Beijing event to pitch Japan's sake

Beijing event to pitch Japan's sake

About 20 sake brewers from Japan's 14 prefectures attend a ceremony at the Japanese Embassy in Beijing on Aug. 7, 2025, the eve of a three-day event to pitch their products in the Chinese market.

Beijing event to pitch Japan's sake

Beijing event to pitch Japan's sake

About 20 sake brewers from Japan's 14 prefectures attend a ceremony at the Japanese Embassy in Beijing on Aug. 7, 2025, the eve of a three-day event to pitch their products in the Chinese market.

Beijing event to pitch Japan's sake

Beijing event to pitch Japan's sake

About 20 sake brewers from Japan's 14 prefectures attend a ceremony at the Japanese Embassy in Beijing on Aug. 7, 2025, the eve of a three-day event to pitch their products in the Chinese market.

Summer festival at Osaka expo

Summer festival at Osaka expo

Performers dance on the first day of a two-day summer festival hosted by six northeastern Japan prefectures at the World Exposition in Osaka on June 14, 2025.

Summer festival at Osaka expo

Summer festival at Osaka expo

Performers dance on the first day of a two-day summer festival hosted by six northeastern Japan prefectures at the World Exposition in Osaka on June 14, 2025.

Summer festival at Osaka expo

Summer festival at Osaka expo

Performers dance on the first day of a two-day summer festival hosted by six northeastern Japan prefectures at the World Exposition in Osaka on June 14, 2025.

Summer festival at Osaka expo

Summer festival at Osaka expo

Performers dance on the first day of a two-day summer festival hosted by six northeastern Japan prefectures at the World Exposition in Osaka on June 14, 2025.

Summer festival at Osaka expo

Summer festival at Osaka expo

Performers dance on the first day of a two-day summer festival hosted by six northeastern Japan prefectures at the World Exposition in Osaka on June 14, 2025.

Summer festival at Osaka expo

Summer festival at Osaka expo

Performers dance on the first day of a two-day summer festival hosted by six northeastern Japan prefectures at the World Exposition in Osaka on June 14, 2025.

Summer festival at Osaka expo

Summer festival at Osaka expo

Performers dance on the first day of a two-day summer festival hosted by six northeastern Japan prefectures at the World Exposition in Osaka on June 14, 2025.

Summer festival at Osaka expo

Summer festival at Osaka expo

Performers dance on the first day of a two-day summer festival hosted by six northeastern Japan prefectures at the World Exposition in Osaka on June 14, 2025.

Summer festival at Osaka expo

Summer festival at Osaka expo

Performers dance on the first day of a two-day summer festival hosted by six northeastern Japan prefectures at the World Exposition in Osaka on June 14, 2025.

Summer festival at Osaka expo

Summer festival at Osaka expo

Performers dance on the first day of a two-day summer festival hosted by six northeastern Japan prefectures at the World Exposition in Osaka on June 14, 2025.

Summer festival at Osaka expo

Summer festival at Osaka expo

Performers dance on the first day of a two-day summer festival hosted by six northeastern Japan prefectures at the World Exposition in Osaka on June 14, 2025.

Summer festival at Osaka expo

Summer festival at Osaka expo

Performers dance on the first day of a two-day summer festival hosted by six northeastern Japan prefectures at the World Exposition in Osaka on June 14, 2025.

Special JAL plane themed on USJ's new area

Special JAL plane themed on USJ's new area

Photo taken on Jan. 14, 2025, at Osaka airport straddling Osaka and Hyogo prefectures shows a specially painted Japan Airlines plane introduced the same day to mark the opening in December of Donkey Kong Country, a new area at Universal Studios Japan in the western Japan city of Osaka

Special JAL plane themed on USJ's new area

Special JAL plane themed on USJ's new area

Photo taken on Jan. 14, 2025, at Osaka airport straddling Osaka and Hyogo prefectures shows a specially painted Japan Airlines plane introduced the same day to mark the opening in December of Donkey Kong Country, a new area at Universal Studios Japan in the western Japan city of Osaka.

JAL under cyberattack

JAL under cyberattack

Passengers line up at a Japan Airlines check-in counter at Osaka airport, straddling Hyogo and Osaka prefectures in western Japan, on Dec. 26, 2024, after a cyberattack disrupted the company's systems. The attack began around 7:25 a.m. the same day, delaying at least 14 domestic flights and affecting some international flights.

JAL under cyberattack

JAL under cyberattack

A Japan Airlines ground staff member (front, R) responds to a passenger at Osaka airport straddling Hyogo and Osaka prefectures, western Japan, on Dec. 26, 2024, after a cyberattack disrupted the company's systems. The attack began around 7:25 a.m. the same day, delaying at least 14 domestic flights and affecting some international flights

8th anniversary of Kumamoto quakes

8th anniversary of Kumamoto quakes

Hironori Nishimura, mayor of the Kumamoto Prefecture town of Mashiki, offers flowers at an altar set up at a park near the town hall on April 14, 2024, the eighth anniversary of two devastating earthquakes in the southwestern Japan prefecture. A total of 276 people were killed in Kumamoto and Oita prefectures in the quakes on April 14 and April 16, 2016.

Disaster medical assistance drill in central Japan

Disaster medical assistance drill in central Japan

Disaster medical assistance team personnel from nine central Japan prefectures take part in a joint drill at Yamanashi Prefectural Central Hospital in Kofu, west of Tokyo, on Oct. 14, 2023, under the scenario of a massive earthquake and an eruption of Mt. Fuji.

2023 Xinjiang Animation Festival concludes in Karamay

STORY: 2023 Xinjiang Animation Festival concludes in Karamay DATELINE: Sept. 26, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:04 LOCATION: URUMQI, China CATEGORY: CULTURE SHOTLIST: 1. various of the 2023 Xinjiang Animation Festival 2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): PAN DONGXUE, Performer 3. various of the exhibition hall STORYLINE: The 2023 Xinjiang Animation Festival concluded on Sunday in Karamay City. The three-day event is the first large-scale comprehensive animation exhibition in Xinjiang, featuring performances, cartoon movie shows, and all kinds of displays of cartoon-related products. In the animation exhibition hall, 14 prefectures and cities, and eight universities and presses of Xinjiang displayed their animation works and other cultural and creative products. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): PAN DONGXUE, Performer "Personally, I like the animation of Chinese style very much, and I hope we can continue to promote our traditional Chinese culture." Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Urumqi, China. (XHTV)

5th anniv. of western Japan rain disaster

5th anniv. of western Japan rain disaster

People observe a moment of silence during a memorial ceremony at Asakita Ward office in the western Japan city of Hiroshima on July 6, 2023, the fifth anniversary of torrential rain that caused flooding and mudslides, claiming the lives of over 300 people in 14 prefectures.

5th anniv. of western Japan rain disaster

5th anniv. of western Japan rain disaster

Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui (far R) delivers a speech at a memorial ceremony in the western Japanese city's Asakita Ward office on July 6, 2023, the fifth anniversary of torrential rain that caused flooding and mudslides, claiming the lives of over 300 people in 14 prefectures.

5th anniv. of western Japan rain disaster

5th anniv. of western Japan rain disaster

A memorial ceremony is held in Kurashiki in the western Japan prefecture of Okayama on July 6, 2023, the fifth anniversary of torrential rain that caused flooding and mudslides, claiming the lives of over 300 people in 14 prefectures.

5th anniv. of western Japan rain disaster

5th anniv. of western Japan rain disaster

People observe a moment of silence at a memorial ceremony in Kurashiki in the western Japan prefecture of Okayama on July 6, 2023, the fifth anniversary of torrential rain that caused flooding and mudslides, claiming the lives of over 300 people in 14 prefectures.

5th anniv. of western Japan rain disaster

5th anniv. of western Japan rain disaster

A memorial ceremony is held in Kurashiki in the western Japan prefecture of Okayama on July 6, 2023, the fifth anniversary of torrential rain that caused flooding and mudslides, claiming the lives of over 300 people in 14 prefectures.

5th anniv. of western Japan rain disaster

5th anniv. of western Japan rain disaster

People offer flowers at a memorial ceremony in Kurashiki in the western Japan prefecture of Okayama on July 6, 2023, the fifth anniversary of torrential rain that caused flooding and mudslides, claiming the lives of over 300 people in 14 prefectures.

