The Japanese celebrate New Year's Day on January 1 each year. Before 1873, the date of the Japanese New Year (正月, shōgatsu?) was based on the Chinese lunisolar calendar and celebrated at the beginning of Spring, just as the contemporary Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese New Years are celebrated to this day. However, in 1873, five years after the Meiji Restoration, Japan adopted the Catholic Gregorian calendar, so the first day of January is the official New Year's Day in modern Japan. It is considered by most Japanese to be one of the most important annual festivals and has been celebrated for centuries with its own unique customs.

Something to think about next time you buy a over-rated Japanese Car, not only you will be helping to lay-off your thousand's of AMERICAN WORKER, but also helping to KILL thousand's of Dolphins. Just a thought. Hayden Panettiere, a true AMERICAN HERO!

Ok sounds totally false, but the ultra classes in Japan have been buying sheep imported from Australia and Great Britain thinking that they are pedigree poodles. Until the sheep refuse to bark or eat dog food of course.

Just in case you've not been locked up in Japan, this guy saves you the trouble. He is a foreigner who kept a diary of his time in Japanese prison. "Welcome to prison, you've not been charged with anything yet, but we can hold you for a month. Oh yeah, hope you brought some cash with you, because if you didn't how are you going to buy food?"

Tokyo Institute of Technology engineers are working on a system that will capture and recreate signature scents on demand.The system could have several commercial applications, the team says. For example, more people might buy fragrances or food online, able to sample the scent or simply get a better idea of quality before buying the goods.