New control tower completed at Tokyo's Haneda airport

New control tower completed at Tokyo's Haneda airport

TOKYO, Japan - A newly completed control tower (R) at Tokyo's Haneda airport is shown to the press on Oct. 29, 2009. The 115.7-meter tall tower will begin operating Jan. 12, 2010.

New control tower completed at Tokyo's Haneda airport

New control tower completed at Tokyo's Haneda airport

TOKYO, Japan - The inside of a newly completed control tower at Tokyo's Haneda airport is shown to the press on Oct. 29, 2009. The 115.7-meter tall tower will begin operating Jan. 12, 2010.

Memorial ceremony held to mark 5th anniv. of 2004 Niigata quake

Memorial ceremony held to mark 5th anniv. of 2004 Niigata quake

NIIGATA, Japan - Participants offer silent prayers in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, on Oct. 12, 2009, during a memorial ceremony to mark the 5th anniversary of the massive earthquake that killed 68 people.

Japan Foreign Minister Okada meets Pakistan President Zardari

Japan Foreign Minister Okada meets Pakistan President Zardari

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada (L) shake hands with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari on Oct. 12, 2009, ahead of their meeting in Islamabad. Okada made a surprise visit to Afghanistan Oct. 11, 2009, and traveled to Pakistan the same day. (Pool photo)

Upper house president Eda meets Russian counterpart Mironov

Upper house president Eda meets Russian counterpart Mironov

MOSCOW, Russia - Satsuki Eda (R), president of Japan's House of Councillors, and Sergei Mironov, chairman of the Council of Federation, the upper chamber of the Russian parliament, holds a joint news conference in Moscow on Oct. 12, 2009, after their talks.

Japanese, Pakistani foreign ministers hold talks in Islamabad

Japanese, Pakistani foreign ministers hold talks in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada (R) and his Pakistani counterpart, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, shake hands ahead of their meeting in Islamabad on Oct. 12, 2009. Okada met with Qureshi to assure him of Japan's continued support for the country as it works to defeat terrorism and reform its economy.

Maehara eyes turning Haneda into hub airport for int'l flights

Maehara eyes turning Haneda into hub airport for int'l flights

IZUMISANO, Japan - In Izumisano, Osaka Prefecture, on Oct. 12, 2009, transport minister Seiji Maehara (L) talks with Osaka Gov. Toru Hashimoto (R), who asked the central government to step up investment to turn Kansai International Airport, serving Osaka, into a hub airport. After the meeting, Maehra indicated in remarks to reporters his wish to turn Tokyo's Haneda airport into a hub for international flights.