Former Japanese emperor, empress

Former Japanese emperor, empress

Former Japanese Emperor Akihito (facing camera) and former Empress Michiko are greeted before getting on a shinkansen bullet train at JR Tokyo Station in the Japanese capital for a trip to Kyoto and Nara prefectures on May 14, 2023. (Pool photo)

Former Japanese emperor, empress

Former Japanese emperor, empress

Former Japanese Emperor Akihito (L) and former Empress Michiko are greeted before getting on a shinkansen bullet train at JR Tokyo Station in the Japanese capital for a trip to Kyoto and Nara prefectures on May 14, 2023. (Pool photo)

Former Japanese emperor, empress

Former Japanese emperor, empress

Former Japanese Emperor Akihito and former Empress Michiko react to people welcoming them on their arrival at JR Kyoto Station in the western Japan prefecture of Kyoto on May 14, 2023. They started a five-day trip to Kyoto and Nara prefectures the same day. (Pool photo)

Former Japanese emperor, empress

Former Japanese emperor, empress

Former Japanese Emperor Akihito and former Empress Michiko react to people welcoming them on their arrival at JR Kyoto Station in the western Japan prefecture of Kyoto on May 14, 2023. They started a five-day trip to Kyoto and Nara prefectures the same day. (Pool photo)

7th anniversary of Kumamoto quakes

7th anniversary of Kumamoto quakes

A memorial ceremony commemorating the seventh anniversary of two devastating earthquakes in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, is held at the prefectural government office in the city of Kumamoto on April 14, 2023. A total of 276 people were killed in Kumamoto and Oita prefectures in the quakes on April 14 and 16, 2016.

7th anniversary of Kumamoto quakes

7th anniversary of Kumamoto quakes

A memorial ceremony commemorating the seventh anniversary of two devastating earthquakes in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, is held at the prefectural government office in the city of Kumamoto on April 14, 2023. A total of 276 people were killed in Kumamoto and Oita prefectures in the quakes on April 14 and 16, 2016.

Man in Japan also employed "Luffy" username to organize robberies

Police suspect that a man in Japan also employed the "Luffy" online username to organize a string of robberies in the country, in addition to the alleged ringleader who is currently detained in the Philippines, sources close to the matter said Saturday. Japanese police have requested that the four men in Manila be transferred to Japan, after obtaining arrest warrants for fraud. The police plan to investigate the possible involvement of the four men in the spate of robberies since last year. According to Japan's National Police Agency, there have been at least 20 cases of theft and robbery in 14 prefectures since last year, including a murder-robbery at the home of 90-year-old Kinuyo Oshio in the city of Komae in western Tokyo on Jan. 19. Over 30 suspects have been arrested in connection with the crimes.

New coronavirus

New coronavirus

TOKYO, Japan, May 14 Kyodo - People wearing face masks walk near JR Shinjuku Station in Tokyo on May 14, 2020, ahead of the scheduled lifting later in the day of a coronavirus pandemic state of emergency in 39 of Japan's 47 prefectures.

Heavy rain hits central Japan, evacuation ordered

Heavy rain hits central Japan, evacuation ordered

OGUCHI, Japan, July 14 Kyodo - A man stands on a flooded street in the town of Oguchi on July 14, 2017, as heavy rain hit Aichi and Gifu prefectures in central Japan.

Central Japan volcano Mt. Ontake erupts

Central Japan volcano Mt. Ontake erupts

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News airplane shows columns of smoke rising from Mt. Ontake, a volcano straddling Nagano and Gifu prefectures in central Japan, at 2:14 p.m. on Sept. 27, 2014. The volcano erupted shortly before noon the same day, with about 10 hikers injured.

Central Japan volcano Mt. Ontake erupts

Central Japan volcano Mt. Ontake erupts

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News airplane shows columns of smoke rising from Mt. Ontake, a volcano straddling Nagano and Gifu prefectures in central Japan, at 2:14 p.m. on Sept. 27, 2014. The volcano erupted shortly before noon the same day, with about 10 hikers injured.

Japan invites Indonesians to cycle in Japan

Japan invites Indonesians to cycle in Japan

JAKARTA, Indonesia - Indonesian cyclists listen to explanations by officials from three Japanese prefectures -- Ibaraki, Yamanashi and Ehime -- on their respective recommended cycling routes during an event held in Jakarta on Sept. 14, 2014, to attract foreign visitors.

