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Crown prince visits flower exhibition in Tokyo

Crown prince visits flower exhibition in Tokyo

Japanese Crown Prince Fumihito(C), Crown Princess Kiko (2nd from L) and their daughter Princess Kako visit a flower exhibition in Tokyo on Jan. 30, 2026. (pool photo)

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Crown prince visits flower exhibition in Tokyo

Crown prince visits flower exhibition in Tokyo

Japanese Crown Prince Fumihito, Crown Princess Kiko (C) and their daughter Princess Kako visit a flower exhibition in Tokyo on Jan. 30, 2026. (pool photo)

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Crown prince visits flower exhibition in Tokyo

Crown prince visits flower exhibition in Tokyo

Japanese Crown Prince Fumihito, Crown Princess Kiko (C) and their daughter Princess Kako visit a flower exhibition in Tokyo on Jan. 30, 2026. (pool photo)

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China: Soap Bubbles Freeze Instantly in Minus 27°C Cold

On January 21, 2026, in Jilin, northeastern China, a video showed extremely cold outdoor conditions with temperatures reaching minus 27 degrees Celsius. A young boy was seen blowing soap bubbles into the air. As the bubbles floated and landed on a nearby table, they quickly froze into crystal-like bubbles. Their surfaces reflected colorful light, creating a sparkling appearance. When the frozen bubbles eventually broke, they turned into soft white fragments instead of liquid. The unusual effect could only be observed under severe winter conditions.

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China: Car Wash Gone Wrong as Extreme Cold Coats Vehicle in Ice

On January 19, 2026, in Shenyang, Liaoning, a video showed a man attempting to wash his car in temperatures near −30°C, only for the water to freeze instantly. Ice quickly coated the vehicle’s body, windows, and mirrors, turning it into what viewers called a “frozen candy car.” The video ended with the car fully covered in ice, as the owner laughed at the irony that the wash had made it even messier once it thawed.

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Kumamoto Mayor Onishi in Washington

Kumamoto Mayor Onishi in Washington

Kumamoto Mayor Kazufumi Onishi (front, C), speaks at the U.S. Conference of Mayors 2026 in Washington on Jan. 28, 2026.

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Campaigning for general election in Japan

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Centrist Reform Alliance co-leader Yoshihiko Noda (C) waves his hand in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning began across Japan the same day for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

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China: Soap Bubbles Freeze Within Seconds in Extreme Cold

A Chinese blogger captured soap bubbles freezing almost instantly in minus 15°C temperatures on December 26, 2025, in Mohe, Heilongjiang.

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Japanese political parties' leaders

Japanese political parties' leaders

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C), who heads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, attends a debate with leaders of other political parties at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Jan. 26, 2026. Participants of the debate session set prior to a general election on Feb. 8 are (from L) Japanese Communist Party leader Tomoko Tamura, Democratic Party for the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki, Centrist Reform Alliance co-leader Yoshihiko Noda, (from 5th from L) Japan Innovation Party co-leader Fumitake Fujita, Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya and Reiwa Shinsengumi co-leader Akiko Oishi.

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Japanese political parties' leaders

Japanese political parties' leaders

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C), who heads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, poses with leaders of other political parties before a debate session at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Jan. 26, 2026. Participants of the debate session set prior to a general election on Feb. 8 are (from L) Japanese Communist Party leader Tomoko Tamura, Democratic Party for the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki, Centrist Reform Alliance co-leader Yoshihiko Noda, (from 5th from L) Japan Innovation Party co-leader Fumitake Fujita, Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya and Reiwa Shinsengumi co-leader Akiko Oishi.

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Japanese political parties' leaders

Japanese political parties' leaders

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C), who heads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, poses with leaders of other political parties before a debate session at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Jan. 26, 2026. Participants of the debate session set prior to a general election on Feb. 8 are (from L) Japanese Communist Party leader Tomoko Tamura, Democratic Party for the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki, Centrist Reform Alliance co-leader Yoshihiko Noda, (from 5th from L) Japan Innovation Party co-leader Fumitake Fujita, Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya and Reiwa Shinsengumi co-leader Akiko Oishi.

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Japanese political parties' leaders

Japanese political parties' leaders

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C), who heads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, poses with leaders of other political parties before a debate session at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Jan. 26, 2026. Participants of the debate session set prior to a general election on Feb. 8 are (from L) Japanese Communist Party leader Tomoko Tamura, Democratic Party for the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki, Centrist Reform Alliance co-leader Yoshihiko Noda, (from 5th from L) Japan Innovation Party co-leader Fumitake Fujita, Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya and Reiwa Shinsengumi co-leader Akiko Oishi.

