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Japan: Stunning ‘Snow Monsters’ on Mount Zao Delight Visitors

Frost-covered trees known as "Snow Monsters" appeared on Mount Zao in Yamagata Prefecture, forming a rare natural spectacle that occurs only under specific conditions, including temperatures below -10°C and wind speeds exceeding 10 meters per second.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi carries a national flag after winning bronze in the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi carries a national flag after winning bronze in the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi carries a national flag after winning bronze in the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi carries a national flag after winning bronze in the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi carries a national flag after winning bronze in the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi acknowledges the crowd on the podium during the medal ceremony after winning bronze in the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Jutta Leerdam (R) of the Netherlands and Miho Takagi of Japan compete in the women's speed skating 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026. Leerdam and Takagi won gold and bronze, respectively.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi acknowledges the crowd after winning bronze in the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi acknowledges the crowd with the national flag after winning bronze in the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi competes en route to winning bronze in the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi competes en route to winning bronze in the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi competes en route to winning bronze in the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi competes en route to winning bronze in the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi competes en route to winning bronze in the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi competes en route to winning bronze in the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi competes en route to winning bronze in the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi competes en route to winning bronze in the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi (front) acknowledges the crowd with her coach Johan de Wit after winning bronze in the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi (R) is hugged by her coach Johan de Wit after winning bronze in the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi (R) is hugged by her coach Johan de Wit after winning bronze in the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi (R) is hugged by her coach Johan de Wit after winning bronze in the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi (front) takes a selfie after winning the women's 1,000 meters bronze at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026, with gold medalist Jutta Leerdam (R) and silver medalist Femke Kok, both of the Netherlands.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam (C) smiles after winning the women's 1,000 meters gold at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026, alongside compatriot and silver medalist Femke Kok (L) and bronze medalist Miho Takagi of Japan.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Jutta Leerdam (L) of the Netherlands and Miho Takagi of Japan compete in the women's speed skating 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026. Leerdam and Takagi won gold and bronze, respectively.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi competes en route to winning bronze in the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Jutta Leerdam (L) of the Netherlands and Miho Takagi of Japan compete in the women's speed skating 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026. Leerdam and Takagi won gold and bronze, respectively.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Jutta Leerdam (L) of the Netherlands and Miho Takagi of Japan compete in the women's speed skating 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026. Leerdam and Takagi won gold and bronze, respectively.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi competes en route to winning bronze in the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi competes en route to winning bronze in the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi carries a national flag flag winning broze in the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi carries a national flag after winning bronze in the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi carries a national flag after winning bronze in the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi speaks at a press conference after winning bronze in the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Dutch speed skater Femke Kok is pictured after competing in the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026. Kok won silver.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam (C) poses on the podium after winning the women's 1,000 meters gold at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026, alongside compatriot and silver medalist Femke Kok (L) and bronze medalist Miho Takagi of Japan.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam (C) poses on the podium after winning the women's 1,000 meters gold at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026, alongside compatriot and silver medalist Femke Kok (L) and bronze medalist Miho Takagi of Japan.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam (C) poses after winning the women's 1,000 meters gold at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026, alongside compatriot and silver medalist Femke Kok (L) and bronze medalist Miho Takagi of Japan. (Pool photo)

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Dutch speed skater Femke Kok competes en route to winning silver in the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Dutch speed skater Femke Kok competes en route to winning silver in the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Dutch speed skater Femke Kok competes en route to winning silver in the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam reacts after winning the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam reacts after winning the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam competes en route to winning the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam reacts after winning the women's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Shomu Sasaki competes in the men's 5,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 8, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Shomu Sasaki competes in the men's 5,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 8, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Norwegian speed skater Sander Eitrem (L) competes en route to winning gold in the men's 5,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 8, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Norwegian speed skater Sander Eitrem celebrates after winning gold in the men's 5,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 8, 2026.

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Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Norwegian speed skater Sander Eitrem celebrates after winning gold in the men's 5,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 8, 2026.