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Canon Chairman Mitarai to return as president

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken in Tokyo on Dec. 22, 2009, shows Canon Inc. Chairman Fujio Mitarai. Canon said Jan. 30, 2012, that the 76-year-old Mitarai, who was president of the company from 1995 to 2006, will return as president on March 29 to help it achieve its targets through 2015 amid uncertain business prospects stemming from the eurozone debt crisis.

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Gov't eyeing expanding credit line for Japan Airlines: Maehara

TOKYO, Japan - Transport minister Seiji Maehara speaks to reporters after a meeting with four other Cabinet members on the issue of cash-strapped Japan Airlines Corp. at the prime minister's office on Dec. 30, 2009. He said the government is making arrangements for an increase in a credit line set by the state-owned Development Bank of Japan for JAL as part of its plan to revive the struggling carrier.

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Ex-Indonesian President Wahid dies

TOKYO, Japan - In this file photo taken April 2000, former Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori at the prime minister's office. Wahid died in a hospital in Jakarta on Dec. 30, 2009. He was 69. The immediate cause of death was not clear.

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Ex-Indonesian President Wahid dies

TOKYO, Japan - This file photo shows a portrait of former Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid who died in a hospital in Jakarta on Dec. 30, 2009. He was 69. The immediate cause of his death was not clear.

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Newly signed Angel Matsui proud of major career goal

NARITA, Japan - Hideki Matsui, who signed with the Los Angeles Angels in a free agent deal after being named the World Series MVP with the New York Yankees, arrives at Narita airport in Chiba Prefecture as he returns home on Dec. 30, 2009. During a press conference after his arrival, Matsui said he is looking forward to next season with a mixed sense of excitement and unease.

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Tokyo stocks fall on 2009 last trading day, Nikkei rises 19% on year

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese teenage golf star Ryo Ishikawa poses for photographers before ringing the bell during the annual closing ceremony at the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo's Nihombashi area on Dec. 30, 2009. Tokyo stocks fell in the year's final session, but the key Nikkei index ended 2009 with a 19 percent rise, which followed a historic 42 percent plunge in 2008, and the yearly climb was the first for the benchmark since 2006.

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Gov't seeks nominal 3% growth through 2020 by demand in key areas

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama speaks during a news conference at the prime minister's office on Dec. 30, 2009, after the government decided on its basic policy for its growth strategy through 2020, aiming to achieve an average economic growth of 3 percent in nominal terms by boosting demand in key areas such as the environment, health and tourism.

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Cardinal Shirayanagi passes away at age 81

TOKYO, Japan - This file photo shows a portrait of Cardinal Seiichi Shirayanagi, who was named cardinal in October 1994 by Pope John Paul II. Shirayanagi died of heart failure Dec. 30, 2009, at a monastery in Tokyo's Nerima Ward where he was recuperating. He was 81.

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Newly signed Angel Matsui proud of major career goal

NARITA, Japan - Hideki Matsui, who signed with the Los Angeles Angels in a free agent deal after being named the World Series MVP with the New York Yankees, speaks during a press conference in a hotel near Narita airport in Chiba Prefecture after returning to Japan on Dec. 30, 2009. He said he is looking forward to next season with a mixed sense of excitement and unease.

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Hatoyama tries single-seat electric car at premier's office

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama tries an electric bicycle in front of the prime minister's office on Dec. 30, 2009, during an event held as part of the government's unveiling of its basic policy for its growth strategy through 2020.

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Gov't seeks nominal 3% growth through 2020 by demand in key areas

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (R) speaks during a news conference at the prime minister's office on Dec. 30, 2009, after the government decided on its basic policy for its growth strategy through 2020, aiming to achieve an average economic growth of 3 percent in nominal terms by boosting demand in key areas such as the environment, health and tourism.

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Tokyo stocks fall on 2009 last trading day, Nikkei rises 19% on year

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese teenage golf star Ryo Ishikawa poses for photographers before ringing the bell during the annual closing ceremony at the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo's Nihombashi area on Dec. 30, 2009. Tokyo stocks fell in the year's final session, but the key Nikkei index ended 2009 with a 19 percent rise, which followed a historic 42 percent plunge in 2008, and the yearly climb was the first for the benchmark since 2006.

