Fighting Sport Builds Friendship

Invented in 1882 by Jigoro Kano, Judo is now the world's second most popular participatory sport, practiced in 200 countries. Kano refined elements of traditional martial arts to create a new sport he hoped would build character and mutual respect. The fruit of his high ideals was on show at the recent Jigoro Kano Cup International Judo Tournament in Tokyo, where the world's best Judo practitioners competed in a spirit of friendship.

Block Toy Unblocks Creativity

Children have long loved to construct their fantasies out of play blocks, but the possible shapes were always limited until a small company in the Japanese countryside came up with a new idea. Joint sections angled at 120 degrees now allow flat blocks to be assembled into spheres and other natural shapes. The unlimited possibilities of this system have made it popular with both children and seniors, inspiring creativity in the young keeping older minds sharp and active.

Heroes of Disaster - Tokyo's Rescue Team

Formed from members recruited from Tokyo's fire department rescue teams for their special skills, the Hyper Rescue Team is the elite of the elite. A number of spectacular rescues since its creation in 1996 have made the team famous, and it is now often called on to help in emergencies around the world. Unlike regular rescue units, the Hyper Rescue team has its own bulldozers and heavy equipment, allowing it to rapidly respond to very difficult and hazardous accidents.

Underground Caverns of Akiyoshi

The limestone plateau of Akiyoshi, with its underground water system that has eroded a 10 km complex of magnificent caverns, is listed by the Ramsar Convention on wetland resources. The plateau was formed by the remains of a 350 million year old coral reef, pushed ashore by the movement of the ocean plates. Rainwater percolating through the rock cut the caverns, and the lime in the water created the spectacular stalactites and stalagmites that make this one of the natural sights of Japan.