Hideyoshi Hashiba, owner of Hashiba corporate group, poses in front of mock ground-to-air guided-missiles at his private ground in Goshogawara, northern Japan, April 3, 2009. Hashiba said he made 14 mock missiles, costing 35,000,000 yen ($349,985), as a deterrent against a possible rocket incursion from North Korea. Reuters Pictures 10 months ago

Hideyoshi Hashiba, owner of Hashiba corporate group, poses in front of mock ground-to-air guided-missiles at his private ground in Goshogawara, northern Japan, April 3, 2009. Hashiba said he made 14 mock missiles, costing 35,000,000 yen ($349,985), as a deterrent against a possible rocket incursion from North Korea.

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  1. Junya Kono, right, and Tomoharu Fujimaki, window cleaner dressed as Santa Claus and reindeer pose for photographers at a shopping mall in Tokyo, Japan, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009.
  2. In this photo released by the Institute of Cetacean Research of Japan, the anti-whaling group's Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's newly-acquired vessel Ady Gil tows a rope while sailing close to the Japanese whaling ship Shonan Maru No. 2 during their encounter in the Antarctic early Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009. The Ady Gil is a high-speed trimaran previously known as the Earthrace that recently set the world record for global circumnavigation.
  3. TOKYO - DECEMBER 23: A crowd of people applaud during a ceremony to celebrate Emperor Akihito's 76th birthday at the Imperial Palace on December 23, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. Akihito acceded to the thrown on January 7, 1989.
  4. TOKYO - DECEMBER 23: Well-wishers arrive for the Emperor's 76th birthday at the Imperial Palace on December 23, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. Akihito acceded to the thrown on January 7, 1989.
  5. TOKYO - DECEMBER 23: (L-R) Crown Princess Masako and Crown Prince Naruhito make a public appearance to celebrate the Emperor's 76th birthday at the Imperial Palace on December 23, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. Akihito acceded to the thrown on January 7, 1989.
  6. TOKYO - DECEMBER 23: A Japanese woman waves the national flag to celebrate Emperor Akihito's 76th birthday at the Imperial Palace on December 23, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. Akihito acceded to the thrown on January 7, 1989.
  7. TOKYO - DECEMBER 23: Japanese Emperor Akihito greets to the well-wishers gathered to celebrate the Emperor's 76th birthday at the Imperial Palace on December 23, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. Akihito acceded to the thrown on January 7, 1989.
  8. Japan's Emperor Akihito (L) and Empress Michiko wave to well-wishers as they celebrate the monarch's 76th birthday at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo December 23, 2009.
  9. Japan's Emperor Akihito waves to well-wishers as he celebrates his 76th birthday at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo December 23, 2009.
  10. Japan's Emperor Akihito is seen through banners of right-wing groups as he makes a speech to well-wishers at an event to celebrate his 76th birthday at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo December 23, 2009. The banner reads: "Emperor".
  11. Well-wishers wave Japanese national flags to celebrate Japan's Emperor Akihito's 76th birthday at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo December 23, 2009.
  12. Policemen and imperial palace officials escort well-wishers attending an event to celebrate Japan's Emperor Akihito's 76th birthday at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo December 23, 2009. The characters on the flags read: "Banzai (Hurrah for) Emperor".
  13. A Japanese businessman takes a picture during the first Iraq-Japan Economic Conference at Baghdad's International Airport December 20, 2009. Baghdad has long called for foreign firms to help rebuild Iraq, but in a country where the word "Japanese" is a byword for high quality, companies from Japan are especially dear to Iraqi hearts. Picture taken December 20, 2009.
  14. Visitors walk through Christmas illuminations at a Tokyo park, Japan, Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009.
  15. Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama attends a meeting with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili at the premier's official residence in Tokyo December 22, 2009. Support for Hatoyama's 3-month-old government has sunk as low as just below 50 percent as doubts grow about the premier's leadership on the economy and diplomacy.
  16. TOKYO - DECEMBER 22: Saeed Jalili (L), Secretary of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) of Iran, shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (R) at Hatoyama's official residence on December 22, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. Jalili is in Japan for five days for an exchange of opinions on Iran's nuclear issues as well as the countries bilateral relationship.

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