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RECAP: Over 50 Injured After Strong M7.5 Quake Strikes Northern Japan

A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck off Aomori late Monday, December 8, triggering tsunami warnings across Hokkaido and Tohoku before being lifted early Tuesday. Over 50 injuries and power outages were reported. Authorities warn of a heightened risk of another major quake in the coming week.

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JCG's oldest patrol boat retires

A ceremony to decommission the Japan Coast Guard's oldest active patrol vessel, the icebreaker Soya, is held in Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Nov. 12, 2025, after 47 years in operation. The 3,100-ton ship traveled about 1.91 million kilometers, equivalent to 48 trips around the Earth, and rescued over 1,450 people in more than 600 shipwreck cases.

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JCG's oldest patrol boat retires

A ceremony to decommission the Japan Coast Guard's oldest active patrol vessel, the icebreaker Soya, is held in Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Nov. 12, 2025, after 47 years in operation. The 3,100-ton ship traveled about 1.91 million kilometers, equivalent to 48 trips around the Earth, and rescued over 1,450 people in more than 600 shipwreck cases.

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JCG's oldest patrol boat retires

The icebreaker Soya's logo is painted over as a ceremony to decommission the ship, the Japan Coast Guard's oldest active patrol vessel, is held in Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Nov. 12, 2025, after 47 years in operation. The 3,100-ton ship traveled about 1.91 million kilometers, equivalent to 48 trips around the Earth, and rescued over 1,450 people in more than 600 shipwreck cases.

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JCG's oldest patrol boat retires

A ceremony to decommission the Japan Coast Guard's oldest active patrol vessel, the icebreaker Soya, is held in Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Nov. 12, 2025, after 47 years in operation. The 3,100-ton ship traveled about 1.91 million kilometers, equivalent to 48 trips around the Earth, and rescued over 1,450 people in more than 600 shipwreck cases.

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JCG's oldest patrol boat retires

A ceremony to decommission the Japan Coast Guard's oldest active patrol vessel, the icebreaker Soya, is held in Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Nov. 12, 2025, after 47 years in operation. The 3,100-ton ship traveled about 1.91 million kilometers, equivalent to 48 trips around the Earth, and rescued over 1,450 people in more than 600 shipwreck cases.

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Building Caught Fire In The Old Town, 1 Victim Reported - Annecy

Illustrations of a building and the trucks and machines that clear the charred debris where a fire broke out at 1 p.m. on October 30, 2024 in Annecy, in a building on four levels and it was quickly described as “virulent” by the firefighters. The prefecture of Haute-Savoie and the firefighters confirmed, in a press release, the results of the fire which reported a victim, "found deceased inside the building" her name was Mabinta Fall aged 47 years old. November 1, 2024 in Annecy in the old town. Photo by Alexis Jumeau/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Building Caught Fire In The Old Town, 1 Victim Reported - Annecy

Illustrations of a building and the trucks and machines that clear the charred debris where a fire broke out at 1 p.m. on October 30, 2024 in Annecy, in a building on four levels and it was quickly described as “virulent” by the firefighters. The prefecture of Haute-Savoie and the firefighters confirmed, in a press release, the results of the fire which reported a victim, "found deceased inside the building" her name was Mabinta Fall aged 47 years old. November 1, 2024 in Annecy in the old town. Photo by Alexis Jumeau/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Building Caught Fire In The Old Town, 1 Victim Reported - Annecy

Illustrations of a building and the trucks and machines that clear the charred debris where a fire broke out at 1 p.m. on October 30, 2024 in Annecy, in a building on four levels and it was quickly described as “virulent” by the firefighters. The prefecture of Haute-Savoie and the firefighters confirmed, in a press release, the results of the fire which reported a victim, "found deceased inside the building" her name was Mabinta Fall aged 47 years old. November 1, 2024 in Annecy in the old town. Photo by Alexis Jumeau/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Building Caught Fire In The Old Town, 1 Victim Reported - Annecy

Illustrations of a building and the trucks and machines that clear the charred debris where a fire broke out at 1 p.m. on October 30, 2024 in Annecy, in a building on four levels and it was quickly described as “virulent” by the firefighters. The prefecture of Haute-Savoie and the firefighters confirmed, in a press release, the results of the fire which reported a victim, "found deceased inside the building" her name was Mabinta Fall aged 47 years old. November 1, 2024 in Annecy in the old town. Photo by Alexis Jumeau/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Building Caught Fire In The Old Town, 1 Victim Reported - Annecy

