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Diamond-studded Astro Boy displayed at Kyoto department store

Diamond-studded Astro Boy displayed at Kyoto department store

KYOTO, Japan - A diamond-studded Astro Boy, a cartoon character created by the late Osamu Tezuka, is displayed at a department store in Kyoto on July 24. The 10-centimeter character, which is studded with some 100,000,000 yen worth of diamonds, was made to mark his birthday, which falls on April 7, 2003, according to Tezuka's story.

(2)Events held to mark comic hero Astro Boy's 'birth'

(2)Events held to mark comic hero Astro Boy's 'birth'

TOKYO, Japan - The mayor of Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward, Hiroko Nakayama(R), hands a plaque on April 7 to a person dressed as Astro Boy, a cartoon character created by the late Osamu Tezuka, designating the character as the ward's ''special futuristic envoy'' to act as a mascot for various events. Tezuka's story depicts Astro Boy, a robot, being created April 7, 2003 at a ''Science Ministry'' in the ward.

Events held to mark comic hero Astro Boy's birth

Events held to mark comic hero Astro Boy's birth

TAKARAZUKA, Japan - Visitors to the public museum on the late cartoonist Osamu Tezuka in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture, receive dolls of Astro Boy, a cartoon character created by Tezuka, on April 7 to mark Astro Boy's birth. Tezuka's story depicts Astro Boy, a robot, being created April 7, 2003 at a ''Science Ministry.''

(1)Astro Boy's 'birthday' has robot makers eyeing big industry

(1)Astro Boy's 'birthday' has robot makers eyeing big industry

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese robot makers are aiming to create big business by capitalizing on the ''birthday'' April 7, 2003 of cartoon character Tetsuwan Atom, known as Astro Boy in English. ''Banryu,'' a dinosaur-shaped house-sitting robot developed by Sanyo Electric Co. and venture firm tmsuk Co., roars and flashes its eyes green when spotting a suspicious person as it ''patrols'' a room and also contacts its owner's cellular phone.

Takashimaya to hold 'birthday' exhibition on Astro Boy

Takashimaya to hold 'birthday' exhibition on Astro Boy

TOKYO, Japan - A jewel-studded robot is put for press preview by department store operator Takashimaya Co. on April 1, on the eve of an exhibition the company holds at its Nihombashi store to celebrate the birthday of cartoon character Astro Boy. In the late cartoonist Osamu Tezuka's popular science fiction story, Tetsuwan Atom, known as Astro Boy in English, was brought to life on April 7, 2003. The head and shorts of the 10-centimeter-high robot model is made of black diamonds, while rubies, emeralds and diamonds are used for other parts. The model, which is not for sale, is covered by jewels totaling 32 carats and is worth almost 100 million yen.