Many different kinds of oden are sold, with single-ingredient varieties as cheap as 100 yen.

With the threat of recession hovering over America's own economy, the Bush administration is understandably reluctant to accept a cheaper yen.

A cheaper yen makes Japanese products more competitive on world markets.

A cheaper yen makes these companies' products more attractive to foreign buyers.

"Now the yen goes down to 98 or 99, and people are asking, 'What do you think about that cheap yen?' "

A cheaper yen makes Japanese goods more competitive in price overseas.

One check on a tumbling yen could be China, which has already indicated that it is not happy about a cheaper yen.

Detroit's auto makers have been complaining about inroads into their markets made by Japanese producers who are taking advantage of the cheaper yen to keep prices down.

A cheaper yen means a relative loss of competitiveness for Japan's neighbors.

A cheaper yen makes Japan's exports more competitively priced abroad.