15th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

15th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

People on the rooftop of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Memorial Museum, which documents the disasters and provides programs on disaster preparedness, in the Fukushima Prefecture town of Futaba pray at 2:46 p.m. on March 11, 2026, marking 15 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake struck northeastern Japan.

15th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

15th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. President Tomoaki Kobayakawa observes a moment of silence at the new administration building of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture at 2:46 p.m. on March 11, 2026, marking 15 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake struck northeastern Japan. A subsequent tsunami caused a nuclear disaster at the plant.

15th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

15th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

People facing the sea in the Fukushima Prefecture town of Namie, northeastern Japan, pray at 2:46 p.m. on March 11, 2026, exactly 15 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake struck northeastern Japan, triggering a massive tsunami that caused a nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (back).

15th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

15th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

People facing the sea in the Fukushima Prefecture town of Namie, northeastern Japan, pray at 2:46 p.m. on March 11, 2026, exactly 15 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake struck northeastern Japan, triggering a massive tsunami that caused a nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (back).

15th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

15th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

People pray in the Iwate Prefecture city of Rikuzentakata, northeastern Japan, at 2:46 p.m. on March 11, 2026, exactly 15 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake struck northeastern Japan, triggering a massive tsunami. The monument to the "Miracle Pine," the only tree that survived in a coastal forest flattened by the deadly tsunami can be seen in the background.

15th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

15th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

People pray in the Iwate Prefecture city of Rikuzentakata, northeastern Japan, at 2:46 p.m. on March 11, 2026, exactly 15 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake struck northeastern Japan, triggering a massive tsunami. The monument to the "Miracle Pine," the only tree that survived in a coastal forest flattened by the deadly tsunami can be seen in the background.

15th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

15th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

People pray in the Arahama coastal area in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, at 2:46 p.m. on March 11, 2026, exactly 15 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake struck northeastern Japan, triggering a massive tsunami.

15th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

15th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

People pray in the Arahama coastal area in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, at 2:46 p.m. on March 11, 2026, exactly 15 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake struck northeastern Japan, triggering a massive tsunami.

15th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

15th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

People pray in the Arahama coastal area in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, at 2:46 p.m. on March 11, 2026, exactly 15 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake struck northeastern Japan, triggering a massive tsunami.

15th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

15th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

People pray in the Arahama coastal area in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, at 2:46 p.m. on March 11, 2026, exactly 15 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake struck northeastern Japan, triggering a massive tsunami.

Japan Emperor Naruhito

Japan Emperor Naruhito

Japanese Emperor Naruhito attends a ceremony for people commended by the justice minister and the Japanese Correctional Association for their years of service, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on March 4, 2026. (Pool photo)

Japan Emperor Naruhito

Japan Emperor Naruhito

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (R) attends a ceremony for people commended by the justice minister and the Japanese Correctional Association for their years of service, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on March 4, 2026. (Pool photo)

Japan Emperor Naruhito

Japan Emperor Naruhito

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (R) attends a ceremony for people commended by the justice minister and the Japanese Correctional Association for their years of service, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on March 4, 2026. (Pool photo)

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.

Congress of Workers' Party of Korea

Congress of Workers' Party of Korea

A notice board is hung on the wall of a building in Pyongyang on Feb. 19, 2026, ahead of the upcoming congress of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, being held for the first time in five years.

Congress of Workers' Party of Korea

Congress of Workers' Party of Korea

A notice board is hung on the wall of a building in Pyongyang on Feb. 19, 2026, ahead of the upcoming congress of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, being held for the first time in five years.

Congress of Workers' Party of Korea

Congress of Workers' Party of Korea

A notice board is set up in Pyongyang on Feb. 19, 2026, ahead of the upcoming congress of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, being held for the first time in five years.

Congress of Workers' Party of Korea

Congress of Workers' Party of Korea

A notice board is set up in Pyongyang on Feb. 19, 2026, ahead of the upcoming congress of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, being held for the first time in five years.

Japan Tobacco CEO

Japan Tobacco CEO

Takehiko Tsutsui, president and chief executive officer of Japan Tobacco Inc., gives an interview at the company's headquarters in Tokyo on Feb. 16, 2026, saying the company plans to invest about 800 billion yen over the next three years to expand its market share in its growing heated tobacco business.

Japan Tobacco CEO

Japan Tobacco CEO

Takehiko Tsutsui, president and chief executive officer of Japan Tobacco Inc., gives an interview at the company's headquarters in Tokyo on Feb. 16, 2026, saying the company plans to invest about 800 billion yen over the next three years to expand its market share in its growing heated tobacco business.

