Basketball: World Cup Asian qualifying

Basketball: World Cup Asian qualifying

Japan players acknowledge the crowd after beating Qatar in a 2027 Basketball World Cup Asian qualifying second-phase match at Toyota Arena Tokyo on Aug. 31, 2026.

Basketball: World Cup Asian qualifying

Basketball: World Cup Asian qualifying

Yuki Kawamura (front) and other Japan players acknowledge the crowd after beating Qatar in a 2027 Basketball World Cup Asian qualifying second-phase match at Toyota Arena Tokyo on Aug. 31, 2026.

Basketball: World Cup Asian qualifying

Basketball: World Cup Asian qualifying

Japan's Rui Hachimura (C) smiles following a 123-70 victory over Qatar in a 2027 Basketball World Cup Asian qualifying second-phase match at Toyota Arena Tokyo on Aug. 31, 2026.

Basketball: World Cup Asian qualifying

Basketball: World Cup Asian qualifying

Japan's Rui Hachimura (R) passes the ball during the fourth quarter of a 2027 Basketball World Cup Asian qualifying second-phase match against Qatar at Toyota Arena Tokyo on Aug. 31, 2026.

Basketball: World Cup Asian qualifying

Basketball: World Cup Asian qualifying

Japan's Rui Hachimura lines up a three-pointer to score against Qatar during the second quarter of the second phase of Asian qualifying for the 2027 Basketball World Cup at Toyota Arena Tokyo on Aug. 31, 2026.

Basketball: World Cup Asian qualifying

Basketball: World Cup Asian qualifying

Japan's Rui Hachimura dunks against Qatar during the first quarter of the second phase of Asian qualifying for the 2027 Basketball World Cup at Toyota Arena Tokyo on Aug. 31, 2026. ==Kyodo

Basketball: World Cup Asian qualifying

Basketball: World Cup Asian qualifying

Japan's Rui Hachimura scores against Qatar during the first quarter of the second phase of Asian qualifying for the 2027 Basketball World Cup at Toyota Arena Tokyo on Aug. 31, 2026.

Basketball: Rui Hachimura

Basketball: Rui Hachimura

Los Angeles Clippers forward Rui Hachimura (R) trains in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Aug. 26, 2026, before Japan faces Saudi Arabia in the second round of the 2027 Basketball World Cup Asian qualifier.

Basketball: Rui Hachimura

Basketball: Rui Hachimura

Los Angeles Clippers forward Rui Hachimura trains in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Aug. 26, 2026, before Japan faces Saudi Arabia in the second round of the 2027 Basketball World Cup Asian qualifier.

Kabuki performance in London

TOKYO, Japan, Aug. 25 Kyodo - Kabuki actor Ichikawa Somegoro VIII speaks at a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo on Aug. 24, 2026. Ichikawa and Onoe Tatsunosuke III will perform abroad for the first time in London in January 2027. (Kyodo)

Kabuki performance in London

Kabuki performance in London

Kabuki actors Ichikawa Somegoro VIII (R) and Onoe Tatsunosuke III pose for a photo at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo on Aug. 24, 2026. They will perform abroad for the first time in London in January 2027.

Kabuki performance in London

Kabuki performance in London

Kabuki actors Ichikawa Somegoro VIII (2nd from R) and Onoe Tatsunosuke III attend a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo on Aug. 24, 2026. They will perform abroad for the first time in London in January 2027.

Kabuki performance in London

Kabuki performance in London

Kabuki actor Ichikawa Somegoro VIII speaks at a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo on Aug. 24, 2026. Ichikawa and Onoe Tatsunosuke III will perform abroad for the first time in London in January 2027.

New high-speed train shipped to Taiwan from Japan

New high-speed train shipped to Taiwan from Japan

The lead car of the new-generation N700ST train is unloaded at a port in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan, on Aug. 15, 2026, for commercial service, possibly starting July 2027. In 2023, Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. ordered 12 N700STs, built based on the N700S model used on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line connecting Tokyo and Shin-Osaka stations, from Japan's Hitachi Ltd. and Toshiba Corp.

New high-speed train shipped to Taiwan from Japan

New high-speed train shipped to Taiwan from Japan

The lead car of the new-generation N700ST train is unloaded at a port in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan, on Aug. 15, 2026, for commercial service, possibly starting July 2027. In 2023, Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. ordered 12 N700STs, built based on the N700S model used on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line connecting Tokyo and Shin-Osaka stations, from Japan's Hitachi Ltd. and Toshiba Corp.

Japan PM meets with Tokyo governor

Japan PM meets with Tokyo governor

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) shakes hands with Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike at the premier's office in Tokyo on Aug. 7, 2026. Koike told the press afterward that she called for the central government to address the capital's expected tax revenue fall following the planned cut to 1 percent from the current 8 percent in the consumption tax on food and beverages for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan PM meets with Tokyo governor

Japan PM meets with Tokyo governor

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) shakes hands with Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike at the premier's office in Tokyo on Aug. 7, 2026. Koike told the press afterward that she called for the central government to address the capital's expected tax revenue fall following the planned cut to 1 percent from the current 8 percent in the consumption tax on food and beverages for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan PM meets with Tokyo governor

