Philippines: Mayon Volcano Eruption Spewing Ash Over Albay

Mayon Volcano in the Philippines erupted on Saturday, May 2, sending massive ashfall across villages in Albay province, affecting nearly 200,000 people, prompting thousands to evacuate.

(1)Yoshii, Kobayashi 1st-time winners at sprint c'ships

(1)Yoshii, Kobayashi 1st-time winners at sprint c'ships

CHINO, Japan - Up-and-coming 20-year-old Sayuri Yoshii waves at audiences after winning the first title of her speed skating career at the national sprint championships at Chino sports park skate center in Nagano Prefecture on Dec. 29.

(2) Yoshii, Kobayashi 1st-time winners at sprint c'ships

(2) Yoshii, Kobayashi 1st-time winners at sprint c'ships

CHINO, Japan - Masaaki Kobayashi skates in the men's 1,000-meter race at the national sprint championships at Chino sports park skate center in Nagano Prefecture on Dec. 29. He won the overall title at the meet for the first time after finishing fourth in the second leg of the 500 and third in the 1,000. He earned 144.180 points for victory.

Okazaki takes overall lead at nat'l sprint c'ships

Okazaki takes overall lead at nat'l sprint c'ships

CHINO, Japan - Speed skater Tomomi Okazaki places first in the women's 500 meters to post the best total score on the opening day of the national sprint championships at Chino sports park skate center on Dec. 28.

Shimizu wins 500 at nat'l sprint c'ships

Shimizu wins 500 at nat'l sprint c'ships

CHINO, Japan - Speed skater Hiroyasu Shimizu wins the 500 in a rink-record 35.42 at the national sprint championships at Chino sports park skate center on Dec. 28.

Ice climbing emerging as a hot trend among young women

Ice climbing emerging as a hot trend among young women

NAGANO, Japan - Photo taken in March 2014 shows people ice climbing at an artificial ice wall of the Akadake Kosen mineral spring area in Chino, Nagano Prefecture.

Ice climbing emerging as a hot trend among young women

Ice climbing emerging as a hot trend among young women

NAGANO, Japan - Photo taken in March 2014 shows people ice climbing at an artificial ice wall of the Akadake Kosen mineral spring area in Chino, Nagano Prefecture.

Heavy snow in Japan

Heavy snow in Japan

NAGOYA, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Feb. 17, 2014, shows trucks stranded due to heavy snow on a national road in the city of Chino, Nagano Prefecture.

Japan's Kuroda elected ADB president

Japan's Kuroda elected ADB president

MANILA, Philippines - Haruhiko Kuroda (in an undated file photo), Japan's former vice minister of finance for international affairs, has been elected president of the Asian Development Bank by the ADB's Board of Governors, the bank announced on Nov. 18. Kuroda, 60, will start his term Feb. 1, succeeding Tadao Chino, who announced his resignation in August.

ADB head urges Japan to spearhead Asia economic integration

ADB head urges Japan to spearhead Asia economic integration

MANILA, Philippines - Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Tadao Chino speaks in an interview with Kyodo News in Manila on Dec. 18. Chino said Japan should lead the way in pressing ahead with economic integration in Asia.

Japanese snowboarder Nakamura

Japanese snowboarder Nakamura

Japanese snowboarder Yuka Nakamura poses after training in the Nagano Prefecture city of Chino, central Japan, on Jan. 22, 2022. She will compete in the women's cross at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

Japanese snowboarder Nakamura

Japanese snowboarder Nakamura

Japanese snowboarder Yuka Nakamura practices in the Nagano Prefecture city of Chino, central Japan, on Jan. 22, 2022. She will compete in the women's cross at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

Japanese snowboarder Takahara

Japanese snowboarder Takahara

Japanese snowboarder Yoshiki Takahara practices in the Nagano Prefecture city of Chino, central Japan, on Jan. 22, 2022. He will compete in the men's cross at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

Japanese snowboarder Takahara

Japanese snowboarder Takahara

Japanese snowboarder Yoshiki Takahara meets the press after training in the Nagano Prefecture city of Chino, central Japan, on Jan. 22, 2022. He will compete in the men's cross at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

Okazaki takes overall lead at nat'l sprint c'ships

Okazaki takes overall lead at nat'l sprint c'ships

CHINO, Japan - Speed skater Tomomi Okazaki places first in the women's 500 meters to post the best total score on the opening day of the national sprint championships at Chino sports park skate center on Dec. 28. (Kyodo)

(1)Yoshii, Kobayashi 1st-time winners at sprint c'ships

(1)Yoshii, Kobayashi 1st-time winners at sprint c'ships

CHINO, Japan - Up-and-coming 20-year-old Sayuri Yoshii waves at audiences after winning the first title of her speed skating career at the national sprint championships at Chino sports park skate center in Nagano Prefecture on Dec. 29. (Kyodo)

(2) Yoshii, Kobayashi 1st-time winners at sprint c'ships

(2) Yoshii, Kobayashi 1st-time winners at sprint c'ships

CHINO, Japan - Masaaki Kobayashi skates in the men's 1,000-meter race at the national sprint championships at Chino sports park skate center in Nagano Prefecture on Dec. 29. He won the overall title at the meet for the first time after finishing fourth in the second leg of the 500 and third in the 1,000. He earned 144.180 points for victory. (Kyodo)

Former Asian Development Bank chief Chino dies at 74

Former Asian Development Bank chief Chino dies at 74

TOKYO, Japan - Former Asian Development Bank President Tadao Chino (file photo) died of liver failure on July 17, his family said. He was 74.

ADB head urges Japan to spearhead Asia economic integration

ADB head urges Japan to spearhead Asia economic integration

MANILA, Philippines - Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Tadao Chino speaks in an interview with Kyodo News in Manila on Dec. 18. Chino said Japan should lead the way in pressing ahead with economic integration in Asia. (Kyodo)

Huge fir trunk descends mountain slope

Huge fir trunk descends mountain slope

A 17-meter-long fir trunk is lowered along a 25-degree slope in the city of Chino in Nagano Prefecture, central Japan, during a "kiotoshi event" on April 3, 2016, the second day of the Onbashira Festival at Suwataisha Shrine. Suwataisha consists of four shrine building complexes dotted around Lake Suwa. During the festival, held every six years, 16 fir trees are cut in the mountains and taken to the four shrines to replace Onbashira (wooden poles) in each corner of the shrines. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Huge fir trunk descends mountain slope

Huge fir trunk descends mountain slope

A 17-meter-long fir trunk is lowered along a 25-degree slope in the city of Chino in Nagano Prefecture, central Japan, during a "kiotoshi event" on April 3, 2016, the second day of the Onbashira Festival at Suwataisha Shrine. Suwataisha consists of four shrine building complexes dotted around Lake Suwa. During the festival, held every six years, 16 fir trees are cut in the mountains and taken to the four shrines to replace Onbashira (wooden poles) in each corner of the shrines. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Hand signal used for aurally challenged athlete

Hand signal used for aurally challenged athlete

A staffer (back) gives a starting signal by moving his arm for an athlete practicing for the Winter Deaflympics in Chino, Nagano Prefecture, central Japan, in this photo taken on March 23, 2014. The 18th winter event for deaf people is set to start in Russia on March 28, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japanese participant in Winter Deaflympics practices in Nagano

Japanese participant in Winter Deaflympics practices in Nagano

Noboru Harada (R), a two-time alpine snowboard champion in the Deaflympics, communicates in sign language during training in Chino, Nagano Prefecture, central Japan, in this photo taken on March 23, 2014. He will participate in the 18th winter event for aurally handicapped people starting in Russia on March 28, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo