Starting up the New Year with much fun and serious games: predictions for 1996, more brutal truths from Mrs. Edo-san's stand-in Greta Golvatanik, and reader entries to our Tokyo slogan contest.

DISPATCHES Smith Suwanpanu Our Thai correspondent warns that before Tokyoites crow about their annus horribilus, they'd better check out the competition. THE BIG PACHINKO Charles T. Whipple When the police were faced with a serial mugger bent on increasing violence, they turned to . . . their local hairdresser Neighborhood Watch Richard Lloyd Parry He's wizened, sluggish, with arthritic knees, bad eyesight and a fading memory. He's an ancient 26-year-old.

OYAKO photograph by Bruce Osborn

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The Third Annual Tokyo Journal Innovative Awards

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An Echo of Heaven
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CONTRIBUTORS

What's on in Tokyo this month. Full listings and commentary

Performing Arts by Gilles Kennedy What will the death of "leader" Teiji Furuhashi mean to the creative impetus of the group dumb type? Art by Mark Robinson & Toimi Itabashi A line-up of New Year offerings in art and photography. Music by Steve McClure A guide to the best Web sites featuring local musicians and bands. Film by James Bailey Food by Robbie Swinnerton Tokyo's best health-food restaurant; the new Monsoon in Daikanyama and back-street Korean dining in Nishi-Azabu. Area Spotlight Okay, it's on the other side of the Tama River, but we'll call it ours. A guide to the pleasures of Machida.

Survival by Dan Papia Who to call when you have to get something from here to there. Nightlife by Phil Miller Are night life nerds nettled by the nonrelativistic nothingness of the New Year? Ask Phil. For Kids Education and entertainment at Tokyo's best museums. Events Watch acrobatic firemen do stunts with their fire-fighting equipment. Festivals It's that time of year again, so we'll party with the 47 masterless ronin until their heads roll. Books by Peregrine Hodson Inside Japan's Power Houses, by Kevin Rafferty Back Home --