Strong quakes hit western Japan

Strong quakes hit western Japan

JR Yonago Station in Yonago, Tottori Prefecture, is closed after railway services were suspended following a series of earthquakes in Tottori and Shimane prefectures, western Japan, on Jan. 6, 2026.

Strong quakes hit western Japan

Strong quakes hit western Japan

Electronic signboards at JR Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka display information about the partial suspension of Sanyo Shinkansen bullet train services following strong earthquakes that struck Tottori and Shimane prefectures on Jan. 6, 2026.

Strong quakes hit western Japan

Strong quakes hit western Japan

An electronic signboard at JR Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka displays information about disruptions to Sanyo Shinkansen bullet train services following strong earthquakes that struck Tottori and Shimane prefectures on Jan. 6, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi speaks about earthquakes

Japan PM Takaichi speaks about earthquakes

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to reporters about a series of strong earthquakes that struck Tottori and Shimane prefectures, at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Jan. 6, 2026.

Nobel laureate Sakaguchi leaves for Stockholm

Nobel laureate Sakaguchi leaves for Stockholm

Shimon Sakaguchi, a professor at the University of Osaka and a co-winner of the 2025 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine, meets the press at Osaka airport straddling Hyogo and Osaka prefectures on Dec. 4, 2025, before leaving for Stockholm to attend the award ceremony.

Nobel laureate Sakaguchi leaves for Stockholm

Nobel laureate Sakaguchi leaves for Stockholm

Shimon Sakaguchi, a professor at the University of Osaka and a co-winner of the 2025 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine, meets the press at Osaka airport straddling Hyogo and Osaka prefectures on Dec. 4, 2025, before leaving for Stockholm to attend the award ceremony.

Nobel laureate Kitagawa leaves for Stockholm

Nobel laureate Kitagawa leaves for Stockholm

Kyoto University distinguished professor Susumu Kitagawa, a co-winner of the 2025 Nobel Prize in chemistry, waves at Osaka airport straddling Hyogo and Osaka prefectures on Dec. 3, 2025, before leaving for Stockholm to attend the award ceremony.

Nobel laureate Kitagawa leaves for Stockholm

Nobel laureate Kitagawa leaves for Stockholm

Kyoto University distinguished professor Susumu Kitagawa, a co-winner of the 2025 Nobel Prize in chemistry, meets the press at Osaka airport straddling Hyogo and Osaka prefectures on Dec. 3, 2025, before leaving for Stockholm to attend the award ceremony.

Nobel laureate Kitagawa leaves for Stockholm

Nobel laureate Kitagawa leaves for Stockholm

Kyoto University distinguished professor Susumu Kitagawa, a co-winner of the 2025 Nobel Prize in chemistry, meets the press at Osaka airport straddling Hyogo and Osaka prefectures on Dec. 3, 2025, before leaving for Stockholm to attend the award ceremony.

Snowcap on Japan's Mt. Fuji

Snowcap on Japan's Mt. Fuji

Photo taken on Oct. 23, 2025, from the town of Fujikawaguchiko in Yamanashi Prefecture, central Japan, shows the season's first snow-capped Mt. Fuji, the country's highest mountain located on the borders of Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures.

Snowcap on Japan's Mt. Fuji

Snowcap on Japan's Mt. Fuji

Photo taken on Oct. 23, 2025, from the town of Fujikawaguchiko in Yamanashi Prefecture, central Japan, shows the season's first snow-capped Mt. Fuji, the country's highest mountain located on the borders of Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures.

Snowcap on Japan's Mt. Fuji

Snowcap on Japan's Mt. Fuji

Photo taken on Oct. 23, 2025, from the town of Fujikawaguchiko in Yamanashi Prefecture, central Japan, shows the season's first snow-capped Mt. Fuji, the country's highest mountain located on the borders of Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures.

Snowcap on Japan's Mt. Fuji

Snowcap on Japan's Mt. Fuji

Photo taken on Oct. 23, 2025, from Fujikawaguchiko town in Yamanashi Prefecture, central Japan, shows the season's first snow-capped Mt. Fuji, the country's highest mountain located on the borders of Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures.

Snowcap on Japan's Mt. Fuji

Snowcap on Japan's Mt. Fuji

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Oct. 23, 2025, shows the season's first snowcap on Mt. Fuji, Japan's highest mountain located on the borders of Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures.

Snowcap on Japan's Mt. Fuji

Snowcap on Japan's Mt. Fuji

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Oct. 23, 2025, shows the season's first snowcap on Mt. Fuji, Japan's highest mountain located on the borders of Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures.

Snowcap on Japan's Mt. Fuji

Snowcap on Japan's Mt. Fuji

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Oct. 23, 2025, shows the season's first snowcap on Mt. Fuji, Japan's highest mountain located on the borders of Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures.

