ATAMI, Shizuoka -- Marking 100 years since the Showa era (1926-1989) began in Japan ... yen (around 14-42 cents), are available, and sales have exceeded expectations. A 20-year-old man and his 17 ...

Showa is the name given to the reign of Japanese emperor Hirohito (1926-1989 ... Nearly 60 per cent of Japanese voters are over 50 years old, creating a vicious circle of apathy and neglect.