Well, we've already seen pretty ambassadors in short skirts. Now it's time to bring out the big guns.

A group of seven ''maid cafe'' waitresses wearing miniskirts and aprons left Osaka for Taiwan on Friday in a bid to attract tourists to the largest business area in western Japan. ''We'll sing and dance our best to promote Japanese pop culture,'' said Manae Miura, 18... Kansai International Airport Co., operator of the airport, spearheaded the project to send the young women to Taiwan to promote tourism against the backdrop of a decrease in passengers during the protracted economic downturn.

Make love not war! Or something.