Its creator, who spent almost 20 years making the distinctive four-storey Arimaston Building, thinks his slow approach to construction can be an example to the world.

"It used to be that there weren't enough things in the world, but now there are too many," 59-year-old Keisuke Oka told AFP inside the building's curved grey walls.

"We need to stop mass-producing things and find another way, otherwise we'll be in trouble."

With its wobbly lines and weird, wonderful ornamentation, Oka's building has been compared to the animated Studio Ghibli movie "Howl's Moving Castle".

The architect himself has been dubbed the Gaudi of Mita, referencing the famed Spanish architect and the Tokyo area where Arimaston Building is located.

Inspired by Japan's avant-garde butoh dance, Oka made up the design as he went along.

Growing up, he felt buildings in Japan's towns and cities looked "very sad and devoid of life", as if they were "all designed on a computer".

"The person who constructs a building and the person who designs a building are very far apart," he said.

"In order to give the building some life, I thought I would try to think and build together at the same time."

- High-rise contrast -

Oka started construction in 2005. Apart from the help of a few friends, he made the entire building himself by hand.

He claims the concrete -- which he mixed himself -- is of such high quality that it will last for over 200 years.

Oka says the structure is basically finished. He plans to live in the top three storeys and use the ground and basement floors as a studio and exhibition space.

When he started, he had no idea the project would take almost two decades.

"I thought with the ability I had, I could do it in three years," he said, explaining that the improvised nature of his design brought constant challenges.

Oka grew up in rural Japan and was an exceptional architecture student who was told by his teachers he would go a long way.

He suffered a physical breakdown in his 30s and gave up architecture for a while, before his wife persuaded him to buy a small plot and build a house.

He says making Arimaston Building has restored his confidence, and he enjoys the amazed reaction of people walking past.

"It's very easy to understand the contrast with the high-rise buildings right behind it," he said.

"I think there is some value that the city can take from it."

- Throw-away society -

Arimaston Building stands alone on a sloped street, making it all the more striking.

The area is undergoing large-scale redevelopment, and the apartments that once stood next door have been demolished.

As part of the changes, Oka's building is scheduled to be moved 10 metres backwards in a process that involves transporting the entire structure on rails.

Once that is complete, he intends to move in and continue working on the finishing touches, alongside his university teaching jobs.

Amid all the upheaval in the area, Oka hopes people will be able to see the value of making something by hand.

He says he was inspired by his upbringing, when his mother made clothes for the family because they couldn't afford to buy them.

"More than half of the clothes we make now, we throw away, he said, describing a world "overflowing with things".

"We need to start making things at a slower pace," Oka said.

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Speaking in Beijing during a panel discussion on sports in the context of US-China relations, Yao was asked about politics in reference to a 2019 incident when then-Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeted support for the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong.

Yao, a former Rockets centre, said "there's no way we can hide" from politics.

But "as people who were in this industry, we should understand better what is 'in' the game, and what is 'out' and we will do our best and try to avoid (politics)," Yao said.

China is home to a huge basketball fanbase, but it has not hosted an NBA game in five years since two 2019 pre-season contests were played in controversy following Morey's comments.

The NBA subsequently lost hundreds of millions of dollars as a result of being taken off Chinese television until 2022.

Yao said that what happened in 2019 was an "instant accident" and Morey stepped "into a minefield that he was not really familiar with".

"So the minefield is there, but... we should help each other to cross it," Yao said.

When asked by AFP if he thought NBA games would make a return to China soon, Yao -- who had quit as the Chinese Basketball Association head last month after seven years in the job -- said he was "not in control" anymore and could not answer.

"But I can tell you that basketball is very popular in China, with all ages, whether played on court, or just watched from a TV," Yao said.

"The fans love to see all kind of basketball games."

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in October that he expects his league will once more play games in China, according to multiple media reports.

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The season is likely to start in March.

- James Anderson (England) -

The England Test great wants to add a final chapter to his storied career and is seeking an IPL berth for the first time, entering the auction at a base price of $148,115.

The 42-year-old fast bowler retired from Tests earlier this year after 704 wickets, the third-highest in five-day history after Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan and Australian spin king Shane Warne.

