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On December 13, 2007, former Senate majority leader George Mitchell (D-Maine) released a report to the commissioner of baseball stating that the New York Yankees' starting pitcher, Roger Clemens, and others, had illegally used performance enhancing substances during their major league baseball careers. Clemens, also known as "The Rocket," is a seven-time Cy Young Award winner and has been strongly considered for the Baseball Hall of Fame; however, Mitchell's report has damaged his reputation. The report has also hurt the careers of those around him, including his then-fitness trainer, Brian McNamee. McNamee testified against Clemens and reported that he had personally injected Clemens with steroids, testosterone, and human growth hormone. Clemens has vehemently denied these allegations, stating that he has never tested positive for these substances and is merely a victim of slander and attack. While Clemens's alleged use of steroids has garnered a high level of media attention, it is only a small part of the performance enhancing drug controversy.

Ma Ying-jeou was elected president of Taiwan in March 2008. A Harvard-educated lawyer and popular public figure, Ma won the presidency by the largest vote margin in Taiwan's electoral history. His landslide election also brought the long-ruling Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) back to power after an eight-year hiatus.

The nation of Japan was probably born of the union of two peoples: one from Polynesia or the Malay Peninsula and one from elsewhere in Asia.

About 300 BC, the Japanese began growing rice, which would become the nation's agricultural staple.

From the 500s to the 700s, Japanese society developed quickly—partly because of its close relationship with neighboring China and the magnificent Tang Dynasty.

decorations of pottery and porcelain that became an important export item when Japan began trading with the rest of the world in the 19th century.

Most sculpture in Japan is made from wood

Buddhism also prompted developments in painting

Etiquette and good manners are extremely important to the Japanese people.

On entering a Japanese home, temple, or shrine, shoes are removed.

Business cards are extremely important in Japan.