annual cold-endurance festival at the Kanda Myojin shinto shrine in Tokyo

Half-naked shrine parishioners using wooden tubs splash cold waters onto themselves during an annual cold-endurance festival at the Kanda Myojin shinto shrine in Tokyo, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012.

The complete collection of artifacts recovered from the wreck site of the RMS

A first class smoking room chandelier found in the Titanic wreckage is previewed among a sampling of Titanic artifacts on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012 in New York. The complete collection of artifacts recovered from the wreck site of the RMS Titanic will be auctioned by Guernsey's Auction House in April

The vest belonging to a third class passenger named William Henry Allen found in the Titanic wreckage is among a sampling of Titanic artifacts on preview Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012 in New York. The complete collection of artifacts recovered from the wreck site of the RMS Titanic will be auctioned by Guernsey's Auction House in April.

A bank note dollar bill and gold coin from the Titanic wreckage are among a sampling of Titanic artifacts previewed on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012 in New York. The complete collection of artifacts recovered from the wreck site of the RMS Titanic will be auctioned by Guernsey's Auction House in April.

A pocket watch found in the belongings of a third class passenger named William Henry Allen, found in the Titanic wreckage, is among a sampling of Titanic artifacts on preview Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012 in New York. The complete collection of artifacts recovered from the wreck site of the RMS Titanic will be auctioned by Guernsey's Auction House in April

A logometer, for displaying a ship's speed, found in the Titanic wreckage, is previewed among a sampling of Titanic artifacts on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012 in New York. The complete collection of artifacts recovered from the wreck site of the RMS Titanic will be auctioned by Guernsey's Auction House in April

celebrate Japan's Coming of Age Day at Tokyo's Meiji Shrine

Twenty-year-old female tour guides dressed in traditional kimonos arrive for a purification ceremony with a Shinto priest to celebrate Japan's Coming of Age Day at Tokyo's Meiji Shrine on January 6, 2012. Since tour guides will be busy working on Japan's national holiday Coming-of-Age Day on January 9, the company held a ceremony for them ahead of time. Young people turning 20 are officially recognised as adults in Japan.

Twenty-year-old female tour guides dressed in traditional kimonos pose for photo after a purification ceremony with a Shinto priest to celebrate Japan's Coming of Age Day at Tokyo's Meiji Shrine on January 6, 2012. Since tour guides will be busy working on Japan's national holiday Coming-of-Age Day on January 9, the company held a ceremony for them ahead of time. Young people turning 20 are officially recognised as adults in Japan.

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the traditional Epiphany parade in Malaga, southern Spain

Children wait to receive sweets and presents thrown to them from floats by actors dressed as the Three Wise Men during the traditional Epiphany parade in Malaga, southern Spain January 5, 2012. Children in Spain receive their Christmas presents on the morning of January 6, delivered by the Three Wise Men

Children react as sweets and presents are thrown to them from a float by a man dressed as one of the Three Wise Men (not pictured) during the traditional Epiphany parade in Malaga, southern Spain January 5, 2012. Children in Spain receive their Christmas presents on the morning of January 6, delivered by the Three Wise Men

the traditional Epiphany A boy dressed as an assistant of one of the Three Wise Men (not pictured) winks as he takes part in the traditional Epiphany parade in Malaga, southern Spain January 5, 2012. Children in Spain receive their Christmas presents on the morning of January 6, delivered by the Three Wise Men.

The bluefin tuna caught off northeastern Japan fetched a record 56.49 million yen

A 567,000 euros worth bluefin tuna is exposed near Tsukiji market in Tokyo, Japan, 05 January 2012. Kiyoshi Kimura, president of the company operating the Sushi-Zanmai chain, was the winning bidder of a 269-kilogram bluefin tuna which was sold for a record 56.49 million yen (about 567,000 euros) at the first auction of the year at Tokyo's Tsukiji fish market


Tsukiji Market in Tokyo8Kiyoshi Kimura, president of Kiyomura Co., left, cuts a bluefin tuna in front of his Sushi Zanmai restaurant near Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012. The bluefin tuna caught off northeastern Japan fetched a record 56.49 million yen, or about $736,000, in the first auction of the year at the fish market. The tuna was caught off Oma in Aomori prefecture and just north of the coast that was battered by the March 11 tsunami


Sushi chefs of Kiyomura Co. hold a slice of a bluefin tuna at their Sushi Zanmai restaurant near Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012. The bluefin tuna caught off northeastern Japan fetched a record 56.49 million yen, or about $736,000, Thursday in the first auction of the year at the fish market. The tuna was caught off Oma in Aomori prefecture and just north of the coast that was battered by the March 11 tsunami.