Japan PM meets with Tokyo governor

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) shakes hands with Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike at the premier's office in Tokyo on Aug. 7, 2026. Koike told the press afterward that she called for the central government to address the capital's expected tax revenue fall following the planned cut to 1 percent from the current 8 percent in the consumption tax on food and beverages for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Aug. 5, 2026. The Cabinet approved a plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Aug. 5, 2026. The Cabinet approved a plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Aug. 5, 2026. The Cabinet approved a plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Aug. 5, 2026. The Cabinet approved a plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Aug. 5, 2026. The Cabinet approved a plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Aug. 5, 2026. The Cabinet approved a plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Aug. 5, 2026. The Cabinet approved a plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Aug. 5, 2026. The Cabinet approved a plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is pictured ahead of an extraordinary Cabinet meeting at the premier's office in Tokyo on Aug. 5, 2026. The Cabinet approved a plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is pictured ahead of an extraordinary Cabinet meeting at the premier's office in Tokyo on Aug. 5, 2026. The Cabinet approved a plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is pictured ahead of an extraordinary Cabinet meeting at the premier's office in Tokyo on Aug. 5, 2026. The Cabinet approved a plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) and her ministers are pictured ahead of an extraordinary Cabinet meeting at the premier's office in Tokyo on Aug. 5, 2026. The Cabinet approved a plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, during a press conference in Tokyo on July 30, 2026, explains the government's plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, during a press conference in Tokyo on July 30, 2026, explains the government's plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, during a press conference in Tokyo on July 30, 2026, explains the government's plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, during a press conference in Tokyo on July 30, 2026, explains the government's plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, during a press conference in Tokyo on July 30, 2026, explains the government's plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, during a press conference in Tokyo on July 30, 2026, explains the government's plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, during a press conference in Tokyo on July 30, 2026, explains the government's plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, during a press conference in Tokyo on July 30, 2026, explains the government's plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Disney-themed shinkansen bullet train

Disney-themed shinkansen bullet train

A Tokaido Shinkansen Line bullet train featuring Disney characters is parked at JR Nagoya Station in Nagoya, central Japan, on its inauguration day on June 19, 2026. The Sparkling Dreams Shinkansen, running between Tokyo and Osaka through mid-March 2027, was launched to mark the 25th anniversary of the opening of Tokyo DisneySea.

Disney-themed shinkansen bullet train

Disney-themed shinkansen bullet train

A Tokaido Shinkansen Line bullet train featuring Disney characters is parked at JR Nagoya Station in Nagoya, central Japan, on its inauguration day on June 19, 2026. The Sparkling Dreams Shinkansen, running between Tokyo and Osaka through mid-March 2027, was launched to mark the 25th anniversary of the opening of Tokyo DisneySea.

International Horticultural Expo 2027

International Horticultural Expo 2027

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi poses at her office in Tokyo on April 28, 2026, with Tunku Tunku, the official mascot of the International Horticultural Expo 2027, to be held in Yokohama from March 2027 to September 2027.

25th anniv. of Tokyo DisneySea

25th anniv. of Tokyo DisneySea

Tokyo DisneySea starts a special show, Sparkling Jubilee, in Urayasu near Tokyo on April 15, 2026, to mark the 25th anniversary of the park's opening. The show will run through March 31, 2027.

25th anniv. of Tokyo DisneySea

25th anniv. of Tokyo DisneySea

Tokyo DisneySea starts a special show, Sparkling Jubilee, in Urayasu near Tokyo on April 15, 2026, to mark the 25th anniversary of the park's opening. The show will run through March 31, 2027.

25th anniv. of Tokyo DisneySea

25th anniv. of Tokyo DisneySea

Tokyo DisneySea starts a special show, Sparkling Jubilee, in Urayasu near Tokyo on April 15, 2026, to mark the 25th anniversary of the park's opening. The show will run through March 31, 2027.

Figure skating: Kagiyama announces break from competitive figure skating

Figure skating: Kagiyama announces break from competitive figure skating

Photo shows Yuma Kagiyama of Japan performing in the men's figure skating at the Milan Cortina Olympics in Milan on Feb. 13, 2026, en route to winning silver. Kagiyama posted on his social media account on April 13 that he will take a break from competitive figure skating for the 2026-2027 season.

Figure skating: Kagiyama announces break from competitive figure skating

Figure skating: Kagiyama announces break from competitive figure skating

Japanese Olympic silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama posts on his social media account on April 13, 2026, that he would take a break from competitive figure skating for the 2026-2027 season. Kagiyama won silver in the men's figure skating at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

Figure skating: Kagiyama announces break from competitive figure skating

Figure skating: Kagiyama announces break from competitive figure skating

Photo shows Japanese figure skater Yuma Kagiyama performing in the men's free program at the world figure skating championships in Prague on March 28, 2026. He posted on his social media account on April 13, 2026, that he would take a break from competitive figure skating for the 2026-2027 season.

Figure skating: Kagiyama announces break from competitive figure skating

Figure skating: Kagiyama announces break from competitive figure skating

Photo taken in Milan on Feb. 13, 2026, shows Japanese figure skater Yuma Kagiyama who won silver in the men's figure skating at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics. He posted on his social media account on April 13, 2026, that he would take a break from competitive figure skating for the 2026-2027 season.

Seven & i Holdings to delay listing of U.S. unit

Seven & i Holdings to delay listing of U.S. unit

Seven & i Holdings Co. President Stephen Dacus holds a press conference in Tokyo on April 9, 2026, after the company decided to postpone the listing of its U.S. 7-Eleven convenience store business unit from its planned schedule in calendar 2026 to fiscal 2027.

GREEN×EXPO 2027: Press Conference One Year Before the Event

GREEN×EXPO 2027: Press Conference One Year Before the Event

GREEN×EXPO 2027 Press Conference One Year Before the Event. The photo shows, from left to right, the official mascot character “Tunk Tunk,” official ambassador Mana Ashida, Yokohama Mayor Takeharu Yamanaka, Yoshinobu Tsutsui, President of the 2027 International Horticultural Exposition Association, Toshiro Ino, Senior Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Norikazu Suzuki, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Satoru Mizushima, Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Yuji Kuroiwa, Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture, and the new official ambassadors, Yuzu (Yujin Kitagawa and Koji Iwasawa).=March 19,2026,Tokyo