He has limited experience in 20-over matches, playing 19 internationals for England with his last 15 years ago.

But Anderson has said he isn't ready to call time on his career, prompting West Indies great Viv Richards to liken his longevity to LeBron James.

- Mitchell Starc (Australia) -

The 34-year-old smashed the IPL auction record last year when Kolkata Knight Riders netted his services for $2.98 million.

The left-arm quick and handy lower-order slugger was instrumental in their run to the title, including taking 2-14 in the final against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Kolkata nevertheless opted not to retain him. "It is what it is, that's franchise cricket," Starc said.

With 193 wickets in 142 T20 matches, the imposing Starc -- he is 1.96 metres (6 feet 4 inches) tall -- enters the auction at the top base price bracket of $237,000.

- Rishabh Pant (India) -

Pant, 27, was forced out of competitive cricket for more than a year after a serious car crash in December 2022 but returned to captain the Delhi Capitals this year.

India's top wicketkeeper-batsman and the franchise parted ways after their disappointing sixth-placed finish and Pant will also enter the auction at a $237,000 base price.

With his sharp glovework and knack of taking on bowlers with attacking and unconventional batting, pundits believe he is in the running to secure a record payday.

"Mitchell Starc's auction record is in danger," former India quick Irfan Pathan said on social media.

- David Miller (South Africa) -

Known as "Killer Miller" for his destructive batting, the South African has a T20 international strike rate of close to 140.

The 35-year-old is also looking for a new home after playing with Gujarat Titans since the team's inception in 2022, smashing 210 runs in nine matches in this year's season.

India's dismissal of Miller in this year's T20 World Cup final in Barbados was a key moment in the match and the Proteas went on to lose.

He is likely to set off a bidding war after registering for the auction at a base price of $178,000.

- Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand) -

Ravindra made an instant impact in his IPL debut this year, smashing 222 runs at a punishing strike rate above 161 for Chennai Super Kings.

The left-hander's ability to play spin with aplomb on subcontinent pitches saw him fare well during last year's ODI World Cup and in New Zealand's recent 3-0 Test whitewash in India.

The Wellington-born Ravindra's parents hail from Bengaluru and hopes abound there that he will join the city's franchise, which also features fan favourite Virat Kohli.

The 25-year-old's first name reflects his father's love of India's cricket greats -- "Ra" from Rahul Dravid and "chin" from Sachin Tendulkar.

Ravindra enters the auction at a $178,000 base price.

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The Serb, aged 37, has won 24 Grand Slam titles, equalling Margaret Court's record tally -- two more than Nadal and four clear of Federer with both rivals now retired.

He also has a stack of other records in men's tennis including a record 40 Masters-level titles, seven season-ending ATP Finals crowns and most weeks at number one -- a staggering 428.

He led Serbia to Davis Cup glory in 2010.

And on the red clay of Paris in August 2024 he completed a career Golden Grand Slam by beating Carlos Alcaraz in the Olympic final, shaking with emotion as he fell to his knees, describing victory as his "greatest achievement".

It was his 99th title, putting him four behind Federer's total of 103 and 10 behind Jimmy Connors' record of 109.

Djokovic did not launch his career in a vacuum -- he started out at a time when Federer and Nadal ruled the sport, with fans firmly in one camp or the other.

When the Serb won his first Grand Slam, at the Australian Open in 2008, Federer was already on 12 majors and Nadal had taken virtual ownership of the French Open.

Djokovic did not win another major until 2011 and was voracious in his appetite until this year when he failed to add to his Grand Slam tally, overshadowed by the  success of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz who shared the four majors between them.

In an effort to stem the relative decline, on Saturday he hired old rival Andy Murray to help coach him at next year's Australian Open where he is a 10-time champion.

He has made no secret of his aim to be the greatest of all and few would now argue that he has not achieved it, with winning records against both of his rivals in the "Big Three" of men's tennis.

Despite his astonishing achievements, while the retired Nadal and Federer are adored across the world, Djokovic, even now, sharply divides opinion.

He famously had to battle Federer and a pro-Swiss crowd in the 2019 Wimbledon final, which he won after saving match points.

