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Tokyo Metro

This year's April 1, not like "April fool", was the first day for new fiscal year for a lot of Japanese companies. "Teito Kosokudo Eidan Kodan" has renamed as "Tokyo Metro" from today. Some changes are, ... "Logo" changes like "heart mark", station name shows with alphabet and numeric character, and so on.

What is dramatially changed? So far, I do not know. But yesterday's announcement in the train was actually different from that until March 31 :-p

Doll Festival （Hina-matsuri)

A pair of doll is set up for the Doll Festival(Momo-no-Sekku) on March 3 where the girl(s) is(are) in home. It is so-called "Hina-matsuri", i.e. Doll Festival for girls. While March 3 is the Girls' Festival, May 5 is famous as the Boys' festival when warrior doll or armor(Kabuto) is set up for. Each is one of the 5 seasonal festivals in ancient time in Japan. Seasonal Festivals means "lustration" and "apotropaism".

Only one private castle in Japan

There is only one private-own castle in Japan. It is "Inuyamajo Castle", and Naruse family owns it so far.

Inuyamajo Castle: Constructed in 1537(Muromachi Era), its original style has been preserved. Also known as "Hakuteijo," the castle is a National Treasure. (Located in Inuyama City.)

However, the ownership is transfered from Mr. Masatoshi Naruse(73), 12th head of the Naruse family to newly established financial group in this spring, Mainichi reports.

Private Donations, please

Yokohama Zoological Gardens named ZOORASIA starts to collect private donations for rare animals feeding among citizens from next year.

Avian Influenza Virus(Korea)

Infection of avian influenza virus(type H5N1) leads to widespread in Korea on national basis.

Quake Hits Iran

A powerful earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale jolted southeastern Iran today.

Time - Person of the Year 2003

"The American Soldier" was chosen as TIME's Person of the Year.

（ｃ）Time Warner

Department of Digital Game @ Osaka Electro-Communication University

Department of Digital Games at Osaka Electro-Communication University is in high favor among high-school students.

legal revision - to a severe legal technicality

Ministry of Justice released a policy of the legal revision on murder, burglary and rape cases, i.e. to be severe legal technicality to impose strict controls upon violent crime.

China has a long, long history.

Marsupial animals like Koaka, Kangaroo, Wambat are in only Australia now. But long, long, time ago, they had lived in China! (source: Kyodo News on Yahoo, Japanese only)

Delinquency ratio in Korea hit 30%

The credit card industry in Korea suffers from higher delinquency ratio. Worri Cards see delinquency ratio to hit 30%, according to FT.

Nagoya-style has a lead on a fashion in Japan!?

Would you know fashion in Nagoya? The area is known as concervative and prefers to traditional style. Recently, such Nagoya-style sets a fashion in Japan among young ladies.