Animation figures museum in Japan

Animation figures museum in Japan

Photo taken on Nov. 12, 2025, shows part of a collection of animated character figures on display at the Bankyo Figure Museum in Taki, Mie Prefecture, central Japan. The museum, located inside a factory of Bankyo Pharmaceutical Co., exhibits about 40,000 items collected by company president Nobuo Matsuura.

Animation figures museum in Japan

Animation figures museum in Japan

Photo taken on Nov. 12, 2025, shows part of a collection of animated character figures on display at the Bankyo Figure Museum in Taki, Mie Prefecture, central Japan. The museum, located inside a factory of Bankyo Pharmaceutical Co., exhibits about 40,000 items collected by company president Nobuo Matsuura.

Sumo: London tournament

Sumo: London tournament

A sumo ring is under reconstruction at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Oct. 12, 2025, ahead of a five-day sumo tournament from Oct. 15. About 120 sumo wrestlers will take part in the event, the Japan Sumo Association's first overseas exhibition tour in 20 years.

Sumo: London tournament

Sumo: London tournament

A sumo ring is under reconstruction at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Oct. 12, 2025, ahead of a five-day sumo tournament from Oct. 15. About 120 sumo wrestlers will take part in the event, the Japan Sumo Association's first overseas exhibition tour in 20 years.

Japan emperor's state visit to Mongolia

Japan emperor's state visit to Mongolia

Japanese Emperor Naruhito meets the press after completing a trip to Hustai National Park about 100 kilometers west of Ulaanbaatar on July 12, 2025, during a state visit to Mongolia.

Japan emperor's state visit to Mongolia

Japan emperor's state visit to Mongolia

Japanese Emperor Naruhito meets the press after completing a trip to Hustai National Park about 100 kilometers west of Ulaanbaatar on July 12, 2025, during a state visit to Mongolia.

Japan emperor's state visit to Mongolia

Japan emperor's state visit to Mongolia

Japanese Emperor Naruhito meets the press after completing a trip to Hustai National Park about 100 kilometers west of Ulaanbaatar on July 12, 2025, during a state visit to Mongolia.

Japan emperor's state visit to Mongolia

Japan emperor's state visit to Mongolia

Japanese Emperor Naruhito meets the press after completing a trip to Hustai National Park about 100 kilometers west of Ulaanbaatar on July 12, 2025, during a state visit to Mongolia.

Japan emperor's state visit to Mongolia

Japan emperor's state visit to Mongolia

Japanese Emperor Naruhito meets the press after completing a trip to Hustai National Park about 100 kilometers west of Ulaanbaatar on July 12, 2025, during a state visit to Mongolia.

Japan emperor's state visit to Mongolia

Japan emperor's state visit to Mongolia

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (C) and Empress Masako arrive at Hustai National Park about 100 kilometers west of Ulaanbaatar on July 12, 2025, during a state visit to Mongolia.

New commercial complex in Tokyo waterfront

New commercial complex in Tokyo waterfront

Photo taken on Tokyo's waterfront area on June 12, 2025, shows high-rise building Tower S (C, L), one of the two buildings constituting the Blue Front Shibaura commercial complex being developed by JR East and Nomura Real Estate Development Co. Housing about 40 shops, most of them restaurants, and a 217-room hotel, Tower S, located on the south side of the complex, will fully open on Sept. 1, while another building is slated to be completed on the north side in fiscal 2030.

New commercial complex in Tokyo waterfront

New commercial complex in Tokyo waterfront

Photo taken on Tokyo's waterfront area on June 12, 2025, shows high-rise building Tower S (C, L), one of the two buildings constituting the Blue Front Shibaura commercial complex being developed by JR East and Nomura Real Estate Development Co. Housing about 40 shops, most of them restaurants, and a 217-room hotel, Tower S, located on the south side of the complex, will fully open on Sept. 1, while another building is slated to be completed on the north side in fiscal 2030.

6 months before 2025 Osaka Expo

6 months before 2025 Osaka Expo

About 500 drones fly near the site of the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka on Oct. 12, 2024, creating the image of the Expo's official mascot Myaku-Myaku. The six-month event will begin on an artificial island in the western Japan city on April 13, 2025.

6 months before 2025 Osaka Expo

6 months before 2025 Osaka Expo

About 500 drones fly near the site of the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka on Oct. 12, 2024, creating the image of the Expo's official mascot Myaku-Myaku. The six-month event will begin on an artificial island in the western Japan city on April 13, 2025.

6 months before 2025 Osaka Expo

6 months before 2025 Osaka Expo

About 500 drones fly near the site of the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka on Oct. 12, 2024, creating the image of the Expo's official mascot Myaku-Myaku. The six-month event will begin on an artificial island in the western Japan city on April 13, 2025.