Djokovic is not afraid to go toe to toe with hostile fans, using their jibes to fuel his relentless quest for glory and showing the depth of his competitiveness.

But off the court he cuts an impressive figure -- urbane and thoughtful, and able to speak fluently in a number of languages.

An exasperated John McEnroe expressed his frustration at the way that Djokovic is sometimes treated during the 2024 Wimbledon tournament, where he lost in the final to Alcaraz.

"He's like the Darth Vader compared to two of the classiest acts we've seen play tennis -- Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer," he said.

- 'Greatest' -

The American three-time Wimbledon champion added: "He's by far the guy who's taken the worst heat and that's why I would say he's the greatest that's ever played."

Djokovic has been content to plough his own furrow and has shown an astonishing ability to shut out the noise and battle against the odds.

He grew up in war-torn Serbia and has spoken about how his turbulent childhood made him hungrier for success.

Djokovic made his ATP Tour debut in 2004, winning his first title two years later in the Netherlands.

He started to win tournaments regularly but struggled to make an impact at the Grand Slams after his 2008 triumph in Australia.

Djokovic dropped gluten early in his career, crediting the change with transforming his results.

The lithe physique of the rubber man of tennis enabled him to chase down seemingly lost causes and he combined a brutally efficient game with a rock-solid defence.

Half of his 24 Grand Slams have come after he turned 30 -- testament to how he has looked after himself.

In 2016 he became the third man in history to hold all four majors at the same time.

But agonisingly he fell at the last hurdle in 2021 as he attempted to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to complete a calendar Grand Slam.

Despite his extraordinary success, some personal stances have drawn criticism, such as a claim that it was possible to alter the composition of water and food through positive thinking.

His refusal to be vaccinated against Covid proved costly -- he was deported from Melbourne on the eve of the 2022 Australian Open.

And Djokovic's tennis has sometimes been overshadowed by controversies.

His infamous default from the US Open in 2020 for petulantly swiping at a ball that hit a female line judge gave a glimpse of his fiery character.

At the 2023 French Open, he wrote "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia" on a courtside TV camera lens as ethnic tensions were again rising in the Balkans.

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AFP looks at the other five who achieved the feat:

- Juan Manuel Fangio -

Titles won: 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957

Cars: Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Mercedes, Ferrari

Born in 1911, Fangio was a successful driver at home in Argentina, notably winning the gruelling 10,000 kilometre (6,250 miles) Gran Premio del Norte in 1940, before becoming the first superstar of Formula One.

He won the 1951 title with Alfa Romeo and went on to triumph with Maserati, Mercedes and Ferrari to become the first man to win five titles, a record that stood for 46 years. He died aged 84 in 1995.

In his own words:

"I learned to approach racing like a game of billiards. If you bash the ball too hard, you get nowhere. As you handle the cue properly, you drive with more finesse."

- Alain Prost -

Titles won: 1985, 1986, 1989, 1993

Cars: McLaren, Williams

The Frenchman, who was known as 'The Professor' for his analytical approach to the sport, is remembered by many as the dull counterpoint to the crowd-pleasing Ayrton Senna (three titles) in a rivalry that gripped F1 in the late 1980s, early 1990s.

But he was a gifted, methodical driver who won his first three titles with McLaren and a fourth with Williams. He might have had five had he not been pipped by half a point by Niki Lauda in 1984.

In his own words:

"My ideal is to get pole with the minimum effort, and to win the race at the slowest speed possible."

- Michael Schumacher -

Titles won: 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004

Cars: Benetton, Ferrari

The year after Prost's final championship, up stepped the heir apparent in Michael Schumacher. The German, with his undoubted verve and pace mingled with an aggression that occasionally bordered on the dangerous, won twice with Benetton in the 1990s before switching to Ferrari.

From 2000 he dominated the track, winning five titles on the trot, eclipsing Fangio's record on the way. His 91 race wins was a new record until Lewis Hamilton passed him.

Schumacher suffered a serious brain injury in a 2013 skiing accident and has been in care at the family home in Switzerland since.

