Year of the Ox gives way to the Tiger in Japan

Japan has held a traditional ceremony ushering in the Year of the Tiger, as the Year of the Ox wanes. The ox and the tiger held a symbolic "hand-over" ceremony in Osaka on Monday, with a calf representing the end of the year of the Ox, and a nine-month-old tiger cub standing in for the coming New Year.

The annual event was held in the Tsutenkaku, a tower and tourist attraction in the western Japanese city. Unlike much of Asia, Japan celebrates its New Year according to the Western calendar. China and South Korea will welcome in the year of the Tiger during their lunar New Year on February 14.