragon Quest'' home video game software that includes a plastic sword (foreground) and a small camera (background). If users move the 40-centimeter sword some 1.5 meters away from a TV screen, the camera captures the sword's movement and shows it on the screen. (Kyodo)