Gigantic ring of 2025 World Expo

Gigantic ring of 2025 World Expo

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Sept. 12, 2024, shows the Great Ring, a gigantic wooden structure symbolizing the site of the 2025 World Exposition on an artificial island in the western Japan city of Osaka. The wooden part of the ring, about 2 kilometers in circumference, was completed in August, with the rest of the structure planned to be completed in February 2025 ahead of the start in April 2025 of the six-month world event.

Gigantic ring of 2025 World Expo

Gigantic ring of 2025 World Expo

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Sept. 12, 2024, shows the Great Ring, a gigantic wooden structure symbolizing the site of the 2025 World Exposition on an artificial island in the western Japan city of Osaka. The wooden part of the ring, about 2 kilometers in circumference, was completed in August, with the rest of the structure planned to be completed in February 2025 ahead of the start in April 2025 of the six-month world event.

Event to watch "The Boy and the Heron" in Beijing

Event to watch "The Boy and the Heron" in Beijing

An event to watch Japanese anime giant Hayao Miyazaki's U.S. Academy Award-winning film "The Boy and the Heron" is held at a movie house in Beijing on May 12, 2024, with local film critics holding a forum with about 100 fans.

Event to watch "The Boy and the Heron" in Beijing

Event to watch "The Boy and the Heron" in Beijing

An event to watch Japanese anime giant Hayao Miyazaki's U.S. Academy Award-winning film "The Boy and the Heron" is held at a movie house in Beijing on May 12, 2024, with local film critics holding a forum with about 100 fans.

Protest against new SDF base for U.S. fighter jet drills

Protest against new SDF base for U.S. fighter jet drills

Photo taken in the Kagoshima Prefecture city of Nishinoomote, southwestern Japan, on Jan. 12, 2023, shows people protesting against the construction of a Japan Self-Defense Forces base on an uninhabited island in the city. Construction work started the same day on Mage Island about 990 kilometers southwest of Tokyo in the East China Sea for the base, to be used as a site for U.S. fighter jet drills, relocated from Iwoto Island in the Pacific.

Protest against new SDF base for U.S. fighter jet drills

Protest against new SDF base for U.S. fighter jet drills

Photo taken in the Kagoshima Prefecture city of Nishinoomote, southwestern Japan, on Jan. 12, 2023, shows people protesting against the construction of a Japan Self-Defense Forces base on an uninhabited island in the city. Construction work started the same day on Mage Island about 990 kilometers southwest of Tokyo in the East China Sea for the base, to be used as a site for U.S. fighter jet drills, relocated from Iwoto Island in the Pacific.

Protest against new SDF base for U.S. fighter jet drills

Protest against new SDF base for U.S. fighter jet drills

Photo taken in the Kagoshima Prefecture city of Nishinoomote, southwestern Japan, on Jan. 12, 2023, shows people protesting against the construction of a Japan Self-Defense Forces base on an uninhabited island in the city. Construction work started the same day on Mage Island about 990 kilometers southwest of Tokyo in the East China Sea for the base, to be used as a site for U.S. fighter jet drills, relocated from Iwoto Island in the Pacific.

Protest against new SDF base for U.S. fighter jet drills

Protest against new SDF base for U.S. fighter jet drills

Photo taken in the Kagoshima Prefecture city of Nishinoomote, southwestern Japan, on Jan. 12, 2023, shows people protesting against the construction of a Japan Self-Defense Forces base on an uninhabited island in the city. Construction work started the same day on Mage Island about 990 kilometers southwest of Tokyo in the East China Sea for the base, to be used as a site for U.S. fighter jet drills, relocated from Iwoto Island in the Pacific.

Japan begins construction of new SDF base for U.S. fighter jet drills

Japan begins construction of new SDF base for U.S. fighter jet drills

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Jan. 12, 2023, shows Mage Island in Nishinoomote, Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan. Construction work started the same day on the uninhabited island about 990 kilometers southwest of Tokyo in the East China Sea for a Japan Self-Defense Forces base, to be used as a site for U.S. fighter jet drills, relocated from Iwoto Island in the Pacific.

Japan begins construction of new SDF base for U.S. fighter jet drills

Japan begins construction of new SDF base for U.S. fighter jet drills

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Jan. 12, 2023, shows Mage Island in Nishinoomote, Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan. Construction work started the same day on the uninhabited island about 990 kilometers southwest of Tokyo in the East China Sea for a Japan Self-Defense Forces base, to be used as a site for U.S. fighter jet drills, relocated from Iwoto Island in the Pacific.

