Japan Finance Minister Katayama in parliament

Japan Finance Minister Katayama in parliament

Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama speaks during a House of Representatives Budget Committee session in Tokyo on Feb. 27, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi in parliament

Japan PM Takaichi in parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) speaks during a House of Representatives Budget Committee session in Tokyo on Feb. 27, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi in parliament

Japan PM Takaichi in parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) speaks during a House of Representatives Budget Committee session in Tokyo on Feb. 27, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi in parliament

Japan PM Takaichi in parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a House of Representatives Budget Committee session in Tokyo on Feb. 27, 2026.

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks at the first meeting of a cross-party "national council" to discuss her pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food for two years at the premier's office in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2026.

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks at the first meeting of a cross-party "national council" to discuss her pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food for two years at the premier's office in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2026.

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks at the first meeting of a cross-party "national council" to discuss her pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food for two years at the premier's office in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2026.

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks at the first meeting of a cross-party "national council" to discuss her pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food for two years at the premier's office in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2026.

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks at the first meeting of a cross-party "national council" to discuss her pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food for two years at the premier's office in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2026.

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Takahiro Anno (2nd from R), leader of Team Mirai, speaks at the first meeting of a cross-party "national council" to discuss Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food for two years at the premier's office in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2026.

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (2nd from L) speaks at the first meeting of a cross-party "national council" to discuss her pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food for two years at the premier's office in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2026.

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Takahiro Anno, leader of Team Mirai, speaks at the first meeting of a cross-party "national council" to discuss Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food for two years at the premier's office in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2026.

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Takahiro Anno (R), leader of Team Mirai, speaks at the first meeting of a cross-party "national council" to discuss Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food for two years at the premier's office in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2026.

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Photo taken on Feb. 26, 2026, shows the first meeting of a cross-party "national council" to discuss Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food for two years at the premier's office in Tokyo.

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Photo taken on Feb. 26, 2026, shows the first meeting of a cross-party "national council" to discuss Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food for two years at the premier's office in Tokyo.

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Fumitake Fujita (L), co-leader of the Japan Innovation Party, attends the first meeting of a cross-party "national council" to discuss Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food for two years at the premier's office in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2026.

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Photo taken on Feb. 26, 2026, shows the first meeting of a cross-party "national council" to discuss Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food for two years at the premier's office in Tokyo.

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Fumitake Fujita, co-leader of the Japan Innovation Party, attends the first meeting of a cross-party "national council" to discuss Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food for two years at the premier's office in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2026.

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Fumitake Fujita (C), co-leader of the Japan Innovation Party, and Takahiro Anno (L), leader of Team Mirai, attend the first meeting of a cross-party "national council" to discuss Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food for two years at the premier's office in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2026.

Asahi Kasei Press Conference Regarding Acquisition of Aicuris

Asahi Kasei Press Conference Regarding Acquisition of Aicuris

Asahi Kasei Press Conference on Acquisition of Aicuris. The photo shows Kudo Koshiro, President of Asahi Kasei.=February 26,2026,Tokyo

Asahi Kasei Press Conference Regarding Acquisition of Aicuris

Asahi Kasei Press Conference Regarding Acquisition of Aicuris

Asahi Kasei Press Conference on Acquisition of Aicuris. The photo shows, from right, Kudo Koshiro, President of Asahi Kasei Corporation, and Aoki Yoshikazu, President of Asahi Kasei Pharma Corporation.=February 26,2026,Tokyo

Nihon Nohyaku signboard and logo

Nihon Nohyaku signboard and logo

Nihon Nohyaku signboard and logo=February 25,2026,Tokyo

Nihon Nohyaku signboard and logo

Nihon Nohyaku signboard and logo

Nihon Nohyaku signboard and logo=February 25,2026,Tokyo

Asahi Kasei Press Conference Regarding Acquisition of Aicuris

Asahi Kasei Press Conference Regarding Acquisition of Aicuris

Asahi Kasei Press Conference on Acquisition of Aicuris. The photo shows Kudo Koshiro, President of Asahi Kasei.=February 26,2026,Tokyo

Asahi Kasei Press Conference Regarding Acquisition of Aicuris

Asahi Kasei Press Conference Regarding Acquisition of Aicuris

Asahi Kasei Press Conference on Acquisition of Aicuris. The photo shows, from right to left: Kudo Koshiro, President of Asahi Kasei; Aoki Yoshikazu, President of Asahi Kasei Pharma; and Stacy Wheeler, CEO of Veloxis Pharmaceuticals.=February 26,2026,Tokyo

Japan PM Takaichi in parliament

Japan PM Takaichi in parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a plenary session of the House of Councillors in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi in parliament

Japan PM Takaichi in parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a plenary session of the House of Councillors in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi in parliament

Japan PM Takaichi in parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a plenary session of the House of Councillors in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi in parliament

Japan PM Takaichi in parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a plenary session of the House of Councillors in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2026.

Figure skating: Olympic champion pair

Figure skating: Olympic champion pair

Japanese figure skaters Riku Miura (R) and Ryuichi Kihara speak to the press during a visit to 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.

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.