Illustrations of a building and the trucks and machines that clear the charred debris where a fire broke out at 1 p.m. on October 30, 2024 in Annecy, in a building on four levels and it was quickly described as “virulent” by the firefighters. The prefecture of Haute-Savoie and the firefighters confirmed, in a press release, the results of the fire which reported a victim, "found deceased inside the building" her name was Mabinta Fall aged 47 years old. November 1, 2024 in Annecy in the old town. Photo by Alexis Jumeau/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Building Caught Fire In The Old Town, 1 Victim Reported - Annecy

Illustrations of a building and the trucks and machines that clear the charred debris where a fire broke out at 1 p.m. on October 30, 2024 in Annecy, in a building on four levels and it was quickly described as “virulent” by the firefighters. The prefecture of Haute-Savoie and the firefighters confirmed, in a press release, the results of the fire which reported a victim, "found deceased inside the building" her name was Mabinta Fall aged 47 years old. November 1, 2024 in Annecy in the old town. Photo by Alexis Jumeau/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Building Caught Fire In The Old Town, 1 Victim Reported - Annecy

Illustrations of a building and the trucks and machines that clear the charred debris where a fire broke out at 1 p.m. on October 30, 2024 in Annecy, in a building on four levels and it was quickly described as “virulent” by the firefighters. The prefecture of Haute-Savoie and the firefighters confirmed, in a press release, the results of the fire which reported a victim, "found deceased inside the building" her name was Mabinta Fall aged 47 years old. November 1, 2024 in Annecy in the old town. Photo by Alexis Jumeau/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Building Caught Fire In The Old Town, 1 Victim Reported - Annecy

Illustrations of a building and the trucks and machines that clear the charred debris where a fire broke out at 1 p.m. on October 30, 2024 in Annecy, in a building on four levels and it was quickly described as “virulent” by the firefighters. The prefecture of Haute-Savoie and the firefighters confirmed, in a press release, the results of the fire which reported a victim, "found deceased inside the building" her name was Mabinta Fall aged 47 years old. November 1, 2024 in Annecy in the old town. Photo by Alexis Jumeau/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Building Caught Fire In The Old Town, 1 Victim Reported - Annecy

Illustrations of a building and the trucks and machines that clear the charred debris where a fire broke out at 1 p.m. on October 30, 2024 in Annecy, in a building on four levels and it was quickly described as “virulent” by the firefighters. The prefecture of Haute-Savoie and the firefighters confirmed, in a press release, the results of the fire which reported a victim, "found deceased inside the building" her name was Mabinta Fall aged 47 years old. November 1, 2024 in Annecy in the old town. Photo by Alexis Jumeau/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Building Caught Fire In The Old Town, 1 Victim Reported - Annecy

Illustrations of a building and the trucks and machines that clear the charred debris where a fire broke out at 1 p.m. on October 30, 2024 in Annecy, in a building on four levels and it was quickly described as “virulent” by the firefighters. The prefecture of Haute-Savoie and the firefighters confirmed, in a press release, the results of the fire which reported a victim, "found deceased inside the building" her name was Mabinta Fall aged 47 years old. November 1, 2024 in Annecy in the old town. Photo by Alexis Jumeau/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Building Caught Fire In The Old Town, 1 Victim Reported - Annecy

Illustrations of a building and the trucks and machines that clear the charred debris where a fire broke out at 1 p.m. on October 30, 2024 in Annecy, in a building on four levels and it was quickly described as “virulent” by the firefighters. The prefecture of Haute-Savoie and the firefighters confirmed, in a press release, the results of the fire which reported a victim, "found deceased inside the building" her name was Mabinta Fall aged 47 years old. November 1, 2024 in Annecy in the old town. Photo by Alexis Jumeau/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Athletics: Japanese race walker Kawano sets 35-km world record

Masatora Kawano poses after winning the men's 35-kilometer race walk in a world record of 2 hours, 21 minutes, 47 seconds at the Japanese national championships in Takahata in the northeastern Japan prefecture of Yamagata on Oct. 27, 2024.

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Athletics: Japanese race walker Kawano sets 35-km world record

Masatora Kawano wins the men's 35-kilometer race walk in a world record of 2 hours, 21 minutes, 47 seconds at the Japanese national championships in Takahata in the northeastern Japan prefecture of Yamagata on Oct. 27, 2024.