Japan begins construction of new SDF base for U.S. fighter jet drills

Japan begins construction of new SDF base for U.S. fighter jet drills

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Jan. 12, 2023, shows Mage Island in Nishinoomote, Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan. Construction work started the same day on the uninhabited island about 990 kilometers southwest of Tokyo in the East China Sea for a Japan Self-Defense Forces base, to be used as a site for U.S. fighter jet drills, relocated from Iwoto Island in the Pacific.

Japan begins construction of new SDF base for U.S. fighter jet drills

Japan begins construction of new SDF base for U.S. fighter jet drills

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Jan. 12, 2023, shows Mage Island in Nishinoomote, Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan. Construction work started the same day on the uninhabited island about 990 kilometers southwest of Tokyo in the East China Sea for a Japan Self-Defense Forces base, to be used as a site for U.S. fighter jet drills, relocated from Iwoto Island in the Pacific.

Japan begins construction of new SDF base for U.S. fighter jet drills

Japan begins construction of new SDF base for U.S. fighter jet drills

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Jan. 12, 2023, shows Mage Island in Nishinoomote, Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan. Construction work started the same day on the uninhabited island about 990 kilometers southwest of Tokyo in the East China Sea for a Japan Self-Defense Forces base, to be used as a site for U.S. fighter jet drills, relocated from Iwoto Island in the Pacific.

Expressway pileup in Nara Pref.

Expressway pileup in Nara Pref.

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Jan. 12, 2023, shows the site of a pileup involving about 20 vehicles that occurred earlier in the day at an intersection near the Keinawa Expressway in Kashihara in Nara Prefecture, western Japan. Fifteen people sustained minor injuries and were taken to hospitals.

Multiple-vehicle accident in Nara Pref.

Multiple-vehicle accident in Nara Pref.

Photo taken from Kyodo News helicopter on Jan. 12, 2023, shows the site of an accident involving about 20 vehicles that occurred earlier in the day at an intersection near the Keinawa Expressway in Kashihara, Nara Prefecture, in western Japan. Fifteen people sustained minor injuries and were taken to hospitals.

Multiple-vehicle accident in Nara Pref.

Multiple-vehicle accident in Nara Pref.

Photo taken from Kyodo News helicopter on Jan. 12, 2023, shows the site of an accident involving about 20 vehicles that occurred earlier in the day at an intersection near the Keinawa Expressway in Kashihara, Nara Prefecture, in western Japan.

Multiple-vehicle accident in Nara Pref.

Multiple-vehicle accident in Nara Pref.

Photo taken from Kyodo News helicopter on Jan. 12, 2023, shows the site of an accident involving about 20 vehicles that occurred earlier in the day at an intersection near the Keinawa Expressway in Kashihara, Nara Prefecture, in western Japan. Fifteen people sustained minor injuries and were taken to hospitals.

Multiple-vehicle accident in Nara Pref.

Multiple-vehicle accident in Nara Pref.

Photo taken from Kyodo News helicopter on Jan. 12, 2023, shows the site of an accident involving about 20 vehicles that occurred earlier in the day at an intersection near the Keinawa Expressway in Kashihara, Nara Prefecture, in western Japan. Fifteen people sustained minor injuries and were taken to hospitals.

New adults form '2020' with 2020 days to go before Olympics

New adults form '2020' with 2020 days to go before Olympics

TOKYO, Japan - About 500 new 20-year-olds create the number "2020" at a square in front of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building during a coming-of-age ceremony on Jan. 12, 2015, which marked 2,020 days to go before the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020.

Rooftop of Kyoto temple's Amitabha hall renovated

Rooftop of Kyoto temple's Amitabha hall renovated

KYOTO, Japan - The renovated rooftop of the Amitabha hall of Higashi Honganji Buddhist temple in Kyoto, western Japan, is shown to the press on Sept. 12, 2014, after the fixing of some 108,000 clay tiles to the roof with stainless nails to reduce the total weight by about 400 tons.

Int'l Tokyo Toy Show opens with some 35,000 toys

Int'l Tokyo Toy Show opens with some 35,000 toys

TOKYO, Japan - The International Tokyo Toy Show opens on June 12, 2014, under the sponsorship of the Japan Toy Association at Tokyo Big Sight in the Japanese capital with about 35,000 different toys exhibited.

Gold soccer ball

Gold soccer ball

TOKYO, Japan - A soccer ball made of gold is displayed at the Takashimaya department store chain's Nihombashi branch in Tokyo on June 12, 2014. Takashimaya Co. put it on sale for about 42.88 million yen (about $420,000) the same day, hoping to attract more customers as the World Cup kicks off later in the day in Brazil.

Int'l Tokyo Toy Show opens with some 35,000 toys

Int'l Tokyo Toy Show opens with some 35,000 toys

TOKYO, Japan - The International Tokyo Toy Show opens on June 12, 2014, at Tokyo Big Sight in the Japanese capital with about 35,000 different toys exhibited.