Snowcap on Japan's Mt. Fuji

Snowcap on Japan's Mt. Fuji

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Oct. 23, 2025, shows the season's first snowcap on Mt. Fuji, Japan's highest mountain located on the borders of Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures.

Snowcap on Japan's Mt. Fuji

Snowcap on Japan's Mt. Fuji

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Oct. 23, 2025, shows the season's first snowcap on Mt. Fuji, Japan's highest mountain located on the borders of Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures.

Snowcap on Japan's Mt. Fuji

Snowcap on Japan's Mt. Fuji

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Oct. 23, 2025, shows the season's first snowcap on Mt. Fuji, Japan's highest mountain located on the borders of Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures.

Snowcap on Japan's Mt. Fuji

Snowcap on Japan's Mt. Fuji

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Oct. 23, 2025, shows the season's first snowcap on Mt. Fuji, Japan's highest mountain located on the borders of Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures.

Japanese food fair in Singapore

Japanese food fair in Singapore

A food fair promoting Japanese food is held in Singapore on Oct. 16, 2025, with about 150 companies and organizations from 35 Japanese prefectures taking part.

Expo event to pitch Kyushu food, culture

Expo event to pitch Kyushu food, culture

A performer dances during an event to promote food and culture in the seven prefectures that make up Japan's Kyushu southwestern region at the World Exposition in Osaka on Sept. 3, 2025.

Expo event to pitch Kyushu food, culture

Expo event to pitch Kyushu food, culture

A performer dances during an event to promote food and culture in the seven prefectures that make up Japan's Kyushu southwestern region at the World Exposition in Osaka on Sept. 3, 2025.

Cross-prefecture joint disaster drill

Cross-prefecture joint disaster drill

Firefighters conduct a disaster drill at a park in Saitama near Tokyo on Sept. 1, 2025, the 102nd anniversary of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. Police officers, Self-Defense Force members and medical staff as well as firefighters from four prefectures and five cities in the Tokyo metropolitan area were mobilized for the joint drill as authorities warn that a megaquake has a 70 percent probability of hitting the Tokyo area within the next 30 years.

Cross-prefecture joint disaster drill

Cross-prefecture joint disaster drill

Firefighters conduct a disaster drill at a park in Saitama near Tokyo on Sept. 1, 2025, the 102nd anniversary of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. Police officers, Self-Defense Force members and medical staff as well as firefighters from four prefectures and five cities in the Tokyo metropolitan area were mobilized for the joint drill as authorities warn that a megaquake has a 70 percent probability of hitting the Tokyo area within the next 30 years.

Cross-prefecture joint disaster drill

Cross-prefecture joint disaster drill

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (2nd from R) inspects a cross-prefecture disaster drill at a park in Saitama near Tokyo on Sept. 1, 2025, the 102nd anniversary of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. Police officers, Self-Defense Force members and medical staff as well as firefighters from four prefectures and five cities in the Tokyo metropolitan area were mobilized for the joint drill as authorities warn that a megaquake has a 70 percent probability of hitting the Tokyo area within the next 30 years.

Cross-prefecture joint disaster drill

Cross-prefecture joint disaster drill

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks during the closing ceremony of a cross-prefecture disaster drill at a park in Saitama near Tokyo on Sept. 1, 2025, the 102nd anniversary of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. Police officers, Self-Defense Force members and medical staff as well as firefighters from four prefectures and five cities in the Tokyo metropolitan area were mobilized for the joint drill as authorities warn that a megaquake has a 70 percent probability of hitting the Tokyo area within the next 30 years.

Cross-prefecture joint disaster drill

Cross-prefecture joint disaster drill

Firefighters conduct a disaster drill at a park in Saitama near Tokyo on Sept. 1, 2025, the 102nd anniversary of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. Police officers, Self-Defense Force members and medical staff as well as firefighters from four prefectures and five cities in the Tokyo metropolitan area were mobilized for the joint drill as authorities warn that a megaquake has a 70 percent probability of hitting the Tokyo area within the next 30 years.

Cross-prefecture joint disaster drill

Cross-prefecture joint disaster drill

A cross-prefecture disaster drill is conducted at a park in Saitama near Tokyo on Sept. 1, 2025, the 102nd anniversary of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. Police officers, Self-Defense Force members and medical staff as well as firefighters from four prefectures and five cities in the Tokyo metropolitan area were mobilized for the joint drill as authorities warn that a megaquake has a 70 percent probability of hitting the Tokyo area within the next 30 years.

Cross-prefecture joint disaster drill

Cross-prefecture joint disaster drill

Firefighters conduct a disaster drill at a park in Saitama near Tokyo on Sept. 1, 2025, the 102nd anniversary of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. Police officers, Self-Defense Force members and medical staff as well as firefighters from four prefectures and five cities in the Tokyo metropolitan area were mobilized for the joint drill as authorities warn that a megaquake has a 70 percent probability of hitting the Tokyo area within the next 30 years.

