Hello Kitty shinkansen makes final run

Hello Kitty shinkansen makes final run

Fans gather at JR Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka to witness the final run of a Hello Kitty shinkansen bullet train decorated with ribbons and character illustrations inside and out on May 17, 2026. The 500-series Shinkansen operated by West Japan Railway Co. carried about 1 million passengers since debuting in June 2018 on the route between Shin-Osaka and JR Hakata Station in Fukuoka.

Hello Kitty shinkansen makes final run

Hello Kitty shinkansen makes final run

A Hello Kitty shinkansen bullet train decorated with ribbons and character illustrations inside and out arrives at JR Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka for its final run on May 17, 2026. The 500-series Shinkansen operated by West Japan Railway Co. carried about 1 million passengers since debuting in June 2018 on the route between Shin-Osaka and JR Hakata Station in Fukuoka.

Hello Kitty shinkansen makes final run

Hello Kitty shinkansen makes final run

Fans gather at JR Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka to witness the final run of a Hello Kitty shinkansen bullet train decorated with ribbons and character illustrations inside and out on May 17, 2026. The 500-series Shinkansen operated by West Japan Railway Co. carried about 1 million passengers since debuting in June 2018 on the route between Shin-Osaka and JR Hakata Station in Fukuoka.

Hello Kitty shinkansen makes final run

Hello Kitty shinkansen makes final run

A Hello Kitty shinkansen bullet train decorated with ribbons and character illustrations inside and out arrives at JR Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka for its final run on May 17, 2026. The 500-series Shinkansen operated by West Japan Railway Co. carried about 1 million passengers since debuting in June 2018 on the route between Shin-Osaka and JR Hakata Station in Fukuoka.

150-meter-tall fountain completed in Tokyo

150-meter-tall fountain completed in Tokyo

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike (front row, 3rd from L) poses for a photo during the opening ceremony of Tokyo Aqua Symphony, one of the world's largest fountains, at Odaiba Marine Park in Tokyo on March 28, 2026. The 150-meter-tall, 250-meter-wide fountain is expected to generate about 9.8 billion yen ($61 million) in annual economic activity, as around 30 million people are expected to visit.

150-meter-tall fountain completed in Tokyo

150-meter-tall fountain completed in Tokyo

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike speaks during the opening ceremony of Tokyo Aqua Symphony, one of the world's largest fountains, at Odaiba Marine Park in Tokyo on March 28, 2026. The 150-meter-tall, 250-meter-wide fountain is expected to generate about 9.8 billion yen ($61 million) in annual economic activity, as around 30 million people are expected to visit.

Suzuki Motor to raise output capacity in India

Suzuki Motor to raise output capacity in India

Photo taken on March 18, 2026, shows vehicles under shipment at a plant operated by Japan's Suzuki Motor Corp. in Hansalpur, western India. Suzuki will raise annual automobile production capacity at the plant by 250,000 units to 1 million units with the addition of a new line dedicated to electric vehicles now under construction.

Suzuki Motor to raise output capacity in India

Suzuki Motor to raise output capacity in India

Photo taken on March 18, 2026, shows an assembly line operated by Japan's Suzuki Motor Corp. in Hansalpur, western India. Suzuki will raise annual automobile production capacity at the plant by 250,000 units to 1 million units with the addition of a new line dedicated to electric vehicles now under construction.

Figure skating: Olympic champion pair

Figure skating: Olympic champion pair

Japanese figure skaters Riku Miura (R) and Ryuichi Kihara pose for a photo with panels announcing rewards of 20 million yen ($130,000) each from their corporate sponsor Kinoshita Group Co. in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2026. They won gold in the figure skating pairs and silver in the team event at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

Figure skating: Olympic champion pair

Figure skating: Olympic champion pair

Japanese figure skaters Riku Miura (far R) and Ryuichi Kihara (2nd from R) receive panels announcing rewards of 20 million yen ($130,000) each from Naoya Kinoshita, president of Kinoshita Group Co., their company sponsor, in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2026. They won gold in the figure skating pairs and silver in the team event at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

Sapporo Snow Festival

Sapporo Snow Festival

Snow sculptures are lit up at Odori Park in Sapporo, Hokkaido, on Feb. 4, 2026, the opening day of the Sapporo Snow Festival. About 2 million people are expected to visit the event through Feb. 11 featuring more than 200 snow and ice sculptures.

Sapporo Snow Festival

Sapporo Snow Festival

Snow sculptures are lit up at Odori Park in Sapporo, Hokkaido, on Feb. 4, 2026, the opening day of the Sapporo Snow Festival. About 2 million people are expected to visit the event through Feb. 11 featuring more than 200 snow and ice sculptures.