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Japanese political parties' leaders

Japanese political parties' leaders

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C), who heads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, poses with leaders of other political parties before a debate session at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Jan. 26, 2026. Participants of the debate session set prior to a general election on Feb. 8 are (from L) Japanese Communist Party leader Tomoko Tamura, Democratic Party for the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki, Centrist Reform Alliance co-leader Yoshihiko Noda, (from 5th from L) Japan Innovation Party co-leader Fumitake Fujita, Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya and Reiwa Shinsengumi co-leader Akiko Oishi.

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New Year Grand Sumo Tournament

New Year Grand Sumo Tournament

Ozeki Aonishiki (C) celebrates after winning the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan arena for the second consecutive Emperor's Cup title on Jan. 25, 2026. (Pool photo)

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New Year Grand Sumo Tournament

New Year Grand Sumo Tournament

Ozeki Aonishiki (C) celebrates after winning the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo for the second consecutive Emperor's Cup title on Jan. 25, 2026.

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New Year Grand Sumo Tournament

New Year Grand Sumo Tournament

Ozeki Aonishiki (C) celebrates after winning the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo for the second consecutive Emperor's Cup title on Jan. 25, 2026.

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New Year Grand Sumo Tournament

New Year Grand Sumo Tournament

Ozeki Aonishiki (C) celebrates after winning the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo for the second consecutive Emperor's Cup title on Jan. 25, 2026.

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Figure skating: Four Continents championships

Figure skating: Four Continents championships

Kao Miura (C) of Japan poses after winning the men's category gold at the Four Continents figure skating championships in Beijing on Jan. 25, 2026, alongside silver medalist Cha Jun Hwan (L) of South Korea and bronze medalist Sota Yamamoto (R) of Japan.

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Ski jumping: World Cup in Sapporo

Ski jumping: World Cup in Sapporo

Nika Prevc (C) of Slovenia poses after winning the World Cup women's ski jumping gold at Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium in Sapporo, northern Japan, on Jan. 25, 2026, alongside silver medalist Abigail Strate (L) of Canada and bronze medalist Heidi Dyhre Traaserud of Norway.

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Snowboarding: X Games

Snowboarding: X Games

Sara Shimizu (C) of Japan poses after winning the women's snowboard halfpipe gold at the X Games in Aspen, Colorado, on Jan. 23, 2026, alongside silver medalist Rise Kudo (L) of Japan and bronze medalist Queralt Castellet of Spain.

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Snowboarding: X Games

Snowboarding: X Games

Sara Shimizu (C) of Japan poses after winning the women's snowboard halfpipe gold at the X Games in Aspen, Colorado, on Jan. 23, 2026, alongside silver medalist Rise Kudo (L) of Japan and bronze medalist Queralt Castellet of Spain.

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Ski jumping: World Cup in Sapporo

Ski jumping: World Cup in Sapporo

Nika Prevc (C) of Slovenia poses after winning the World Cup women's ski jumping gold at Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium in Sapporo, northern Japan, on Jan. 24, 2026, alongside silver medalist Abigail Strate (L) of Canada and bronze medalist Anna Odine Stroem of Norway.

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General election in Japan

General election in Japan

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) speaks during a debate with other leaders of Japan's political parties, sponsored by video-sharing service Niconico, in Tokyo on Jan. 24, 2026, ahead of a general election on Feb. 8. (Pool photo)

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Football: German Bundesliga

Football: German Bundesliga

Bayern Munich's Hiroki Ito (C) is congratulated by teammates after scoring with a header in the first half of a German Bundesliga football match against Augsburg in Munich on Jan. 24, 2026.

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Figure skating: Four Continents championships

Figure skating: Four Continents championships

Yuna Aoki (C) of Japan jumps after winning the women's category gold at the Four Continents figure skating championships in Beijing on Jan. 23, 2026, alongside silver medalist Ami Nakai (L) and bronze medalist Mone Chiba, both of Japan.

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Figure skating: Four Continents championships

Figure skating: Four Continents championships

Yuna Aoki (C) of Japan poses after winning the women's category gold at the Four Continents figure skating championships in Beijing on Jan. 23, 2026, alongside silver medalist Ami Nakai (L) and bronze medalist Mone Chiba, both of Japan.

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Figure skating: Four Continents championships

Figure skating: Four Continents championships

Yuna Aoki (C) of Japan poses after winning the women's category gold at the Four Continents figure skating championships in Beijing on Jan. 23, 2026, alongside silver medalist Ami Nakai (L) and bronze medalist Mone Chiba, both of Japan.

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Figure skating: Four Continents championships

Figure skating: Four Continents championships

Yuna Aoki (C) of Japan poses after winning the women's category gold at the Four Continents figure skating championships in Beijing on Jan. 23, 2026, alongside silver medalist Ami Nakai (L) and bronze medalist Mone Chiba, both of Japan.

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Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) and other lawmakers from her Liberal Democratic Party raise their fists in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after she dissolved the House of Representatives earlier in the day for a snap general election on Feb. 8.