Gold soccer ball

Gold soccer ball

TOKYO, Japan - A soccer ball made of gold is displayed at the Takashimaya department store chain's Nihombashi branch in Tokyo on June 12, 2014. Takashimaya Co. put it on sale for about 42.88 million yen (about $420,000) the same day, hoping to attract more customers as the World Cup kicks off later in the day in Brazil.

PM Abe holds cherry blossom viewing

PM Abe holds cherry blossom viewing

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Prime Minister Shizo Abe (R in front) poses with guests invited to a cherry blossom-viewing party at Shinjyuku Gyoen National Garden in Tokyo on April 12, 2014. About 10,000 people from the political, business, sports and entertainment worlds were invited to the party hosted by the prime minister.

New rice variety developed in central Japan

New rice variety developed in central Japan

NAGOYA, Japan - The Aichi prefectural government shows a new rice variety it has developed in Nagoya, central Japan, on March 12, 2014. Officials say the variety dubbed "Aichi No. 123," which took about 10 years to develop, can withstand extreme heat.

Mobile bridge for disaster

Mobile bridge for disaster

SHIZUOKA, Japan - The "Mobile Bridge," a transportable bridge that extends like a pair of lazy tongs and can be installed over a river as wide as 17 meters in about 10 minutes, is unveiled in an experiment in Fuji, Shizuoka Prefecture on Sept. 12, 2013. The bridge was developed by engineers from Hiroshima University and a group of businesses, conceived with the aim of providing a quick fix to restore transportation infrastructure in the event of a disaster.

Mobile bridge for disaster

Mobile bridge for disaster

SHIZUOKA, Japan - The "Mobile Bridge," a transportable bridge that extends like a pair of lazy tongs and can be installed over a river as wide as 17 meters in about 10 minutes, is unveiled in an experiment in Fuji, Shizuoka Prefecture on Sept. 12, 2013. The bridge was developed by engineers from Hiroshima University and a group of businesses, conceived with the aim of providing a quick fix to restore transportation infrastructure in the event of a disaster.

Mobile bridge for disaster

Mobile bridge for disaster

SHIZUOKA, Japan - Combination photos (from top to bottom) shows an experiment of the "Mobile Bridge," a transportable bridge that extends like a pair of lazy tongs and can be installed over a river as wide as 17 meters in about 10 minutes, unveiled in Fuji, Shizuoka Prefecture on Sept. 12, 2013. The bridge was developed by engineers from Hiroshima University and a group of businesses, conceived with the aim of providing a quick fix to restore transportation infrastructure in the event of a disaster.

2 and a half years after quake

2 and a half years after quake

SENDAI, Japan - Combination photos from a Kyodo News helicopter show the Yoshida area of Watari town, Miyagi Prefecture, on March 12, 2011 (L), a day after the March 11, 2011, Great East Japan Earthquake, and about two and a half years later on Sept. 1, 2013 (R), complete with a greenhouse complex to grow strawberries.

2 and a half years after quake

2 and a half years after quake

SENDAI, Japan - Combination photos from a Kyodo News helicopter show the Arahama area of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, on March 12, 2011 (top), the day of the Great East Japan Earthquake, and about two and a half years later on Sept. 1, 2013 (bottom).

2 and a half years after quake

2 and a half years after quake

SENDAI, Japan - Combination photos taken from a Kyodo News helicopter show the Shishiori area in the city of Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, on March 12, 2011 (L), the day after the March 11, 2011, Great East Japan Earthquake, and about two and a half years later on Sept. 1, 2013 (R). Work began Sept. 9, 2013, to dismantle the fishing vessel Kyotoku Maru No. 18 (front in both) that was washed ashore by the tsunami and has remained stranded.

Inter-Korean industrial zone

Inter-Korean industrial zone

PAJU, South Korea - Vehicles are pictured at the inter-Korean transit office in Paju, South Korea, on July 12, 2013, carrying finished products and raw materials retrieved from the facilities of South Korean companies operating in a joint industrial zone in the North's border town of Kaesong. The products and materials had been stuck in the zone for about three months.

Inter-Korean industrial zone

Inter-Korean industrial zone

PAJU, South Korea - Vehicles are pictured at the inter-Korean transit office in Paju, South Korea, on July 12, 2013, carrying finished products and raw materials retrieved from the facilities of South Korean companies operating in a joint industrial zone in the North's border town of Kaesong. The products and materials had been stuck in the zone for about three months.

Sports university students visit N. Korea

Sports university students visit N. Korea

BEIJING, China - Nippon Sport Science University board director Kenshiro Matsunami (C front) and about 40 students leave Beijing airport for Pyongyang on Nov. 12, 2012, for sports exchanges with North Korea.