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Athletics: Japanese race walker Kawano sets 35-km world record

Masatora Kawano wins the men's 35-kilometer race walk in a world record of 2 hours, 21 minutes, 47 seconds at the Japanese national championships in Takahata in the northeastern Japan prefecture of Yamagata on Oct. 27, 2024.

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Green miracle in China's largest desert

STORY: Green miracle in China's largest desert DATELINE: Sept. 25, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:47 LOCATION: URUMQI, China CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of Kekeya 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): XIE FUPING, Former Party chief of Aksu Prefecture, China's Xinjiang 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): IMAM MEMET, Former head of Kekeya forestry station 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): IMAM MEMET, Former head of Kekeya forestry station 5. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): SONG JIANJIANG, Staff of Kekeya forestry station STORYLINE: Covering a staggering expanse of 337,000 square kilometers, an area slightly smaller than Germany, Taklimakan is China's largest desert and infamously known as the "Sea of Death." Kekeya is nestled at the northern edge of Taklimakan Desert. Due to its adverse geological location, Kekeya was once notorious for its tumultuous weather and ceaseless sandstorms. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): XIE FUPING, Former Party chief of Aksu Prefecture, China's Xinjiang "(Before the 1980s,) once strong winds blew, the entire city of Aksu

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CHINA-GUIZHOU-HYBRID RICE SEED BREEDING-RURAL REVITALIZATION (CN)

(230830) -- CENGONG, Aug. 30, 2023 (Xinhua) -- This aerial photo taken on April 6, 2023 shows a hybrid rice seed breeding base in Xinchang Village of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province. As autumn arrives, the rice fields turn golden. Chen Liangdong has invited a professional harvesting team from Henan Province to harvest the hybrid rice seeds on his farm. Looking at the abundant rice seeds, he was overjoyed. Chen, who is 61, is a major producer of hybrid rice seeds in Cengong County. He used to work as a construction worker in the county for many years. In 2012, Chen returned to his village and took over the idle land of the villagers to produce hybrid rice seeds. From spring to autumn, he is busy with tilling, sowing, mulching, transplanting, fertilizing, pollinating, and other tasks. Every year, he provides jobs for more than 100 households in the surrounding villages. Cengong County is a national rice seed production county with 47 years of history in

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CHINA-GUIZHOU-HYBRID RICE SEED BREEDING-RURAL REVITALIZATION (CN)

(230830) -- CENGONG, Aug. 30, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Chen Liangdong and his daughter-in-law load harvested rice seeds onto a truck in Xinchang Village of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Aug. 26, 2023. As autumn arrives, the rice fields turn golden. Chen Liangdong has invited a professional harvesting team from Henan Province to harvest the hybrid rice seeds on his farm. Looking at the abundant rice seeds, he was overjoyed. Chen, who is 61, is a major producer of hybrid rice seeds in Cengong County. He used to work as a construction worker in the county for many years. In 2012, Chen returned to his village and took over the idle land of the villagers to produce hybrid rice seeds. From spring to autumn, he is busy with tilling, sowing, mulching, transplanting, fertilizing, pollinating, and other tasks. Every year, he provides jobs for more than 100 households in the surrounding villages. Cengong County is a national rice seed production county with 47 years o

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CHINA-GUIZHOU-HYBRID RICE SEED BREEDING-RURAL REVITALIZATION (CN)

(230830) -- CENGONG, Aug. 30, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Chen Liangdong checks on the growth of seeds at a hybrid rice seeds field in Cengong County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Aug. 26, 2023. As autumn arrives, the rice fields turn golden. Chen Liangdong has invited a professional harvesting team from Henan Province to harvest the hybrid rice seeds on his farm. Looking at the abundant rice seeds, he was overjoyed. Chen, who is 61, is a major producer of hybrid rice seeds in Cengong County. He used to work as a construction worker in the county for many years. In 2012, Chen returned to his village and took over the idle land of the villagers to produce hybrid rice seeds. From spring to autumn, he is busy with tilling, sowing, mulching, transplanting, fertilizing, pollinating, and other tasks. Every year, he provides jobs for more than 100 households in the surrounding villages. Cengong County is a national rice seed production county with 47 years of hist

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CHINA-GUIZHOU-HYBRID RICE SEED BREEDING-RURAL REVITALIZATION (CN)