In his own words:

"Just being a mediocre driver has never been my ambition. That’s not my style."

- Sebastian Vettel -

Titles won: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013

Car: Red Bull

Six years after Schumacher's last title, along came another German to take a firm grip of the sport. Vettel made his F1 debut in Indianapolis shortly before his 20th birthday in 2007 with Red Bull which had taken over and rebranded the Jaguar team four years earlier.

Three years later he became the youngest-ever champion, going on to win four in a row and frustrating the great Spaniard Fernando Alonso who was runner-up three times to Vettel. His 2013 title was the last won by Red Bull until Verstappen's first in 2021.

In his own words:

"It's correct that I'm a bad loser. Why should I lie? If I was good at losing I wouldn't be in Formula 1."

- Lewis Hamilton -

Titles won: 2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020

Cars: McLaren, Mercedes

In a sport that had been exclusively white, Lewis Hamilton broke new ground for being the first Black driver and the first Black champion. He used his position to speak out on many social issues but kept his most telling actions to the track where he and his Mercedes team were in a class of their own.

After winning his first title with McLaren in 2008, he switched to Mercedes winning six further titles over a seven-year period. Arguably he should have made it eight when a controversial decision by the race director in Abu Dhabi ushered Verstappen through for the win instead -- and the title.

In his own words:

"If you don’t have the balls to brake late, that’s your problem."

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The "burning mountain" -- Yanardag in Azerbaijani -- is fed by underground gas rising to the surface and igniting upon contact with oxygen.

The abundance of naturally occurring fires from the energy-rich nation's huge gas deposits has earned it the nickname "The Land of Fire".

Azerbaijan's vast oil and gas resources "have shaped the history, culture, politics and the economy" of the Caspian nation, said energy expert Kamalya Mustafayeva.

Its oil deposits -- seven billion barrels of proven reserves -- were discovered in the mid-19th century, making what was then part of the Russian Empire one of the first places in the world to start commercial oil production.

"The world's first industrial onshore oil well was drilled in Azerbaijan, and also the first offshore one," Ashraf Shikhaliyev, the director of the energy ministry's international cooperation department, told AFP.

- 'Born of an oil boom' -

Since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Azerbaijan has produced 1.05 billion tonnes of oil and is set to increase its natural gas production by more than a third in the next decade.

Revenues from oil and gas production make up about 35 percent of the country's GDP and nearly half of the state budget.

"Azerbaijan's oil revenues -- up to $200 billion to date since 1991 -- gave the country an opportunity to make a huge leap forward," said Sabit Bagirov, who headed the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (Socar) in the 1990s.

Energy expert Ilham Shaban said "Baku, once a small fishermen's hamlet of some 4,000 people, was born of an oil boom," which led to massive population growth -- at a faster rate from the 1890s than London, Paris or New York.

Modern Baku is a bustling metropolis dotted with skyscrapers, seaside promenades and futuristic buildings designed by world-renowned architects.

The Azerbaijani capital has become a venue for major international events, such as the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest, matches in the Euro 2020 football championship and the Formula 1 motor racing Grand Prix.

The manna of petrodollars helped Azerbaijan to arm itself against arch-foe Armenia, and last year Baku recaptured its breakaway Karabakh region from Armenian separatists who had controlled it for decades.

- 'Europe's energy security' -

About 75 percent of Azerbaijan's energy exports go to European markets.

In 2022, the European Commission -- keen to reduce Europe's dependence on Russian gas -- signed a deal with Baku to double gas imports from the country.

While Azerbaijan's share of gas supplies to Europe might only reach five percent by 2033, the country can meet all the gas needs of Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, Albania and the south of Italy, said Bagirov.

"Azerbaijan has become an important factor in ensuring Europe's energy security," said expert Mustafayeva.

But its fossil fuel reserves, which President Ilham Aliyev has called "a gift of God", are expected to be exhausted within several decades.

"Azerbaijan's oil wells will run dry within 20 years; the natural gas reserves will last for 50 years," Bagirov said.

"Economic dependence on hydrocarbons is a concern for the Azerbaijani government, which is making serious efforts to develop other economic sectors," including technology, agriculture and tourism, he said.

