[Breaking News]U.S.-produced crude oil arrives in Japan

TOKYO, Japan, April 27 Kyodo - Video taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows a tanker carrying U.S.-produced crude oil arriving in Tokyo Bay on April 26, 2026, marking the first shipment from the United States since the start of the Iran war in late February. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]Wildfires in northeastern Japan

OTSUCHI, Japan, April 24 Kyodo - Smoke blankets mountainous areas of Otsuchi in Iwate Prefecture on April 24, 2026, as wildfires continue following its outbreak at two locations in the northeastern Japan town two days before. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]Parade by Olympic, Paralympic athletes

TOKYO, Japan, April 27 Kyodo - Pairs figure skater Ryuichi Kihara lifts his partner Riku Miura during a parade in Tokyo's Nihombashi area on April 25, 2026, of Japanese athletes who competed in the Milan Cortina Olympics and Paralympics. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]Lawmakers at Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine

TOKYO, Japan, April 22 Kyodo - A cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers visits the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on the occasion of its three-day spring festival on April 22, 2026. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]Robot marathon in Beijing

BEIJING, China, April 19 Kyodo - A humanoid robot takes part in a half marathon for robots in Beijing on April 19, 2026. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]Joint exercises between Philippines and U.S.

MANILA, Philippines, April 20 Kyodo - The Philippines and the United States hold the opening ceremony of their Balikatan joint military exercises at Camp Aguinaldo in Manila on April 20, 2026. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]Accident at Tokyo amusement park

TOKYO, Japan, April 22 Kyodo - Police investigators head for an on-site probe of the Flying Balloon at Tokyo Dome City Attractions in Tokyo on April 22, 2026, a day after a fatal accident. A worker died after being trapped in the Flying Balloon following a fall during an inspection of the attraction, which seats 12 people and spins around while rising to a height of 10 meters. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]Milan Cortina Olympics: Figure skating

MILAN, Italy, Feb. 17 Kyodo - Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan attend a press conference in Milan on Feb. 17, 2026, after winning the pairs figure skating gold at the Milan Cortina Olympics the previous day. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]Ex-Osaka expo site

OSAKA, Japan, April 13 Kyodo - Video taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on April 7, 2026, shows the 2025 World Exposition's iconic Grand Ring wooden roof structure being dismantled on an artificial island in Osaka. (Kyodo)

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

A wildfire burns into the night on April 23, 2026, in Otsuchi in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, after breaking out the previous day. Wildfires started in two locations in the town, with containment still not in sight.

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

A wildfire burns into the night on April 23, 2026, in Otsuchi in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, after breaking out the previous day. Wildfires started in two locations in the town, with containment still not in sight.

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

A wildfire burns into the night on April 23, 2026, in Otsuchi in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, after breaking out the previous day. Wildfires started in two locations in the town, with containment still not in sight.

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

A wildfire burns into the night on April 23, 2026, in Otsuchi in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, after breaking out the previous day. Wildfires started in two locations in the town, with containment still not in sight.

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

A wildfire burns into the night on April 23, 2026, in Otsuchi in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, after breaking out the previous day. Wildfires started in two locations in the town, with containment still not in sight.

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

A wildfire burns into the night on April 23, 2026, in Otsuchi in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, after breaking out the previous day. Wildfires started in two locations in the town, with containment still not in sight.

China: Vendor Struggles to Hold Snack Cart During Strong Winds in Chengdu

On April 19, 2026, in Chengdu, located in southwestern China’s Sichuan province, a video recorded severe wind caused by strong convective weather. On a city street, a snack vendor selling corn nearly lost control of his food cart as powerful gusts pushed it sideways. The man rushed to grab the cart and hold it in place. Another person quickly came over to help, and together they managed to keep the cart from being blown away completely. Even so, the wind still caused damage nearby. A chair was blown over, and another stall was knocked down, with one of the table legs breaking in the process. The whole scene looked chaotic as the gusts continued moving through the area.

Baseball: Jackie Robinson Day

Baseball: Jackie Robinson Day

Los Angeles Dodgers players pose for a photo during a ceremony in front of a Jackie Robinson statue outside Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on April 15, 2026, wearing his No. 42 to pay tribute to the first black major league player prior to a game against the New York Mets. Robinson made his major league debut on April 15, 1947, breaking the baseball color barrier.

Baseball: Jackie Robinson Day

Baseball: Jackie Robinson Day

Los Angeles Dodgers players pose for a photo during a ceremony in front of a Jackie Robinson statue outside Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on April 15, 2026, wearing his No. 42 to pay tribute to the first black major league player prior to a game against the New York Mets. Robinson made his major league debut on April 15, 1947, breaking the baseball color barrier.

Baseball: Jackie Robinson Day

Baseball: Jackie Robinson Day

Los Angeles Dodgers players attend a ceremony in front of a Jackie Robinson statue outside Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on April 15, 2026, wearing his No. 42 to pay tribute to the first black major league player prior to a game against the New York Mets. Robinson made his major league debut on April 15, 1947, breaking the baseball color barrier.