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Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) and other lawmakers from her Liberal Democratic Party raise their fists in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after she dissolved the House of Representatives earlier in the day for a snap general election on Feb. 8.

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Imperial police officers' New Year parade

Imperial police officers' New Year parade

Japanese Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako (C) and their daughter Princess Aiko arrive at the venue of a New Year parade by Imperial Guard Headquarters officers at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Centrist Reform Alliance co-leader Saito

Centrist Reform Alliance co-leader Saito

Centrist Reform Alliance co-leader Tetsuo Saito (back, C) raises his fist during a pep rally for alliance members in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved the House of Representatives earlier in the day for a snap general election on Feb. 8.

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Northern Japan chapel made of ice

SHIMUKAPPU, Japan, Jan. 21 Kyodo - Video taken on Jan. 20, 2026, in Shimukappu, a northern Japan village where winter temperatures can fall as low as minus 30 C, shows a chapel where the ceiling, walls, altar and cross are made of ice. (Kyodo)

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Japan's lower house dissolved for snap election

Japan's lower house dissolved for snap election

Yoshihiko Noda (R) and Tetsuo Saito (C), co-leaders of the Centrist Reform Alliance, are pictured in parliament ahead of a House of Representatives plenary session in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved the lower house during the session for a snap election on Feb. 8.

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Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power complex

Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power complex

File photo taken on Nov. 7, 2025, shows the No. 6 reactor building (C) at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power complex in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.

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Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) bows in parliament in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after the House of Representatives was dissolved for a snap election on Feb. 8.

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Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) bows in parliament in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after the House of Representatives was dissolved for a snap election on Feb. 8.

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BOJ policy-setting meeting

BOJ policy-setting meeting

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda (C) attends the second day of the central bank's two-day policy-setting meeting at the BOJ's headquarters in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026.

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Japan PM Takaichi at Cabinet meeting

Japan PM Takaichi at Cabinet meeting

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) is pictured ahead of a Cabinet meeting at her office in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026.

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Japan PM Takaichi at Cabinet meeting

Japan PM Takaichi at Cabinet meeting

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) is pictured ahead of a Cabinet meeting at her office in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026.

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Japan PM Takaichi at Cabinet meeting

Japan PM Takaichi at Cabinet meeting

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) is pictured ahead of a Cabinet meeting at her office in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026.

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Japan PM Takaichi at Cabinet meeting

Japan PM Takaichi at Cabinet meeting

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) is pictured ahead of a Cabinet meeting at her office in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026.

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Japan PM Takaichi at Cabinet meeting

Japan PM Takaichi at Cabinet meeting

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) is pictured ahead of a Cabinet meeting at her office in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026.

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Japan PM Takaichi

Japan PM Takaichi

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) arrives at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026.

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BOJ policy-setting meeting

BOJ policy-setting meeting

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda (C) attends the second day of the central bank's two-day policy-setting meeting at the BOJ's headquarters in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026.

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Kadokawa's ex-chairman found guilty over Olympics bribery

Kadokawa's ex-chairman found guilty over Olympics bribery

Former Kadokawa Corp. Chairman Tsuguhiko Kadokawa (C) speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on Jan. 22, 2026, after the Tokyo District Court sentenced him to a suspended prison term for bribing a Tokyo Olympic organizing committee executive to ensure the major publisher's selection as a sponsor of the 2021 Games.

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Inauguration of Japan's new centrist opposition party

Inauguration of Japan's new centrist opposition party

Yoshihiko Noda (C, L) and Tetsuo Saito (C, R), co-leaders of Japan's new centrist opposition party, the Centrist Reform Alliance, raise their fists during the party's inaugural convention in Tokyo on Jan. 22, 2026. Over 160 lawmakers have joined the party formed following a deal between the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Komeito party ahead of a general election set for Feb. 8.

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Honda to return to F1

Honda to return to F1

Honda Motor Co. President Toshihiro Mibe (2nd from R) attends a press conference in Tokyo on Jan. 20, 2026, jointly with Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali (C) and Aston Martin Executive Chairman Lawrence Stroll (2nd from L). Mibe said Honda will return to Formula One racing in the 2026 season from March as a power unit supplier to British sports car manufacturer Aston Martin.

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Ski jumping: World Cup in Yamagata

Ski jumping: World Cup in Yamagata

Nozomi Maruyama (C) of Japan poses after winning the World Cup women's ski jumping gold at AlionTek Zao Schanze in Yamagata, northeastern Japan, on Jan. 20, 2026, alongside silver medalist Lisa Eder (L) of Austria and bronze medalist Selina Freitag of Germany.

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Northern Japan hotel made of ice

Northern Japan hotel made of ice

Photo taken on Jan. 20, 2026, in Shimukappu, a northern Japan village where winter temperatures can fall as low as minus 30 C, shows the interior of a dome-shaped hotel where the ceiling, walls and furnishings, including beds and tables, are made of ice.

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