Expert Shaban said "Azerbaijan's goal is to get the maximum money from its hydrocarbon resources before Europe reaches its decarbonisation objective," which will lead to a significant drop in the continent's demand for fossil fuels.

- Insufficient green agenda -

This prospect has prompted criticism from environmentalists ahead of COP29.

"COP hosts have a responsibility to deliver progress and the answer is not found at the bottom of an oil well or a gas pipeline," said Jasper Inventor, Greenpeace International's head of delegation for COP29.

With all the exported gas and oil, the emissions are tallied in the CO2 production of the countries that buy and burn it, and not in those of Azerbaijan.

Yet Azerbaijani officials said the country is making significant strides in setting its own green agenda on its land.

The country aims to increase its renewable energy capacity to 30 percent by 2030 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2050.

Shikhaliyev listed "clean energy mega projects" such as transforming the recaptured Karabakh region into a "green energy zone" fully reliant on solar, wind and hydro power.

But experts are adamant that Azerbaijan does not have a climate plan in line with the Paris Agreement.

In September, the Climate Action Tracker group estimated that by 2030, Baku's greenhouse gas emissions will have increased between 23 to 40 percent compared to 2020.

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"I don't like to talk about medical tourism. It's a bit scary," said Dritan Gremi, who heads a dental clinic in the capital Tirana.

"I prefer to talk about happiness tourism, which makes people happy."

Gremi said his clinic offers "high-quality care with equipment that is guaranteed and certified" to European standards at a fraction of the price.

He has Italian, French, Belgian and Swiss clients often lured with package deals that include travel and accommodation costs.

With scandals about shoddy work and disfigured clients taking some of the shine off medical tourism elsewhere, Albanian health authorities say they insist on high-quality care.

Prosecutors carried out checks on 30 cosmetic clinics this month looking for contraband products and Botox, which is banned in Albania.

- Smile sale -

Stephane Pealat's journey to Albania started with hopes for a new, affordable smile.

He and his brother, who are from Valence in the south of France, have long suffered from dental problems, including tooth loss that pushed him to seek a complex dental implant procedure.

"In France we had an initial estimate which was very, very expensive. Then we started looking on the internet -- Bulgaria, Turkey, Albania, Spain," Pealat told AFP.

He learned about the Gremi clinic during a consultation session in Lyon with Albanian dentists.

After an initial visit in August to tour the facilities in Tirana, Pealat and his brother returned in the autumn.

According to Pealat, the dental implant operation he opted for cost roughly 50,000 euros ($54,000) in France, compared to just 13,500 euros in Albania.

It was no small amount for Pealat.

"It is important to have a beautiful smile," he said.

Nathalie Gangloff, who works as an event organiser at a nursing home in Cognac in western France, also opted for an Albania clinic to treat her dental issues.

"My doctor in France told me about a TV documentary" about medical tourism in Albania, Gangloff told AFP.

She paid under 15,000 euros to have her teeth done compared to the 42,000 euros that she would have had to spend in France.

After extractions and implants in February, she returned to Tirana in mid-September for her final work, happy to have regained her smile.

"With my job, it's important to have beautiful teeth and a good hairdo," she told AFP, saying she immediately changed her Facebook profile picture to show off her new pearly whites.

- 'Love and happiness' -

Low overheads and tax have helped Albanian clinics lure customers with lower prices.

The country's medical tourism sector is estimated to earn between 200 and 250 million euros a year, with at least 50,000 Italians visiting Tirana for treatment every year.

However, the procedures are not risk-free.

The head of Albania's national doctors association Fatmir Ibrahimaj said both foreign and local patients should not rely on online advertising alone for cosmetic procedures and should do their due diligence before undergoing treatment.

"A doctor is not a five-star or no-star hotel," Ibrahimaj told reporters.

For Anna Maria, an Italian from Milan, the "smile of the soul passes also through the lips".

The psychologist in her 30s -- who did not want to give her surname -- visited Albania for dental veneers and a lip procedure with the hopes of improving her smile.

"More and more foreign tourists are also getting cosmetic treatments to brighten up their smile," said Monika Fida, a dermatologist and university lecturer in Tirana.

