Cooking expert Hattori at press conference

Cooking expert Hattori at press conference

Photo taken on Feb. 18, 2008, in Tokyo shows Yukio Hattori (R, front), head of Hattori Nutrition College, and Yuzaburo Mogi (L, front), chairman of soy sauce maker Kikkoman Corp., attending a press conference about the plan for Tokyo to host the World Summit of Gastronomy.

Camp Courtney in Uruma, Okinawa Pref.

Camp Courtney in Uruma, Okinawa Pref.

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken on Feb. 18, 2008, shows Camp Courtney, a U.S. Marine base, located in Uruma, Okinawa Prefecture.

Former F1 driver Sato to join IndyCar Series

Former F1 driver Sato to join IndyCar Series

TOKYO, Japan - Former Formula One driver Takuma Sato poses during a press conference in Tokyo on Feb. 18, 2010, at which he announced he will race in the U.S. IndyCar Series for 2010. Sato competed in F1 between 2002 and 2008, finishing third at the 2004 U.S. Grand Prix, equaling the best-ever result by a Japanese driver in the series.

Former F1 driver Sato to join IndyCar Series

Former F1 driver Sato to join IndyCar Series

TOKYO, Japan - Former Formula One driver Takuma Sato speaks about joining the U.S. IndyCar Series for 2010 at a news conference in Tokyo on Feb. 18, 2010. Sato competed in F1 between 2002 and 2008, finishing third at the 2004 U.S. Grand Prix, equaling the best-ever result by a Japanese driver in the series.

FY 2008 sales seen falling 21% at Nagoya's Midland Square mall

FY 2008 sales seen falling 21% at Nagoya's Midland Square mall

NAGOYA, Japan - This photo taken Feb. 10 shows the Midland Square in front of JR Nagoya Station in Aichi Prefecture. Sales at the Midland Square mall in fiscal 2008 ending next month are estimated to decline 21.7 percent from the previous year to 18 billion yen as the current recession has been affecting luxury product sales.

FY 2008 sales seen falling 21% at Nagoya's Midland Square mall

FY 2008 sales seen falling 21% at Nagoya's Midland Square mall

NAGOYA, Japan - This photo taken Feb. 10 shows the Midland Square in front of JR Nagoya Station in Aichi Prefecture. Sales at the Midland Square mall in fiscal 2008 ending next month are estimated to decline 21.7 percent from the previous year to 18 billion yen as the current recession has been affecting luxury product sales. (Kyodo)

Camp Courtney in Uruma, Okinawa Pref.

Camp Courtney in Uruma, Okinawa Pref.

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken on Feb. 18, 2008, shows Camp Courtney, a U.S. Marine base, located in Uruma, Okinawa Prefecture. (Kyodo)

Former F1 driver Sato to join IndyCar Series

Former F1 driver Sato to join IndyCar Series

TOKYO, Japan - Former Formula One driver Takuma Sato poses during a press conference in Tokyo on Feb. 18, 2010, at which he announced he will race in the U.S. IndyCar Series for 2010. Sato competed in F1 between 2002 and 2008, finishing third at the 2004 U.S. Grand Prix, equaling the best-ever result by a Japanese driver in the series. (Kyodo)

Former F1 driver Sato to join IndyCar Series

Former F1 driver Sato to join IndyCar Series

TOKYO, Japan - Former Formula One driver Takuma Sato speaks about joining the U.S. IndyCar Series for 2010 at a news conference in Tokyo on Feb. 18, 2010. Sato competed in F1 between 2002 and 2008, finishing third at the 2004 U.S. Grand Prix, equaling the best-ever result by a Japanese driver in the series. (Kyodo)