(230830) -- CENGONG, Aug. 30, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Chen Liangdong soaks rice seeds to prepare for hybrid rice seedling cultivation in Cengong County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, April 6, 2023. As autumn arrives, the rice fields turn golden. Chen Liangdong has invited a professional harvesting team from Henan Province to harvest the hybrid rice seeds on his farm. Looking at the abundant rice seeds, he was overjoyed. Chen, who is 61, is a major producer of hybrid rice seeds in Cengong County. He used to work as a construction worker in the county for many years. In 2012, Chen returned to his village and took over the idle land of the villagers to produce hybrid rice seeds. From spring to autumn, he is busy with tilling, sowing, mulching, transplanting, fertilizing, pollinating, and other tasks. Every year, he provides jobs for more than 100 households in the surrounding villages. Cengong County is a national rice seed production county with 47 years o

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CHINA-GUIZHOU-HYBRID RICE SEED BREEDING-RURAL REVITALIZATION (CN)

(230830) -- CENGONG, Aug. 30, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Chen Liangdong loads harvested rice seeds onto a truck in Cengong County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Aug. 26, 2023. As autumn arrives, the rice fields turn golden. Chen Liangdong has invited a professional harvesting team from Henan Province to harvest the hybrid rice seeds on his farm. Looking at the abundant rice seeds, he was overjoyed. Chen, who is 61, is a major producer of hybrid rice seeds in Cengong County. He used to work as a construction worker in the county for many years. In 2012, Chen returned to his village and took over the idle land of the villagers to produce hybrid rice seeds. From spring to autumn, he is busy with tilling, sowing, mulching, transplanting, fertilizing, pollinating, and other tasks. Every year, he provides jobs for more than 100 households in the surrounding villages. Cengong County is a national rice seed production county with 47 years of history in hybrid rice

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CHINA-GUIZHOU-HYBRID RICE SEED BREEDING-RURAL REVITALIZATION (CN)

(230830) -- CENGONG, Aug. 30, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Chen Liangdong wipes sweat while working in a hybrid rice seeds field in Cengong County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 29, 2023. As autumn arrives, the rice fields turn golden. Chen Liangdong has invited a professional harvesting team from Henan Province to harvest the hybrid rice seeds on his farm. Looking at the abundant rice seeds, he was overjoyed. Chen, who is 61, is a major producer of hybrid rice seeds in Cengong County. He used to work as a construction worker in the county for many years. In 2012, Chen returned to his village and took over the idle land of the villagers to produce hybrid rice seeds. From spring to autumn, he is busy with tilling, sowing, mulching, transplanting, fertilizing, pollinating, and other tasks. Every year, he provides jobs for more than 100 households in the surrounding villages. Cengong County is a national rice seed production county with 47 years of history i

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CHINA-GUIZHOU-HYBRID RICE SEED BREEDING-RURAL REVITALIZATION (CN)

(230830) -- CENGONG, Aug. 30, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Chen Liangdong arranges harvested hybrid rice seeds at a processing workshop in Cengong County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Aug. 26, 2023. As autumn arrives, the rice fields turn golden. Chen Liangdong has invited a professional harvesting team from Henan Province to harvest the hybrid rice seeds on his farm. Looking at the abundant rice seeds, he was overjoyed. Chen, who is 61, is a major producer of hybrid rice seeds in Cengong County. He used to work as a construction worker in the county for many years. In 2012, Chen returned to his village and took over the idle land of the villagers to produce hybrid rice seeds. From spring to autumn, he is busy with tilling, sowing, mulching, transplanting, fertilizing, pollinating, and other tasks. Every year, he provides jobs for more than 100 households in the surrounding villages. Cengong County is a national rice seed production county with 47 years of h

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CHINA-GUIZHOU-HYBRID RICE SEED BREEDING-RURAL REVITALIZATION (CN)

(230830) -- CENGONG, Aug. 30, 2023 (Xinhua) -- This aerial photo taken on Aug. 26, 2023 shows harvesters working in a hybrid rice seeds field in Cengong County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province. As autumn arrives, the rice fields turn golden. Chen Liangdong has invited a professional harvesting team from Henan Province to harvest the hybrid rice seeds on his farm. Looking at the abundant rice seeds, he was overjoyed. Chen, who is 61, is a major producer of hybrid rice seeds in Cengong County. He used to work as a construction worker in the county for many years. In 2012, Chen returned to his village and took over the idle land of the villagers to produce hybrid rice seeds. From spring to autumn, he is busy with tilling, sowing, mulching, transplanting, fertilizing, pollinating, and other tasks. Every year, he provides jobs for more than 100 households in the surrounding villages. Cengong County is a national rice seed production county with 47 years o

