

Aug. 6 / AFP
TOKYO - Japan's world-renowned manufacturing industry owes a lot to people who devote themselves to the point of obsession to one special area --- like a scientist who counts the number of eyelashes to develop mascara for a cosmetics firm or a Sony employee who knows all about human ears...average number of eyelashes was 135 for Caucasians and 105 for east Asians. ..."I sometimes look at other people's ears if they are right next to me in a packed train... There are ears with hair and they make me very nervous and think 'Headphones do not fit in there -- sounds would escape.'"