Kiyoshi Kimura, president of Kiyomura Co., third from left, cuts a bluefin tuna at his Sushi Zanmai restaurant near Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012. The bluefin tuna caught off northeastern Japan fetched a record 56.49 million yen, or about $736,000, Thursday in the first auction of the year at the fish market. The tuna was caught off Oma in Aomori prefecture and just north of the coast that was battered by the March 11 tsunami.

Shoppers look at a bluefin tuna in front of a restaurant near Tsukiji fish market after it fetched a record 56.49 million yen, or about $736,000, in the first auction of the year at the fish market in Tokyo Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012. The bluefin tuna was caught off Oma, in Aomori prefecture and just north of the coast that was battered by the March 11 tsunami in northeastern Japan

A prospective buyer inspects the quality of tuna before the morning auctions at the Tsukiji Market in Tokyo, Japan, Friday, Jan. 6, 2012. Tsukiji Market is one of the world's largest fish markets, handling over 2,000 tons of marine products per day

A prospective buyer inspects the quality of tuna before the morning auctions at the Tsukiji Market in Tokyo, Japan, Friday, Jan. 6, 2012. Tsukiji Market is one of the world's largest fish markets, handling over 2,000 tons of marine products per day.

A successful buyer takes their tuna from the auction at the Tsukiji Market in Tokyo, Japan, Friday, Jan. 6, 2012. Tsukiji Market is one of the world's largest fish markets, handling over 2,000 tons of marine products per day.

Tsukiji Market in Tokyo1Tuna lies on the floor of the Tsukiji Market before the morning auctions in Tokyo, Japan, Friday, Jan. 6, 2012. Tsukiji Market is one of the world's largest fish markets, handling over 2,000 tons of marine products per day

A sushi chef makes a hand-formed sushi piece with a bluefin tuna at his Sushi Zanmai restaurant near Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012. The bluefin tuna caught off northeastern Japan fetched a record 56.49 million yen, or about $736,000, Thursday in the first auction of the year at the fish market. The tuna was caught off Oma in Aomori prefecture and just north of the coast that was battered by the March 11 tsunami.

large televised mural of Chinese people at Tiananmen Square in Beijing

Chinese tourists walk past a large televised mural of Chinese tourist attractions at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on January 5, 2012. China has instructed its tour operators to avoid arranging group trips to Taiwan in the weeks leading up to the island's January 14 presidential vote .It would be bad for Taiwan's ruling pro-China Kuomintang (KMT) party if mainland tourists were spotted at its campaign rallies, as the opposition could describe it as interference in the election, a Taipei-based travel agent was quoted as saying

the Baluarte Bridge, the highest suspension bridge in the world,

A general view of the Baluarte Bridge, the highest suspension bridge in the world, that connects the north-western state of Sinaloa with Durango and Mazatlan, January 5, 2012. At 1,124 metres long (3,687 feet) and hanging at over 400 metres high (1312 feet), the Baluarte Bridge is part of the country's elaborate bicentennial celebrations to mark its independence from Spain in 1810.

A view of the Baluarte Bridge, the highest suspension bridge in the world, that connects the north-western state of Sinaloa with Durango and Mazatlan, during the official launch January 5, 2012. At 1,124 metres long (3,687 feet) and hanging at over 400 metres high (1312 feet), the Baluarte Bridge is part of the country's elaborate bicentennial celebrations to mark its independence from Spain in 1810.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon (C) pours concrete during a ceremony to kick off the final stage of construction of the highest suspension bridge in the world, connecting the north-western state of Sinaloa with Durango and Mazatlan, January 5, 2012. At 1,124 metres long (3,687 feet) and hanging at over 400 metres high (1312 feet), the Baluarte Bridge is part of the country's elaborate bicentennial celebrations to mark its independence from Spain in 1810