Baseball: Jackie Robinson Day

Baseball: Jackie Robinson Day

Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers Roki Sasaki (2nd from R), Yoshinobu Yamamoto (3rd from R) and teammates attend a ceremony in front of a Jackie Robinson statue outside Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on April 15, 2026, wearing his No. 42 to pay tribute to the first black major league player prior to a game against the New York Mets. Robinson made his major league debut on April 15, 1947, breaking the baseball color barrier.

Baseball: Jackie Robinson Day

Baseball: Jackie Robinson Day

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (front) speaks at a ceremony in front of a Jackie Robinson statue outside Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on April 15, 2026, to pay tribute to the first black major league player prior to a game against the New York Mets. Robinson made his major league debut on April 15, 1947, breaking the baseball color barrier.

[Breaking News]20th birthday of popular mascot Hikonyan

HIKONE, Japan, April 13 Kyodo - Hikonyan, the popular samurai helmet-wearing cat mascot of Hikone in Shiga Prefecture, appears at a special event marking its 20th birthday in the western Japan city of Hikone on April 13, 2026. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]Miura-Kihara pair performs at Mao Rink for new employees

TOKYO, Japan, April 13 Kyodo - Milan Cortina Olympics pairs figure skating gold medalists Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara meet the press after performing during Kinoshita Group's ceremony for new employees at Mao Rink -- opened by Vancouver Olympic silver medalist Mao Asada -- in Tachikawa, western Tokyo, on April 13, 2026. The pair belongs to the Tokyo company. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]Carp streamers in Hokkaido

SAPPORO, Japan, April 10 Kyodo - Carp streamers flutter in the wind over Jozankei hot spring resort in Sapporo in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on April 10, 2026, ahead of Children's Day on May 5. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]Rite at Ise Jingu shrine in Mie Pref.

ISE, Japan, April 13 Kyodo - Citizens transport a tree on the Isuzu River in Ise, Mie Prefecture, on April 12, 2026, as part of rites for the "Shikinen Sengu" Ise Jingu shrine building reconstruction every 20 years at the Shinto shrine in the central Japan city. Over 30 rites are planned for the 63rd "Shikinen Sengu," with a history of about 1,300 years. It culminates in 2033 when an object believed to contain the spirit of the shrine's deity will be transferred to the shrine's newly reconstructed main hall. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]Astronaut Yui meets press

TOKYO, Japan, April 9 Kyodo - Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui poses for a photo at the end of a press conference in Tokyo on April 9, 2026, held after returning to Earth in January following a five-month mission at the International Space Station. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]Ancient cherry tree in Japan

MIHARU, Japan, April 9 Kyodo - A full-bloomed cherry tree estimated to be over 1,000 years is illuminated in Miharu in Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on April 8, 2026. With its flowers spreading in all directions from the branches, the government-protected tree is known as the "waterfall cherry tree of Miharu." (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]Demolition site in Kawasaki

KAWASAKI, Japan, April 8 Kyodo - Video taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on April 7, 2026, shows a demolition site at a complex belonging to JFE Steel Corp. in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, near Tokyo, after 40-meter-high scaffolding collapsed, causing five workers to fall from the structure. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]Football: Base camp for Japan World Cup squad

NASHVILLE, United States, April 3 Kyodo - Video taken in Nashville, Tennessee, on April 2, 2026, shows the training center to be used as the base camp for Japan squad members during the 2026 football World Cup finals, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, opening in June. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]Last Japan-bound crude oil tanker arrives in Tokyo Bay

TOKYO, Japan, April 3 Kyodo - Video taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows a crude oil tanker from the Middle East arriving in Tokyo Bay on April 3, 2026, after passing through the Strait of Hormuz on Feb. 26, two days before the U.S. and Israeli militaries started strikes on Iran. No Japan-bound tanker has been confirmed to have passed the strait since. (Kyodo)

Japan launches ticket system targeting rule-breaking cyclists

TOKYO, Japan, April 2 Kyodo - A cyclist is stopped by police officers in Tokyo on April 1, 2026, following the launch the same day of a "blue ticket" system that allows police to crack down on cycling violations, such as using smartphones while riding, amid an increase in bicycle accidents. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]New coronavirus

NARITA, Japan, April 10 Kyodo - Video taken on April 10, 2020, shows Narita airport near Tokyo. One of its runways will be closed for the time being from April 12, 2020, due to dwindling flights traced to the global coronavirus pandemic. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]Snowboard champ Fukada enters Toyota

TOYOTA, Japan, April 2 Kyodo - Milan Cortina Olympics snowboard champion Mari Fukada poses with her women's slopestyle gold medal after attending a Toyota Motor Corp. ceremony to welcome its new employees in Toyota in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on April 1, 2026. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]Football: Japan vs. England

TOKYO, Japan, March 31 Kyodo - Video taken on March 30, 2026, shows Wembley Stadium in London ahead of an international football friendly between Japan and England the next day. (Kyodo)

Japan launches ticket system targeting rule-breaking cyclists

Japan launches ticket system targeting rule-breaking cyclists

A cyclist is stopped by police officers in Tokyo on April 1, 2026, following the launch the same day of a "blue ticket" system that allows police to crack down on cycling violations, such as using smartphones while riding, amid an increase in bicycle accidents.