Meeting in Bangkok to promote exports from central Japan

Meeting in Bangkok to promote exports from central Japan

BANGKOK, Thailand - A business meeting is held at a hotel in Bangkok on Sept. 8, 2014, between Thai food wholesalers and eatery operators and 14 Japanese companies from central Japan, including Aichi and Nagano prefectures, with the aim of boosting exports from the region.

Hanyu's authgraphs, messages on display at Sendai rink

Hanyu's authgraphs, messages on display at Sendai rink

SENDAI, Japan - Photo taken Feb. 14, 2014, shows Sochi Olympics figure skating gold medalist Yuzuru Hanyu's autographs and messages on a bulletin board calling for support for post-disaster reconstruction work at Ice Rink Sendai, a former training base for Hanyu in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. Miyagi was one of the three prefectures in northeastern Japan ravaged by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Torrential rains hit Japan

Torrential rains hit Japan

OSAKA, Japan - Photo taken Aug. 14, 2012, from a Kyodo News helicopter shows a flooded area following heavy rains in the city of Uji, Kyoto Prefecture. Torrential rains struck a wide area from western to eastern Japan the same day, leaving a woman dead and two missing in Osaka and Kyoto prefectures, respectively, and causing disruption to transportation services.

Torrential rains hit Japan

Torrential rains hit Japan

OSAKA, Japan - Photo taken Aug. 14, 2012, from a Kyodo News helicopter shows a flooded area following heavy rains in the city of Uji, Kyoto Prefecture. Torrential rains struck a wide area from western to eastern Japan the same day, leaving a woman dead and two missing in Osaka and Kyoto prefectures, respectively, and causing disruption to transportation services.

Torrential rains hit Japan

Torrential rains hit Japan

OSAKA, Japan - Photo taken Aug. 14, 2012, from a Kyodo News helicopter shows a flooded area following heavy rains in the city of Uji, Kyoto Prefecture. Torrential rains struck a wide area from western to eastern Japan the same day, leaving a woman dead and two missing in Osaka and Kyoto prefectures, respectively, and causing disruption to transportation services.

Torrential rains hit Japan

Torrential rains hit Japan

UJI, Japan - Photo shows a road covered with muddy water following heavy rains in the city of Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, on Aug. 14, 2012. Torrential rains struck a wide area from western to eastern Japan the same day, leaving a woman dead and two missing in Osaka and Kyoto prefectures, respectively, and causing disruption to transportation services.

Torrential rains hit Japan

Torrential rains hit Japan

OSAKA, Japan - Photo taken Aug. 14, 2012, from a Kyodo News helicopter shows a flooded area following heavy rains in the city of Uji, Kyoto Prefecture. Torrential rains struck a wide area from western to eastern Japan the same day, leaving a woman dead and two missing in Osaka and Kyoto prefectures, respectively, and causing disruption to transportation services.

Torrential rains hit Japan

Torrential rains hit Japan

OSAKA, Japan - Photo taken Aug. 14, 2012, from a Kyodo News helicopter shows a flooded area following heavy rains in the city of Uji, Kyoto Prefecture. Torrential rains struck a wide area from western to eastern Japan the same day, leaving a woman dead and two missing in Osaka and Kyoto prefectures, respectively, and causing disruption to transportation services.

Torrential rains hit Japan

Torrential rains hit Japan

NEYAGAWA, Japan - Photo shows a car left in an inundated area following heavy rains in Neyagawa, Osaka Prefecture on Aug. 14, 2012. Torrential rains struck a wide area from western to eastern Japan the same day, leaving a woman dead and two missing in Osaka and Kyoto prefectures, respectively, and causing disruption to transportation services.

Torrential rains hit Japan

Torrential rains hit Japan

NEYAGAWA, Japan - Photo shows a car left in an inundated area following heavy rains in Neyagawa, Osaka Prefecture on Aug. 14, 2012. Torrential rains struck a wide area from western to eastern Japan the same day, leaving a woman dead and two missing in Osaka and Kyoto prefectures, respectively, and causing disruption to transportation services.