1 Kongo, Lingala and other indigenous languages.

2 THE oldest company in the world is Kongo Gumi, a construction firm based in Osaka. It started building Buddhist shrines in 578AD, and was still run by a man surnamed Kongo 40 generations later.

3 The JS Kongo also participated, tracking the targets and conducting a successful simulated intercept. The target fell harmlessly into the Pacific Ocean.

4 Hypothetical Kongo replacements. The first uses 16" guns in new "Yamato" style turrets, the other uses turrets recycled from the older Battleships.

5 Language: French is the official language. Many indigenous languages, mainly Lingala and Kongo, are spoken.