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Hatoyama tries single-seat electric car at premier's office

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama tries Toyota Motor Corp.'s i-REAL personal mobility vehicle, a single-seat electric car, at the prime minister's office on Dec. 30, 2009, during an event held as part of the government's unveiling of its basic policy for its growth strategy through 2020.

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Hatoyama greets humanoid robot at premier's office

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama bows to greet Honda Motor Co.'s ASIMO humanoid robot at the prime minister's office on Dec. 30, 2009, as members of the Cabinet watch during an event held as part of the government's unveiling of its basic policy for its growth strategy through 2020.

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Hatoyama greets humanoid robot at premier's office

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama shakes hands with Honda Motor Co.'s ASIMO humanoid robot at the prime minister's office on Dec. 30, 2009, as members of the Cabinet watch during an event held as part of the government's unveiling of its basic policy for its growth strategy through 2020.

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Sumo wrestlers marks year's end with rice-cake making

TOKYO, Japan - Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho (L) of the Miyagino stable marks the end of the year with a rice-cake making event to prepare for the new year after having the last practice of the year on Dec. 30, 2009, at the stable in Tokyo's Sumida Ward. Rice cakes, traditionally made by pounding steamed rice by pestle in a wooden mortal, are offered during the New Year's holidays.

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Ishida eyes big match with WBA champion Foreman

OSAKA, Japan - WBA super welterweight interim champion Nobuhiro Ishida speaks during a news conference at Kanazawa boxing gym in Osaka City on Dec. 30, 2009, after successfully defending his first title in a unanimous decision over 15th-ranked Oney Valdez of Colombia a day earlier. Ishida said he hopes to arrange a unification title bout against WBA world champion Yuri Foreman.

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Ishida eyes big match with WBA champion Foreman

OSAKA, Japan - WBA super welterweight interim champion Nobuhiro Ishida poses for photographs with his family at Kanazawa boxing gym in Osaka City on Dec. 30, 2009, after successfully defending his first title in a unanimous decision over 15th-ranked Oney Valdez of Colombia a day earlier. Ishida said he hopes to arrange a unification title bout against WBA world champion Yuri Foreman.

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15-year-old Takagi clinches Vancouver berth

NAGANO, Japan - Fifteen-year-old Miho Takagi smiles after winning the women's 1,500 meters in the final qualifying meet for the Winter Olympics at Nagano's M-Wave ice arena on Dec. 30, 2009. She clinched a berth at next February's Vancouver Games as she cleared the Japan Skating Federation's official Olympic qualifying standard when she won the race in a time of 1 minute, 59.47 seconds.

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Sugimori clinches Vancouver berth

NAGANO, Japan - Teruhiro Sugimori skates to victory as he rewrote his own national record in winning the men's 1,500 in the final qualifying meet for next February's Vancouver Games with a time of 1:47.49 at Nagano's M-Wave ice arena on Dec. 30, 2009. He booked his second straight berth at the Winter Olympics.

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15-year-old Takagi clinches Vancouver berth

NAGANO, Japan - Fifteen-year-old Miho Takagi (R) is congratulated by Nao Kodaira after winning the women's 1,500 meters in the final qualifying meet for the Winter Olympics at Nagano's M-Wave ice arena on Dec. 30, 2009. Takagi clinched a berth at next February's Vancouver Games as she cleared the Japan Skating Federation's official Olympic qualifying standard when she won the race in a time of 1 minute, 59.47 seconds, while Kodaira took second, 0.05 behind.

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15-year-old Takagi clinches Vancouver berth

NAGANO, Japan - Fifteen-year-old Miho Takagi skates to victory in the women's 1,500 meters in the final qualifying meet for the Winter Olympics at Nagano's M-Wave ice arena on Dec. 30, 2009. She clinched a berth at next February's Vancouver Games as she cleared the Japan Skating Federation's official Olympic qualifying standard when she won the race in a time of 1 minute, 59.47 seconds.

