Japan’s Ruling Party Proposed to Hikes Tax

A worker cleans the street on September 29, 2011 in Himeji city, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. The Democratic Party of Japan’s Select Committee on the Taxation System has proposes increases in the income, corporate and tobacco taxes to raise 9.2 trillion yen($120 billion) fund for reconstruction of the Tohoku region following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.(Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe/Street Photo Gallery)

©Buddhika Weerasinghe

Full-Scale Restoration of Himeji Castle Continues

A woman stands at an observation point to view repairs being carried out to the main roof at Himeji Castle during its extensive restoration work on August 31, 2011 in Hemeji, Japan. Built between the 14th and 17th centuries and registered as a World Heritage site in 1993. Himeji Castle is undergoing a 5 year period of full-scale restoration work which began in December 2009 and is due to be completed in 2014. Using traditional techniques, structural repairs are being carried out to plaster walls, the eaves and canopies of the upper levels that have been damaged or become soiled over a period of 45 years since the last major restoration work was completed in 1964. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe/Street Photo Gallery)