Injections of hyaluronic acid into the lips are particularly popular.

"Above all, they want to feel good, and have well-shaped lips as naturally as possible," added Fida, who said between 750 and 1,000 foreign patients visit her clinic every year.

Vera Panaitov, a 60-year-old Italian chef from Verona, initially came to have her teeth done.

But once in Tirana, she had opted for procedures on her breasts and waist.

"You have to be beautiful at any age and experience love and happiness at every moment," she told AFP, smiling from her hospital bed, saying she felt "happy and rejuvenated".

Christine Cincunegui, a French businesswoman, may soon follow her.

In Paris, she seemed set on going ahead with a dental procedure in Albania after consulting practitioners visiting the French capital.

"Feeling more beautiful and having fun? What more do we want?" she told AFP.

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Clad in a red tunic and donning a 24-carat gold necklace, Tsonev said he sought a more "traditional life" dedicated to the Balkan country's rich past amid all the "turmoil in the world", far away from any "political and economic upheavals".

"It's calm here and the focus is on history," the 47-year-old former waiter said -- though one of its star attractions has become embroiled in accusations of possible fraud targeting an anti-establishment politician.

Tsonev is one of dozens of Bulgarians who have put down roots in the village of Neofit Rilski about 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the Black Sea coast in search of a tranquil, traditional lifestyle.

That search is helped in part by the village's popular historical theme park built by businessman-turned-politician Ivelin Mihaylov.

Having founded the Velichie or Greatness party last year, which has since entered parliament in June, the 47-year-old said his aim was to "make Bulgaria respect itself again".

Instead of bowing down to what Brussels "dictates", adopting the euro and taking sides on the war in Ukraine, Mihaylov told AFP that Bulgaria should connect to its "glorious past".

But Mihaylov and his park have recently been caught up in allegations of fraud, which he denies as "slander" by his political rivals ahead of Sunday's national elections.

- Community spirit -

Several residents of the 1,300-soul village told AFP they appreciate its community spirit and respect for traditional values.

Alexandra Beshevlieva left the capital Sofia years ago to settle in Neofit Rilski, where everything from the impeccable streets to the freshly mowed lawns appears perfect.

"You need to know your roots to know where you're going -- I'm bringing up my children as Bulgarians," said the 37-year-old IT specialist, who lives with her family in a house with 19th-century architectural elements.

Beshevlieva said she enjoyed the "healthy" food she can buy from local producers, while praising the folk dancing activities her children take part in.

Tsonev said he has found happiness in growing roses and medicinal plants in his garden, which he has opened to the public.

His children have Thracian names, harking back to the civilisation that once inhabited the Balkan peninsula from the second millennium BC to the third century AD.

The Thracians became famous for their production of exquisite gold objects, inspiring Tsonev's handmade jewelry.

Politician Mihaylov similarly gave his daughter a name of Thracian descent.

- Opaque financing -

Mihaylov's popular historical theme park is just a stone's throw away from the village centre.

It features replicas of prehistoric mud and reed houses, copies of archaeological objects from 8,000 years ago, as well as "historic" models of tombs and medieval towers.

Elisaveta Slavova, a 36-year-old guide who used to live abroad in Britain, said she learnt about the village on the internet and decided to return to Bulgaria.

"I've found my vocation -- to help people discover the richness of our historical heritage. We're treading on gold here," she said.

Theme park visitors told AFP they are "proud" to be Bulgarian, brushing aside criticism over the facility's financing, which is entirely private.

According to an economist interviewed by lawmakers, the park "only generates losses". Mihaylov said the banks have since stopped granting loans.

Regional prosecutors have not yet acted on accusations of "misleading investors" for lack of evidence, but a new investigation has meanwhile been opened.

Several other investigations into suspected illegal acquisition of property and fraud for the purpose of electoral manipulation are ongoing.

Pounding the campaign trail in the run-up to the elections, Mihaylov denounced his rivals as "a mafia that leaves no room for entrepreneurial freedom".

The politician hopes his Velichie party can repeat its June success in the upcoming vote on Sunday, the seventh in less than four years.

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