[Breaking News]Special Diet session

TOKYO, Japan, Feb. 18 Kyodo - Japanese lawmakers arrive at the parliament building in Tokyo on Feb. 18, 2026, for a special session following the Feb. 8 general election. (Kyodo)

Japanese emperor's 66th birthday

TOKYO, Japan, Feb. 23 Kyodo - Japanese Emperor Naruhito speaks at a ceremony held at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Feb. 23, 2026, to celebrate his 66th birthday. (Pool photo) (Kyodo)

Microsoft Japan headquarters

Microsoft Japan headquarters

Photo taken Feb. 25, 2026, shows a building housing U.S. tech giant Microsoft Corp.'s Japanese subsidiary in Tokyo.

Microsoft Japan headquarters

Microsoft Japan headquarters

Photo taken Feb. 25, 2026, shows the logo of U.S. tech giant Microsoft Corp. on a building housing its Japanese subsidiary in Tokyo.

Japan Princess Akiko

Japan Princess Akiko

Japanese Princess Akiko speaks at an annual award ceremony for Japan's best professional keirin cyclists on Feb. 25, 2026, in Tokyo.

Niigata Int'l Animation Film Festival

Niigata Int'l Animation Film Festival

Philippine animation film director Avid Liongoren, jury president of the Niigata International Animation Film Festival, speaks at its award ceremony on Feb. 25, 2026, in Niigata, northwest of Tokyo.

Niigata Int'l Animation Film Festival

Niigata Int'l Animation Film Festival

Philippine animation film director Avid Liongoren, jury president of the Niigata International Animation Film Festival, speaks at its award ceremony on Feb. 25, 2026, in Niigata, northwest of Tokyo.

Honda to launch CR-V sixth model in Japan

Honda to launch CR-V sixth model in Japan

Photo taken in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2026, shows the hybrid version of the sixth model of Honda Motor Co.'s CR-V sport utility vehicle. The automaker will launch the model, already available in North America, Europe and other parts of the world, the following day in the Japanese market.

Cherry blossoms in Tokyo

Cherry blossoms in Tokyo

A man takes a photo of cherry blossoms and the Tokyo SkyTree broadcast tower on Feb. 23, 2026.

Tokyo SkyTree reopens after elevator halt

Tokyo SkyTree reopens after elevator halt

Staff members of Tokyo SkyTree tower announce the reopening of its observation deck to visitors on Feb. 26, 2026, after a three-day suspension due to an elevator malfunction. Twenty visitors were trapped for more than five hours starting on the night of Feb. 22 when an elevator stopped about 30 meters above street level while descending from the 350-meter-high observation deck.

Tokyo SkyTree elevator halt

Tokyo SkyTree elevator halt

Photo shows Tokyo Skytree tower in the Japanese capital on the night of Feb. 22, 2026, after 20 visitors were trapped in an elevator that stopped about 30 meters above street level while descending from the 350-meter-high observation deck. The visitors were rescued after more than five hours, and no one was injured.

Tokyo SkyTree elevator halt

Tokyo SkyTree elevator halt

An emergency vehicle is seen in front of Tokyo SkyTree tower in the Japanese capital on the night of Feb. 22, 2026, after 20 visitors were trapped in an elevator that stopped about 30 meters above street level while descending from the 350-meter-high observation deck. The visitors were rescued after more than five hours, and no one was injured.

Tokyo SkyTree elevator halt

Tokyo SkyTree elevator halt

Photo shows Tokyo Skytree tower in the Japanese capital on the night of Feb. 22, 2026, after 20 visitors were trapped in an elevator that stopped about 30 meters above street level while descending from the 350-meter-high observation deck. The visitors were rescued after more than five hours, and no one was injured.

Tokyo SkyTree elevator halt

Tokyo SkyTree elevator halt

Emergency vehicles are seen in front of Tokyo SkyTree tower in the Japanese capital on the night of Feb. 22, 2026, after 20 visitors were trapped in an elevator that stopped about 30 meters above street level while descending from the 350-meter-high observation deck. The visitors were rescued after more than five hours, and no one was injured.

Figure skating: Japan pair Miura, Kihara

Figure skating: Japan pair Miura, Kihara

Japanese figure skating pair Riku Miura (front) and Ryuichi Kihara pose with their medals from the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics during a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo on Feb. 25, 2026. They won the pairs gold and team event silver.

Figure skating: Japan pair Miura, Kihara

Figure skating: Japan pair Miura, Kihara

Japanese figure skating pair Riku Miura (front) and Ryuichi Kihara pose with their medals from the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics during a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo on Feb. 25, 2026. They won the pairs gold and team event silver.

Figure skating: Japan pair Miura, Kihara

Figure skating: Japan pair Miura, Kihara

Japanese figure skating pair Riku Miura (L) and Ryuichi Kihara hold a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo on Feb. 25, 2026, upon their return from the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. They won gold in the pairs event and silver in the team event.

Figure skating: Japan pair Miura, Kihara

Figure skating: Japan pair Miura, Kihara

Japanese figure skating pair Riku Miura (L) and Ryuichi Kihara hold a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo on Feb. 25, 2026, upon their return from the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. They won gold in the pairs event and silver in the team event.