 | Welcoming Year 2004: Shinto priests walk through a wooden torii gate to leave the main shrine after a shinto ritual to usher off 2003 and prepare for the new year at the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, December 31, 2003. Some two million people are expected to visit the shrine during the first three days in the new year to pray for long life and happiness. click to open  |
 | Holding their child, parents strike a bell to ring in the new millennium at Zojoji Buddhist Temple in Tokyo Saturday, Jan. 1, 2000. Traditionally at Buddhist temples, devotees strike the bell 108 times to clean 108 worldly desires and start a fresh new year. click to open |
 | Japanese Shinto priests make their way to a New Year ritualcelebration at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo Friday Dec 31 1999. Hundreds of thousands of people will visit the shrine for the millennium celebrations later in the evening. click to open |
 | Tens of thousands of worshippers flock to a Tokyo's Meiji Jingu Shrine Saturday, Jan. 1, 2000. Millions of Japanese are expected to visit temples and shrines for New YearŐs prayer, an annual tradition, throughout the country. click to open |
 | Christmas of 1999: Customers at a Tokyo toy store shop in front of a shelf of Pikachu stuffed dolls, one of the most popular dolls priced at 5,800 yen ($56) on Nov. 30, 1999. With the Christmas shopping season in full swing, Pokemon games, cards, and dolls are expected to sell well this year. click to open |
 | Life in Tokyo: Girls following proper manners to wash their hands and rinse their mouth before entering the grounds of a temple. click to open |
 | Life in Tokyo: a Buddhist priest in an urban area of Tokyo click to open |
 | Life in Tokyo: Kendo fighting. click to open |
 | Life in Tokyo: A street vendor. click to open |
 | Life in Tokyo: Large stacks of Sake (rice wine). click to open |
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