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CHINA-GUIZHOU-HYBRID RICE SEED BREEDING-RURAL REVITALIZATION (CN)

(230830) -- CENGONG, Aug. 30, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Chen Liangdong talks with a harvester driver in a hybrid rice seeds field in Cengong County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Aug. 26, 2023. As autumn arrives, the rice fields turn golden. Chen Liangdong has invited a professional harvesting team from Henan Province to harvest the hybrid rice seeds on his farm. Looking at the abundant rice seeds, he was overjoyed. Chen, who is 61, is a major producer of hybrid rice seeds in Cengong County. He used to work as a construction worker in the county for many years. In 2012, Chen returned to his village and took over the idle land of the villagers to produce hybrid rice seeds. From spring to autumn, he is busy with tilling, sowing, mulching, transplanting, fertilizing, pollinating, and other tasks. Every year, he provides jobs for more than 100 households in the surrounding villages. Cengong County is a national rice seed production county with 47 years of hist

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CHINA-GUIZHOU-HYBRID RICE SEED BREEDING-RURAL REVITALIZATION (CN)

(230830) -- CENGONG, Aug. 30, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Chen Liangdong presents harvested rice seeds in a hybrid rice seed breeding base in Cengong County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Aug. 26, 2023. As autumn arrives, the rice fields turn golden. Chen Liangdong has invited a professional harvesting team from Henan Province to harvest the hybrid rice seeds on his farm. Looking at the abundant rice seeds, he was overjoyed. Chen, who is 61, is a major producer of hybrid rice seeds in Cengong County. He used to work as a construction worker in the county for many years. In 2012, Chen returned to his village and took over the idle land of the villagers to produce hybrid rice seeds. From spring to autumn, he is busy with tilling, sowing, mulching, transplanting, fertilizing, pollinating, and other tasks. Every year, he provides jobs for more than 100 households in the surrounding villages. Cengong County is a national rice seed production county with 47 years

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Quake drill held nationwide on disaster preparedness day

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe inspects people engaged in a major quake drill in Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture, on Sept. 1., the nation's annual ''disaster preparedness day.'' About 630,000 people in 37 of the nation's 47 prefectures participated in similar quake drills on the day.

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10th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

RIKUZENTAKATA, Japan, March 11 Kyodo - People pray facing the sea in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, at 2:47 p.m. on March 11, 2021, one minute after a massive earthquake struck northeastern Japan exactly 10 years ago, triggering a killer tsunami.

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Actor Matsudaira plays Oishi in Gishi-sai parade

KOBE, Japan - Japanese actor Ken Matsudaira walks with citizens in a parade at the Gishi-sai festival in Ako, Hyogo Prefecture, on Dec. 14, 2014, to honor the "Loyal Retainers of Ako." Matsudaira played Oishi Kuranosuke, leader of a group of 47 masterless samurai of Ako who avenged their lord's death in the 18th century.

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Actor Matsudaira leads Gishi-sai parade

KOBE, Japan - Japanese actor Ken Matsudaira leads a parade during the Gishi-sai festival in Ako, Hyogo Prefecture, on Dec. 14, 2014, to honor the "Loyal Retainers of Ako." Matsudaira played Oishi Kuranosuke, leader of a group of 47 masterless samurai of Ako who avenged their lord's death in the 18th century.

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Tottori students win comic strip contest

KOCHI, Japan - This three-panel comic strip drawn by a group of students from Yonago High School in Tottori Prefecture, western Japan, is awarded the top prize on Nov. 3, 2014, in a manga contest held for students in Tottori and Kochi prefectures, both of which boast of being the hometowns to great cartoon artists. Under the designated theme "47th place," the winning manga highlights how Tottori's population remains the least among Japan's 47 prefectures.

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Rain halts search efforts on Mt. Ontake after fatal eruption

OTAKI, Japan - Firefighters walk in the village of Otaki, Nagano Prefecture, on Oct. 2, 2014, after search operations around the top of Mt. Ontake, which erupted on Sept. 27, are halted due to rain. Japan's worst postwar volcanic disaster on the 3,067-meter mountain straddling Nagano and Gifu prefectures had killed at least 47 people as of Oct. 2.

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Yokohama Women's Marathon

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Japan's Azusa Nojiri crosses the finish line, placing second in the Yokohama Women's Marathon in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Nov. 17, 2013. Nojiri finished in a time of 2:28:47.