Sapporo Snow Festival

Sapporo Snow Festival

People view a snow sculpture of a cake on Feb. 4, 2026, the opening day of the 76th Sapporo Snow Festival in the capital of Hokkaido in northern Japan. About 2 million people are expected to visit the event through Feb. 11 featuring more than 200 snow and ice sculptures.

Sapporo Snow Festival

Sapporo Snow Festival

People view a snow sculpture of a cake on Feb. 4, 2026, the opening day of the 76th Sapporo Snow Festival in the capital of Hokkaido in northern Japan. About 2 million people are expected to visit the event through Feb. 11 featuring more than 200 snow and ice sculptures.

Sapporo Snow Festival

Sapporo Snow Festival

The 76th Sapporo Snow Festival opens in the capital of Hokkaido in northern Japan on Feb. 4, 2026, with about 2 million people expected to visit the event featuring more than 200 snow and ice sculptures through Feb. 11.

Robbers flee with 420 mil. yen in Tokyo

Robbers flee with 420 mil. yen in Tokyo

Police investigators work in the small hours of Jan. 30, 2026, near the scene of a robbery in central Tokyo in which suitcases containing around 420 million yen ($2.7 million) in cash were stolen by a group of three suspects the previous day.

Robbers flee with 420 mil. yen in Tokyo

Robbers flee with 420 mil. yen in Tokyo

Police investigators work in the small hours of Jan. 30, 2026, near the scene of a robbery in central Tokyo in which suitcases containing around 420 million yen ($2.7 million) in cash were stolen by a group of three suspects the previous day.

Robbers flee with 420 mil. yen in Tokyo

Robbers flee with 420 mil. yen in Tokyo

Police investigators work in the small hours of Jan. 30, 2026, near the scene of a robbery in central Tokyo in which suitcases containing around 420 million yen ($2.7 million) in cash were stolen by a group of three suspects the previous day.

Robbers flee with 420 mil. yen in Tokyo

Robbers flee with 420 mil. yen in Tokyo

Police investigators work in the small hours of Jan. 30, 2026, near the scene of a robbery in central Tokyo in which suitcases containing around 420 million yen ($2.7 million) in cash were stolen by a group of three suspects the previous day.

Robbers flee with 420 mil. yen in Tokyo

Robbers flee with 420 mil. yen in Tokyo

Police investigators work in the small hours of Jan. 30, 2026, near the scene of a robbery in central Tokyo in which suitcases containing around 420 million yen ($2.7 million) in cash were stolen by a group of three suspects the previous day.

Prudential Life Insurance apologizes over defrauding of clients

Prudential Life Insurance apologizes over defrauding of clients

Prudential Life Insurance Co. President Kan Mabara (far R) bows in apology at a press conference in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after around 100 of its employees and former employees were found to have improperly borrowed or defrauded clients out of some 3.1 billion yen ($19.5 million).

Prudential Life Insurance apologizes over defrauding of clients

Prudential Life Insurance apologizes over defrauding of clients

Prudential Life Insurance Co. President Kan Mabara (R) bows in apology at a press conference in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after around 100 of its employees and former employees were found to have improperly borrowed or defrauded clients out of some 3.1 billion yen ($19.5 million).

Prudential Life Insurance apologizes over defrauding of clients

Prudential Life Insurance apologizes over defrauding of clients

Prudential Life Insurance Co. President Kan Mabara holds a press conference in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after around 100 of its employees and former employees were found to have improperly borrowed or defrauded clients out of some 3.1 billion yen ($19.5 million).

No. of foreign visitors to Japan tops 40 mil.

No. of foreign visitors to Japan tops 40 mil.

Tourists pack a street near Kiyomizu-dera temple in Kyoto, western Japan, on Jan. 20, 2026. The number of foreign visitors to Japan surged 16 percent to an estimated 42.7 million in 2025, exceeding 40 million for the first time.

No. of foreign visitors to Japan tops 40 mil.

No. of foreign visitors to Japan tops 40 mil.

Foreign tourists take a picture at the famous scramble intersection in Tokyo's Shibuya area on Jan. 20, 2026. The number of foreign visitors to Japan surged 16 percent to an estimated 42.7 million in 2025, exceeding 40 million for the first time.

No. of foreign visitors to Japan tops 40 mil.

No. of foreign visitors to Japan tops 40 mil.

Foreign tourists take a picture at the famous scramble intersection in Tokyo's Shibuya area on Jan. 20, 2026. The number of foreign visitors to Japan surged 16 percent to an estimated 42.7 million in 2025, exceeding 40 million for the first time.

