In the closing days of the war, the Soviet Union entered Manchuria in northeastern China and captured about 570,000 Japanese soldiers and civilians. They sent the captives to labor camps in Siberia or Mongolia. At least 55,000 people are believed to have died from cold, starvation or disease.

People who make sake -- Japan's national alcoholic drink -- have been battling an image problem. Consumption of the traditional rice brew is only a third what it was at its peak 40 years ago. And the number of breweries is down by half. Against this background, brewers are boosting the quality of their product.