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Fukushima Daiichi plant

TOKYO, Japan - An Aug. 31, 2013, photo from a Kyodo News helicopter shows the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in Fukushima Prefecture. The Japanese government announced a plan on Sept. 3, 2013, to use 47 billion yen to tackle a massive buildup of radioactive water at the plant crippled since the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami.

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Fukushima Daiichi plant

TOKYO, Japan - An Aug. 31, 2013, photo from a Kyodo News helicopter shows the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in Fukushima Prefecture. The Japanese government announced a plan on Sept. 3, 2013, to use 47 billion yen to tackle a massive buildup of radioactive water at the plant crippled since the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami.

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New rocket's launch pad unveiled

KAGOSHIMA, Japan - Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency practices transferring a full-scale imitation of the Epsilon Launch Vehicle from a 47-meter-high maintenance tower to its launch pad at Uchinoura Space Center in Kimotsuki, Kagoshima Prefecture, on April 18, 2013. The 24-meter-long Epsilon will be launched in August or September with a spectrographic planet observation satellite onboard.

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New rocket's launch pad unveiled

KAGOSHIMA, Japan - Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency practices transferring a full-scale imitation of the Epsilon Launch Vehicle from a 47-meter-high maintenance tower to its launch pad at Uchinoura Space Center in Kimotsuki, Kagoshima Prefecture, on April 18, 2013. The 24-meter-long Epsilon will be launched in August or September with a spectrographic planet observation satellite onboard.

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Quake hits northeastern Japan

RIKUZENTAKATA, Japan - Firefighters call for evacuation from coastal areas in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, at around 5:47 p.m. on Dec. 7, 2012, following a tsunami warning after an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.3 jolted northeastern and eastern Japan at 5:18 p.m. The Tohoku region of northeastern Japan was devastated by the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and subsequent tsunami.

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Highway accident involving bus bound for Tokyo Disneyland

FUJIOKA, Japan - Photo taken at 9:47 a.m. on April 29, 2012, shows a wrecked bus that crashed into a roadside wall around 4:40 a.m. the same day on a highway in Fujioka, Gunma Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo. The bus was carrying tourists bound for Tokyo Disneyland. The accident killed six women and a man, and injured 39 others including the driver, police said.

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Mayoral election in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture

GINOWAN, Japan - Atsushi Sakima casts his vote in the mayoral election in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, on Feb. 12, 2012. Two independents -- Sakima, 47, a former member of the Okinawa prefectural assembly, and former Ginowan Mayor Yoichi Iha, 60 -- are vying for the position amid controversy over a plan to relocate a key U.S. base from the city.

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Mayoral election in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture

GINOWAN, Japan - Yoichi Iha casts his vote with his wife in the mayoral election in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, on Feb. 12, 2012. Two independents -- former Ginowan Mayor Iha, 60, and Atsushi Sakima, 47, a former member of the Okinawa prefectural assembly -- are vying for the position amid controversy over a plan to relocate a key U.S. base from the city.

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Regional elections across Japan

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Gov. Toru Hashimoto casts his ballot in the election on April 10, 2011, to choose members of the Osaka prefectural assembly at a polling station in Toyonaka, Osaka Prefecture. The first of two unified rounds of regional polls slated for April were held the same day to pick governors of 12 of Japan's 47 prefectures, mayors of four cities and assembly members of 41 prefectures and 15 of the country's major cities. (Pool photo)

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Teijin's EV concept car

TOKYO, Japan - Photo shows Teijin Ltd.'s prototype electric vehicle with a cabin frame made of carbon-fiber reinforced plastic weighing only 47 kilograms, roughly one-fifth the weight of a conventional car's cabin frame, in Susono, Shizuoka Prefecture, on March 9, 2011.

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Shimane promotional calendar with self-deprecating humor

TOKYO, Japan - An employee at an antenna shop of Shimane Prefecture's Tokyo office in the Nihombashi district holds a calendar promoting Shimane on Jan. 21, 2011. The calendar, produced by the office, uses self-deprecating humor, such as saying ''It's the 47th most famous'' of Japan's 47 prefectures, to draw public attention to the western region.

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Veteran pitcher Kudo starts 29th season

TATEYAMA, Japan - Veteran pitcher Kimiyasu Kudo of the Seibu Lions plays catch during a workout to prepare for his 29th season in Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture, on Jan. 10, 2010. Kudo who will turn 47 in May pledged to contribute to the club's success.