Empress Michiko walks to main hall of Ise Grand Shrine

Empress Michiko walks to main hall of Ise Grand Shrine

ISE, Japan - Japanese Empress Michiko walks to the main shrine of Ise Grand Shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, western Japan, on March 26, 2014. The 1,500-year-old shrine, rebuilt in 2013 for the 62nd time, is dedicated to Japan's sun goddess, Amaterasu Omikami, the supreme deity in the Shinto pantheon.

Emperor Akihito walks to main hall of Ise Grand Shrine

Emperor Akihito walks to main hall of Ise Grand Shrine

ISE, Japan - Japanese Emperor Akihito walks to the main shrine of Ise Grand Shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, western Japan, on March 26, 2014. The 1,500-year-old shrine, rebuilt in 2013 for the 62nd time, is dedicated to Japan's sun goddess, Amaterasu Omikami, the supreme deity in the Shinto pantheon.

New faces in Japan's 2011 year-end song festival

New faces in Japan's 2011 year-end song festival

TOKYO, Japan - Singers selected for the first time to perform at the 62nd ''Kohaku Uta Gassen'' year-end song festival of NHK, Japan Broadcasting Corp., pose for photos at the head office of NHK in Tokyo on Nov. 30, 2011, as the public broadcaster announced the lineup of performers for the program. They are (from L front) Fuku Suzuki and Mana Ashida and (from L back) Girls' Generation's SeoHyun, Jessica, YuRi, Tiffany, TaeYeon and SooYoung, Sayaka Kanda, KARA's GYU RI, HARA and NICOLE, and Inawashirokos' Michihiko Yanai, Toshimi Watanabe, who is holding a fan with member Takashi Yamaguchi's picture on it, and Shinji Matsuda. Solo singer Ringo Sheena, who will also appear for the first time on the show, was not present for the photo.

New faces in Japan's 2011 year-end song festival

New faces in Japan's 2011 year-end song festival

TOKYO, Japan - Singers selected for the first time to perform at the 62nd ''Kohaku Uta Gassen'' year-end song festival of NHK, Japan Broadcasting Corp., pose for photos at the head office of NHK in Tokyo on Nov. 30, 2011, as the public broadcaster announced the lineup of performers for the program. They are (from L front) Fuku Suzuki and Mana Ashida and (from L back) Girls' Generation's SeoHyun, Jessica, YuRi, Tiffany, TaeYeon and SooYoung, Sayaka Kanda, KARA's GYU RI, HARA and NICOLE, and Inawashirokos' Michihiko Yanai, Toshimi Watanabe, who is holding a fan with member Takashi Yamaguchi's picture on it, and Shinji Matsuda. Solo singer Ringo Sheena, who will also appear for the first time on the show, was not present for the photo. (Kyodo)