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Gamba's Japan midfielder Endo wins J-League MVP award

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Gamba Osaka captain Yasuhito Endo poses in Yokohama, Japan, on Dec. 9, 2014, after being named the 2014 J-League Player of the Year. The 34-year-old Japan midfielder helped engineer the biggest turnaround in league history, with Gamba erasing a 14-point deficit to finish one point ahead of Urawa Reds to capture their second championship and first since 2005.

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Stadium for 2014 World Cup

CURITIBA, Brazil - Photo taken Dec. 14, 2013, shows a stadium under construction in Curitiba, Brazil, which will be one of the venues for the 2014 soccer World Cup.

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Ski slope in Sochi opens

SOCHI, Russia - Children prepare to head for a slope in a ski area that will be the venue for the Alpine ski events at the Sochi Winter Olympic Games next February, as it opened for this season's business on Dec. 14, 2013. The area will suspend business on Jan. 6, 2014, about one month before the opening of the Olympics.

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Ski slope in Sochi opens

SOCHI, Russia - People ski on a slope in Sochi in an area that will be the venue for the Alpine ski events at the Sochi Winter Olympic Games next February, as it opened for this season's business on Dec. 14, 2013. The area will suspend business on Jan. 6, 2014, about one month before the opening of the Olympics.

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Okada announces candidacy for DPJ leadership election

TOKYO, Japan - Katsuya Okada, acting head of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, speaks at a news conference at the DPJ's headquarters in Tokyo on Dec. 25, 2014. Okada said he will run in the party's leadership election on Jan. 18. The election will be held to pick the successor to outgoing President Banri Kaieda, who lost his seat in the Dec. 14 House of Representatives election.

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Okada announces candidacy for DPJ leadership election

TOKYO, Japan - Katsuya Okada, acting head of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, speaks at a news conference at the DPJ's headquarters in Tokyo on Dec. 25, 2014. Okada said he will run in the party's leadership election on Jan. 18. The election will be held to pick the successor to outgoing President Banri Kaieda, who lost his seat in the Dec. 14 House of Representatives election.

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Lawsuit filed to nullify election outcome over vote disparity

OSAKA, Japan - