Tokyo - Tokyo's stock market started trading for the New Year in a positive mood on Monday.

The Nikkei Index of 225 leading stocks rose over 9,000 for the first time in nearly two months as the market opened. After Wall Street gained on Friday, the Nikkei rose
212.76 points, or 2.4 per cent, to 9,072.32.

The index lost a record 42 per cent last year as the financial crisis pummeled world markets.

Tokyo  - Emperor Akihito on Friday voiced his concern Japan's slide into recession as thousands of his subjects gathered for one of the rare occasions of seeing their monarch in public.

"I am concerned that many people face serious problems because of the grave economic situation," Akihito told the flag-waving crowd which had gathered in front of the glazed balcony of Tokyo's imperial palace.

"I hope this year will be a good one for all of you, as far as this is possible," the 75-year-old Tenno, whose role is largely ceremonial, said.

Tokyo  - Millions of Japanese flock to the country's temples in the night of December 31 to ask the gods for their blessings for the New Year.

Tokyo  - The Japanese car maker Honda has announced that it will develop an electric motorcycle as part of its programme to develop more efficient vehicles with lower emissions over the next two years.

Details of the plans have not been revealed yet, but the motorcycle is expected to go on sale in 2010. Vectrix Corp., based in the United States, claims to be the world leader in zero emission electric scooters and high-performance bikes, building its Electric Vx1 and Vx1e scooters in Poland.

Tokyo  - Japan'

Tokyo - Japan's markets shed value Monday mo