Japan launches ticket system targeting rule-breaking cyclists

Japan launches ticket system targeting rule-breaking cyclists

A cyclist is stopped by police officers in Tokyo on April 1, 2026, following the launch the same day of a "blue ticket" system that allows police to crack down on cycling violations, such as using smartphones while riding, amid an increase in bicycle accidents.

Japan launches ticket system targeting rule-breaking cyclists

Japan launches ticket system targeting rule-breaking cyclists

A cyclist is stopped by police officers in Tokyo on April 1, 2026, following the launch the same day of a "blue ticket" system that allows police to crack down on cycling violations, such as using smartphones while riding, amid an increase in bicycle accidents.

Japan launches ticket system targeting rule-breaking cyclists

Japan launches ticket system targeting rule-breaking cyclists

A cyclist is stopped by police officers in Tokyo on April 1, 2026, following the launch the same day of a "blue ticket" system that allows police to crack down on cycling violations, such as using smartphones while riding, amid an increase in bicycle accidents.

[Breaking News]150-meter-tall fountain completed in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan, March 29 Kyodo - Video taken on March 28, 2026, shows Tokyo Aqua Symphony, one of the world's largest fountains, at Odaiba Marine Park in Tokyo. The opening ceremony for the 150-meter-tall, 250-meter-wide fountain was held the same day, with Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike in attendance. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]Japanese Trade Union Confederation President Yoshino

TOKYO, Japan, March 24 Kyodo - Japanese Trade Union Confederation President Tomoko Yoshino speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on March 23, 2026. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]Wildfire in Gunma Pref.

UENO, Japan, March 23 Kyodo - Video taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows a wildfire in Ueno in Gunma Prefecture, eastern Japan, on March 22, 2026. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]BOJ policy-setting meeting

TOKYO, Japan, March 19 Kyodo - Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda holds a press conference at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on March 19, 2026, following a two-day policy setting meeting. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]Annual wage negotiations in Japan

TOKYO, Japan, March 18 Kyodo - An official of the Japan Council of Metalworkers' Unions writes down responses from its member companies in wage negotiations in Tokyo on March 18, 2026, as many major Japanese companies including Toyota Motor Corp. fully meet their labor unions' pay hike demands. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]Cherry blossoms in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan, March 19 Kyodo - The Somei Yoshino cherry tree that the Japan Meteorological Agency uses as a benchmark tree to declare the official start of the spring cherry blossom season, comes into bloom at Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on March 19, 2026, five days earlier than the average year. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]Long-range missile launcher to be put into service in Japan

KUMAMOTO, Japan, March 17 Kyodo -Video taken on March 17, 2026, shows a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force long-range missile launcher at GSDF Camp Kengun in Kumamoto, southwestern Japan, unveiled to local politicians and the media. The Type 12 surface-to-ship missile, which can fly about 1,000 kilometers and is deemed to have counterattack capabilities, will be put into service at the camp on March 31, marking a turning point in Japan's exclusively defense-oriented postwar security policy. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]Milan Cortina Paralympics: Snowboard

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy, March 14 Kyodo - Para snowboarder Daichi Oguri of Japan poses during the medal ceremony after winning silver in the men's banked slalom at the Milan Cortina Paralympics at Cortina Para Snowboard Park in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, on March 13, 2026. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]China-N. Korea train service resumes operation

BEIJING, China, March 12 Kyodo - A passenger train bound for Pyongyang is pictured after departing Beijing Railway Station on March 12, 2026, marking the resumption of train services between China and North Korea following a six-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Kyodo)

US: Powerful Kona Storm Batters Hawaii With Record Rainfall and Hurricane-Force Winds

A powerful Kona Low battered Hawaii with heavy rain and hurricane-force winds, causing widespread flooding, landslides, road closures, and power outages. The storm brought record-breaking rainfall to the state from March 10–15, with Maui seeing up to 46 inches of precipitation. Residents described it as the worst storm they had ever seen, enduring roughly 72 hours without power, leaking roofs, and flooded streets. Oahu also recorded over 19 inches of rainfall in multiple locations.

US: Record Kona Storm Triggers Flooding and Power Outages in Hawaii

A slow-moving kona low brought record-breaking rainfall to Hawaii from March 10–15, with Maui seeing up to 46 inches of precipitation. Residents described it as the worst storm they had ever seen, enduring roughly 72 hours without power, leaking roofs, and flooded streets. Oahu also recorded over 19 inches of rainfall in multiple locations.

US: Winter Storm Buries Michigan With Record Snow 5

A powerful winter storm hit Michigan, bringing record-breaking snowfall of up to 35 inches and strong winds from Sunday, March 15 through Monday, March 16. Trees and power lines were covered in ice, more than 126,000 households were without power, and schools and businesses were forced to close.