Japan Tobacco President, CEO Tsutsui

Japan Tobacco President, CEO Tsutsui

Takehiko Tsutsui, president and chief executive officer of Japan Tobacco Inc., gives an interview at the company's headquarters in Tokyo on Feb. 16, 2026, saying the company plans to invest about 800 billion yen over the next three years to expand its market share in its growing heated tobacco business.

Hamburger chain Lotteria renamed after 54 years

Hamburger chain Lotteria renamed after 54 years

Combined photo taken on Jan. 23, 2026, shows Lotteria (top) and Zotteria hamburger chain signs. Lotteria, open since 1972, will be renamed Zetteria after restaurant operator Zensho Holdings Co. acquired Lotteria outlets in 2023.

TEPCO nuclear power plant

TEPCO nuclear power plant

A monitor at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.'s headquarters in Tokyo displays a live stream of the control room for the No. 6 reactor at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power complex on Feb. 16, 2026, as the company restarted power generation and transmission on a trial basis the same day, gearing up to resume nuclear power supply for the first time in 14 years.

TEPCO nuclear power plant

TEPCO nuclear power plant

A monitor at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.'s headquarters in Tokyo displays a live stream of the control room for the No. 6 reactor at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power complex on Feb. 16, 2026, as the company restarted power generation and transmission on a trial basis the same day, gearing up to resume nuclear power supply for the first time in 14 years.

TEPCO nuclear power plant

TEPCO nuclear power plant

A monitor at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.'s headquarters in Tokyo displays a live stream of the control room for the No. 6 reactor at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power complex on Feb. 16, 2026, as the company restarted power generation and transmission on a trial basis the same day, gearing up to resume nuclear power supply for the first time in 14 years.

TEPCO nuclear power plant

TEPCO nuclear power plant

Photo taken on Feb. 16, 2026, shows the control room for the No. 6 reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power complex operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. in Niigata Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo. The plant restarted power generation and transmission on a trial basis the same day, as the company gears up to resume nuclear power supply for the first time in 14 years. (Pool photo)

TEPCO nuclear power plant

TEPCO nuclear power plant

Takeyuki Inagaki, head of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power complex operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. in Niigata Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, stands in the central control room for the No. 6 reactor on Feb. 16, 2026, as TEPCO restarted power generation and transmission on a trial basis the same day, gearing up to resume nuclear power supply for the first time in 14 years. (Pool photo)

TEPCO nuclear power plant

TEPCO nuclear power plant

Photo taken on Feb. 16, 2026, shows the No. 6 reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power complex operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. in Niigata Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo. The plant restarted power generation and transmission on a trial basis the same day, as the company gears up to resume nuclear power supply for the first time in 14 years. (Pool photo)

Mountain burning event in central Japan

Mountain burning event in central Japan

Spectators watch as "kaya" thatch plants are burnt during a traditional burning event on 580-meter-tall Mt. Omuro in Ito in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, on Feb. 15, 2026. The practice, dating back over 700 years, is said to herald the arrival of spring.

Mountain burning event in central Japan

Mountain burning event in central Japan

Spectators watch as "kaya" thatch plants are burnt during a traditional burning event on 580-meter-tall Mt. Omuro in Ito in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, on Feb. 15, 2026. The practice, dating back over 700 years, is said to herald the arrival of spring.

Fire festival in western Japan

Fire festival in western Japan

A man wearing an ogre costume takes part in the annual "Dadaoshi" fire festival, dating back 1,000 years, at Hase temple in Sakurai in Nara Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 14, 2026.

Fire festival in western Japan

Fire festival in western Japan

A man wearing an ogre costume takes part in the annual "Dadaoshi" fire festival, dating back 1,000 years, at Hase temple in Sakurai in Nara Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 14, 2026.

Pro-democracy publisher Lai sentenced to 20 years

Pro-democracy publisher Lai sentenced to 20 years

A vehicle believed to be carrying Jimmy Lai, founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, leaves the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts building after the 78-year-old was sentenced to 20 years in prison in his national security collusion trial in Hong Kong on Feb. 9, 2026.

Fire festival in western Japan

Fire festival in western Japan

A traditional fire festival dating back about 1,400 years is held at Kamikura shrine in Shingu in the western Japan prefecture of Wakayama on Feb. 6, 2026.

Fire festival in western Japan

Fire festival in western Japan

A traditional fire festival dating back about 1,400 years is held at Kamikura shrine in Shingu in the western Japan prefecture of Wakayama on Feb. 6, 2026.

Fire festival in western Japan

Fire festival in western Japan

A traditional fire festival dating back about 1,400 years is held at Kamikura shrine in Shingu in the western Japan prefecture of Wakayama on Feb. 6, 2026.