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Sugimori clinches Vancouver berth

NAGANO, Japan - Teruhiro Sugimori skates to victory as he rewrote his own national record in winning the men's 1,500 in the final qualifying meet for next February's Vancouver Games with a time of 1:47.49 at Nagano's M-Wave ice arena on Dec. 30, 2009. He booked his second straight berth at the Winter Olympics.

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LDP upper house member Yoshimura to run as independent next summer

TOKYO, Japan - This file photo shows portrait of Gotaro Yoshimura , a House of Councillors member from the Liberal Democratic Party. On Dec. 30, 2009, Yoshimura, 70, said he submitted notification the same day that he will leave the party before his term in the upper house expires next summer.

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15-year-old Takagi clinches Vancouver berth

NAGANO, Japan - Fifteen-year-old Miho Takagi skates to victory in the women's 1,500 meters in the final qualifying meet for the Winter Olympics at Nagano's M-Wave ice arena on Dec. 30, 2009. She clinched a berth at next February's Vancouver Games as she cleared the Japan Skating Federation's official Olympic qualifying standard when she won the race in a time of 1 minute, 59.47 seconds.

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Gov't seeks nominal 3% growth through 2020 by demand in key areas

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (4th from L, standing) speaks at a meeting of policy for the government's growth strategy at the prime minister's office on Dec. 30, 2009. The government unveiled the same day a basic policy for its growth strategy through 2020, aiming to achieve an average economic growth of 3 percent in nominal terms by boosting demand in key areas such as the environment, health and tourism.

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15-year-old Takagi clinches Vancouver berth

NAGANO, Japan - Fifteen-year-old Miho Takagi skates to victory in the women's 1,500 meters in the final qualifying meet for the Winter Olympics at Nagano's M-Wave ice arena on Dec. 30, 2009. She clinched a berth at next February's Vancouver Games as she cleared the Japan Skating Federation's official Olympic qualifying standard when she won the race in a time of 1 minute, 59.47 seconds.

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Gov't seeks nominal 3% growth through 2020 by demand in key areas

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (2nd from R) speaks at a meeting of policy for the government's growth strategy at the prime minister's office on Dec. 30, 2009. The government unveiled the same day a basic policy for its growth strategy through 2020, aiming to achieve an average economic growth of 3 percent in nominal terms by boosting demand in key areas such as the environment, health and tourism.

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15-year-old Takagi clinches Vancouver berth

NAGANO, Japan - Fifteen-year-old Miho Takagi smiles after winning the women's 1,500 meters in the final qualifying meet for the Winter Olympics at Nagano's M-Wave ice arena on Dec. 30, 2009. She clinched a berth at next February's Vancouver Games as she cleared the Japan Skating Federation's official Olympic qualifying standard when she won the race in a time of 1 minute, 59.47 seconds.

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Thatcher refused 'karate ladies' for bodyguards on Japan trip

TOKYO, Japan - In this photo taken June 1979, Margaret Thatcher (R), Britain's first female prime minister, shake hands with Japanese Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira at the prime minister's office when she visited Tokyo for a summit in Japan. According to formerly classified government files released on Dec. 30, 2009, the British premier demanded Tokyo change plans to give her an all-women team of karate experts as personal protection officers during the summit.

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Thatcher refused 'karate ladies' for bodyguards on Japan trip

TOKYO, Japan - In this photo taken June, 1979, Margaret Thatcher (2nd from R), Britain's first female prime minister, poses for photographers at Tokyo's State Guest House at the Akasaka Palace with world leaders, including Japanese Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira (3rd from L), who attended a summit in Japan. According to formerly classified government files released on Dec. 30, 2009, the British premier demanded Tokyo change plans to give her an all-women team of karate experts as personal protection officers during the summit.

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Japanese painter Hirayama dies

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese painter Ikuo Hirayama is seen repairing one of his works in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, on July 30, 2009. Hirayama, a traditional-style Japanese painter known for his works with themes based on the Silk Road and Buddhism, died of a stroke Dec. 2.