Fireworks at Osaka expo

Fireworks at Osaka expo

Fireworks are seen through the World Exposition's iconic Grand Ring in Osaka on Aug. 23, 2025. The fireworks were originally intended to be used at canceled festivals this summer in seven prefectures.

Fireworks at Osaka expo

Fireworks at Osaka expo

Fireworks are seen through the World Exposition's iconic Grand Ring in Osaka on Aug. 23, 2025. The fireworks were originally intended to be used at canceled festivals this summer in seven prefectures.

Fireworks at Osaka expo

Fireworks at Osaka expo

Fireworks are seen through the World Exposition's iconic Grand Ring in Osaka on Aug. 23, 2025. The fireworks were originally intended to be used at canceled festivals this summer in seven prefectures.

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.

Mt. Fuji opens Shizuoka route

Mt. Fuji opens Shizuoka route

Climbers head to the top of Mt. Fuji along the Fujinomiya route on July 10, 2025, as the route in Shizuoka Prefecture on Japan's highest mountain, straddling Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures, opened the same day along with two other routes, following the July 1 opening of the Yamanashi Prefecture-side route. All routes are open through Sept. 10. (Kyodo), ==Kyodo

Mt. Fuji opens Shizuoka route

Mt. Fuji opens Shizuoka route

Climbers head to the top of Mt. Fuji along the Fujinomiya route on July 10, 2025, as the route in Shizuoka Prefecture on Japan's highest mountain, straddling Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures, opened the same day along with two other routes, following the July 1 opening of the Yamanashi Prefecture-side route. All routes are open through Sept. 10. (Kyodo), ==Kyodo

Mt. Shinmoe eruption in southwestern Japan

Mt. Shinmoe eruption in southwestern Japan

Photo taken from a Kyodo News plane shows volcanic smoke billowing from Mt. Shinmoe, straddling Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures in southwestern Japan, on July 4, 2025.

Mt. Shinmoe eruption in southwestern Japan

Mt. Shinmoe eruption in southwestern Japan

Photo taken from a Kyodo News plane shows volcanic smoke billowing from Mt. Shinmoe, straddling Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures in southwestern Japan, on July 4, 2025.

Mt. Shinmoe eruption in southwestern Japan

Mt. Shinmoe eruption in southwestern Japan

Photo taken from a Kyodo News plane shows volcanic smoke billowing from Mt. Shinmoe, straddling Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures in southwestern Japan, on July 4, 2025.

Mt. Shinmoe eruption in southwestern Japan

Mt. Shinmoe eruption in southwestern Japan

Photo taken from a Kyodo News plane shows volcanic smoke billowing from Mt. Shinmoe, straddling Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures in southwestern Japan, on July 4, 2025.

Mt. Fuji climbing season begins

Mt. Fuji climbing season begins

Climbers take a selfie with the sunrise atop Mt. Fuji on July 1, 2025, the day the mountain's Yoshida trail opened as the official climbing season began for Japan's highest mountain, straddling Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures.

Mt. Fuji climbing season begins

Mt. Fuji climbing season begins

Climbers atop Mt. Fuji hail the sunrise on July 1, 2025, the day the mountain's Yoshida trail opened as the official climbing season began for Japan's highest mountain, straddling Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures.

Mt. Fuji climbing season begins

Mt. Fuji climbing season begins

Climbers atop Mt. Fuji hail the sunrise on July 1, 2025, the day the mountain's Yoshida trail opened as the official climbing season began for Japan's highest mountain, straddling Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures.

Mt. Fuji climbing season begins

Mt. Fuji climbing season begins

Trail of lights from climbers' headlamps are seen on the Yoshida trail on the Yamanashi Prefecture side of Mt. Fuji on July 1, 2025. The trail opens the same day, meaning the start of the official climbing season for Japan's highest mountain, straddling Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures.

Mt. Fuji climbing season begins

Mt. Fuji climbing season begins

Trail of lights from climbers' headlamps are seen on the Yoshida trail on the Yamanashi Prefecture side of Mt. Fuji on July 1, 2025. The trail opens the same day, meaning the start of the official climbing season for Japan's highest mountain, straddling Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures.

Mt. Shinmoe eruption in southwestern Japan

Mt. Shinmoe eruption in southwestern Japan

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows volcanic smoke billowing from Mt. Shinmoe, straddling Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures in southwestern Japan, on June 28, 2025.

Mt. Shinmoe eruption in southwestern Japan

Mt. Shinmoe eruption in southwestern Japan

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows volcanic smoke billowing from Mt. Shinmoe, straddling Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures in southwestern Japan, on June 28, 2025.

Mt. Shinmoe eruption in southwestern Japan

Mt. Shinmoe eruption in southwestern Japan

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows volcanic smoke billowing from Mt. Shinmoe, straddling Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures in southwestern Japan, on June 28, 2025.