Japan 2025 foreign visitors at record 42.7 mil.

Japan 2025 foreign visitors at record 42.7 mil.

Yasushi Kaneko, Japan's minister of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism, speaks at a press conference at his ministry in Tokyo on Jan. 20, 2026, announcing that foreign visitors to Japan reached an estimated record 42.7 million in 2025.

New Year tuna auction in Tokyo

New Year tuna auction in Tokyo

Photo taken on Jan. 5, 2026, shows a 243-kilogram bluefin tuna caught off Oma in Aomori Prefecture that fetched 510.3 million yen ($3.25 million) at the year's first tuna auction at Tokyo's Toyosu market.

New Year tuna auction in Tokyo

New Year tuna auction in Tokyo

Photo taken on Jan. 5, 2026, shows a 243-kilogram bluefin tuna caught off Oma in Aomori Prefecture that fetched 510.3 million yen ($3.25 million) at the year's first tuna auction at Tokyo's Toyosu market.

Year-end Jumbo lottery draw in Tokyo

Year-end Jumbo lottery draw in Tokyo

The year-end Jumbo lottery draw is held in Tokyo on Dec. 31, 2025, with top prize winners set to win up to 1 billion yen ($6.38 million).

Year-end Jumbo lottery draw in Tokyo

Year-end Jumbo lottery draw in Tokyo

The year-end Jumbo lottery draw is held in Tokyo on Dec. 31, 2025, with top prize winners set to win up to 1 billion yen ($6.38 million).

New Japan Coast Guard patrol boat Soya

New Japan Coast Guard patrol boat Soya

The Japan Coast Guard's new patrol vessel, the icebreaker Soya, arrives at Kushiro port in Kushiro in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Dec. 28, 2025. The 4,200-ton vessel replaced the JCG's oldest patrol vessel with the same name, which was decommissioned in November after traveling about 1.91 million kilometers, equivalent to 48 trips around the Earth, during 47 years of operation.

New Japan Coast Guard patrol boat Soya

New Japan Coast Guard patrol boat Soya

The Japan Coast Guard's new patrol vessel, the icebreaker Soya, arrives at Kushiro port in Kushiro in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Dec. 28, 2025. The 4,200-ton vessel replaced the JCG's oldest patrol vessel with the same name, which was decommissioned in November after traveling about 1.91 million kilometers, equivalent to 48 trips around the Earth, during 47 years of operation.

Osaka Expo organizer head speaks on revenue

Osaka Expo organizer head speaks on revenue

Masakazu Tokura, chair of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, holds a press conference in Tokyo on Dec. 24, 2025. The association said the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka that closed in October generated a surplus of up to 37 billion yen ($237 million).

Illumination event in Sendai

Illumination event in Sendai

The annual Sendai Pageant of Starlight illumination event begins in Sendai, northeastern Japan, on Dec. 5, 2025. Zelkova trees lining a 500-meter street are lit up with about 480,000 LED lights, with about 2.5 million people expected to visit through Dec. 28.

Illumination event in Sendai

Illumination event in Sendai

The annual Sendai Pageant of Starlight illumination event begins in Sendai, northeastern Japan, on Dec. 5, 2025. Zelkova trees lining a 500-meter street are lit up with about 480,000 LED lights, with about 2.5 million people expected to visit through Dec. 28.

Brewer Asahi's cyberattack

Brewer Asahi's cyberattack

Asahi Group Holdings Ltd. President Atsushi Katsuki speaks during a press conference in Tokyo on Nov. 27, 2025, following a cyberattack in late September in which personal information was leaked. The Japanese beverage giant said an investigation has found that personal information linked to around 2 million people may have been leaked in a cyberattack that hit its domestic servers.

Brewer Asahi's cyberattack

Brewer Asahi's cyberattack

Asahi Group Holdings Ltd. President Atsushi Katsuki speaks during a press conference in Tokyo on Nov. 27, 2025, following a cyberattack in late September in which personal information was leaked. The Japanese beverage giant said an investigation has found that personal information linked to around 2 million people may have been leaked in a cyberattack that hit its domestic servers.

Brewer Asahi's cyberattack

Brewer Asahi's cyberattack

Asahi Group Holdings Ltd. President Atsushi Katsuki (C) speaks during a press conference in Tokyo on Nov. 27, 2025, following a cyberattack in late September in which personal information was leaked. The Japanese beverage giant said an investigation has found that personal information linked to around 2 million people may have been leaked in a cyberattack that hit its domestic servers.

