60627 The Japanese are aiming for a second victory in both the men's and women's marathon.
60628 Japan also wants to make it onto the winner's podium for the men's 400 meter hurdles, the long jump and the 400 meter relay, all designated as important events in the Atlanta Olympics.
60629 The competition's opening ceremony will be held on August 4, and competition will begin from August 5.
60630 The women's marathon will be held on the 5th, the men's 100 meter dash finals on the 6th, and the men's marathon on the 7th.
60631 The final examination of the 36th Japan Record Award was held at the TBS building in Akasaka, Tokyo, on December 31, awarding the grand prix to "Innocent World" of Mr.Children.
60632 The following shows other major prize winners that have been announced so far, including the best new singer.
60633 One of the best concept prizes went to "Hikari Oe Again" of Hikari Oe, the eldest son of a Nobel Prize winning writer, Kenzaburo Oe.
60634 Kenzaburo Oe concluded last year with the joy of seeing his eldest son, Hikari, a composer, winning the best concept prize of the 36th Japan Record Award on December 31, in addition to his own honor of becoming a Nobel laureate.
60635 Kenzaburo Oe attended the awarding ceremony at the TBS building in Akasaka, Tokyo, and commented in rejoice, "We are very much pleased."
60636 Hikari, also expressed his great joy beside his father, and listened together to the performance of a tune titled "Yume" from his album.
60637 On New Years days, a wintry pressure pattern gains force around Japan, bringing severe cold and rough weather especially in the mountains and the sea on the archipelago.
60638 The Meteorological Agency has announced that the low pressure on its way from the south off the Kanto region to east-northeast will grow powerfully to form a strong wintry pressure pattern, and a cold air mass of below 36 degrees Centigrade--below the freezing point--will flow into northern Japan from Siberia.
60639 Heavy snowfall is expected along the Sea of Japan and in mountainous regions in northern and eastern Japan, with predicted snow cover of 60 to 80 centimeters at the maximum.
60640 The New Year has come while the selection of candidates for the gubernatorial election of Tokyo slated for this spring remains confused.
60641 A professor emeritus at Waseda University, Saburo Kuroki, recommended by the Communist Party, is the only person that has formally announced his candidacy.