‘It is the elephant-headed aspect so prevalent in Ganesha that has allowed his icon to gain a foothold in many cultures’

Down To Earth speaks to Lode Rosseels, a Belgian engineer, linguist and Japanologist, on Ganesha's journey from India to Tibet, China and Japan

Messengers of the gods: 1,400-year religious protection of sika deer in Japan’s Nara have made them genetically unique

Deer around the shrine were found to have unique mitochondrial DNA, which is passed only from mother to offspring

Moby Dick in the 21st century

WHALING ISSUES AND JAPAN'S WHALING RESEARCH Publisher: The Institute of Cetacean Research, Japan Price: Not Mentioned

Using yen as bait fails to lift whaling ban

The Japanese are furious that the moratorium on commercial whaling has been extended. They and the Norwegians say they will continue to harpoon …

Fish wars of an economic kind

In 1993, Newfoundland will see an international conference on fish stocks as a result of a dispute between Canada and Japan and the EC

When ducks get to work

Employing ducks in the paddy field heralds an era of prosperity for farmers in Japan, and in time worldwide

Danger on the high seas

Environment groups say that Japan's impending shipment of plutonium poses a grave environmental threat

Japan at cross roads

If there is one country that has done quite well for itself in managing the natural environment throughout its history, it is Japan. But the run …

Japan earthquake triggers Fukushima meltdown fear

The US Geological Survey measured the earthquake at 6.9, down from an initial 7.3

Fuel from CO2

JAPAN

Emissions trading

Punished for good

The card up the sleeve

Dual purpose served

Leaving their mark

Japan

Look inside the whale

Scientists develop a method for studying the whales' stomach contents without killing them

JAPAN

Imitating leaf cells to solve energy crisis

Controversial pay-out

Japan bank sanctions Rs 560-cr loan for Orissa forestry sector

G8 push for climate funds

Ten zero-waste cities: Kamikatsu, Japan’s zero-waste miracle town

Japan’s first municipality to make a ‘zero waste declaration’, the town is well on its way to becoming fully zero-waste by 2020

Golf under attack

In response to ecologists up in arms against the golf courses mushrooming all over the world, designers are now coming up with eco-friendly courses.

Pesticide use results in dwindling exports

Despite restrictions on harmful pesticides, their use by farmers continues. This is forcing foreign countries to reduce imports substantially of …