Brewer Asahi cyberattack

Brewer Asahi cyberattack

Asahi Group Holdings Ltd. President Atsushi Katsuki (C) bows in apology during a press conference in Tokyo on Nov. 27, 2025, following a cyberattack in late September in which personal information was leaked. The Japanese beverage giant said an investigation has found that personal information linked to around 2 million people may have been leaked in a cyberattack that hit its domestic servers.

JCG's oldest patrol boat retires

JCG's oldest patrol boat retires

A ceremony to decommission the Japan Coast Guard's oldest active patrol vessel, the icebreaker Soya, is held in Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Nov. 12, 2025, after 47 years in operation. The 3,100-ton ship traveled about 1.91 million kilometers, equivalent to 48 trips around the Earth, and rescued over 1,450 people in more than 600 shipwreck cases.

JCG's oldest patrol boat retires

JCG's oldest patrol boat retires

A ceremony to decommission the Japan Coast Guard's oldest active patrol vessel, the icebreaker Soya, is held in Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Nov. 12, 2025, after 47 years in operation. The 3,100-ton ship traveled about 1.91 million kilometers, equivalent to 48 trips around the Earth, and rescued over 1,450 people in more than 600 shipwreck cases.

JCG's oldest patrol boat retires

JCG's oldest patrol boat retires

The icebreaker Soya's logo is painted over as a ceremony to decommission the ship, the Japan Coast Guard's oldest active patrol vessel, is held in Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Nov. 12, 2025, after 47 years in operation. The 3,100-ton ship traveled about 1.91 million kilometers, equivalent to 48 trips around the Earth, and rescued over 1,450 people in more than 600 shipwreck cases.

JCG's oldest patrol boat retires

JCG's oldest patrol boat retires

A ceremony to decommission the Japan Coast Guard's oldest active patrol vessel, the icebreaker Soya, is held in Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Nov. 12, 2025, after 47 years in operation. The 3,100-ton ship traveled about 1.91 million kilometers, equivalent to 48 trips around the Earth, and rescued over 1,450 people in more than 600 shipwreck cases.

JCG's oldest patrol boat retires

JCG's oldest patrol boat retires

A ceremony to decommission the Japan Coast Guard's oldest active patrol vessel, the icebreaker Soya, is held in Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Nov. 12, 2025, after 47 years in operation. The 3,100-ton ship traveled about 1.91 million kilometers, equivalent to 48 trips around the Earth, and rescued over 1,450 people in more than 600 shipwreck cases.

JCG's oldest patrol boat departs for final voyage

JCG's oldest patrol boat departs for final voyage

The Japan Coast Guard's oldest active patrol vessel, the icebreaker Soya, departs from its home port of Kushiro in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Nov. 4, 2025, for its final voyage after 47 years in operation. The 3,100-ton ship will be decommissioned on Nov. 12 after traveling about 1.91 million kilometers, equivalent to 48 trips around the Earth

JCG's oldest patrol boat departs for final voyage

JCG's oldest patrol boat departs for final voyage

The Japan Coast Guard's oldest active patrol vessel, the icebreaker Soya, departs from its home port of Kushiro in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Nov. 4, 2025, for its final voyage after 47 years in operation. The 3,100-ton ship will be decommissioned on Nov. 12 after traveling about 1.91 million kilometers, equivalent to 48 trips around the Earth.

Fujifilm to launch new Cheki series instant camera

Fujifilm to launch new Cheki series instant camera

A woman takes a selfie with Fujifilm Corp.'s latest model of the Cheki instant camera series, "instax mini LiPlay+," in Tokyo on Oct. 21, 2025, ahead of its official launch on Nov. 7. The front-facing camera, equipped with a rear monitor for easier selfies, is priced at around 28,600 yen ($190), with the series' cumulative sales surpassing 100 million units since its debut in 1998.

Fujifilm to launch new Cheki series instant camera

Fujifilm to launch new Cheki series instant camera

A woman takes a selfie with Fujifilm Corp.'s latest model of the Cheki instant camera series, "instax mini LiPlay+," in Tokyo on Oct. 21, 2025, ahead of its official launch on Nov. 7. The front-facing camera, equipped with a rear monitor for easier selfies, is priced at around 28,600 yen ($190), with the series' cumulative sales surpassing 100 million units since its debut in 1998.

Fujifilm to launch new Cheki series instant camera

Fujifilm to launch new Cheki series instant camera

A woman holds Fujifilm Corp.'s latest model of the Cheki instant camera series, "instax mini LiPlay+," in Tokyo on Oct. 21, 2025, ahead of its launch on Nov. 7. The front-facing camera, equipped with a rear monitor for easier selfies, is priced at around 28,600 yen ($190), with the series' cumulative sales having surpassed 100 million units since its debut in 1998.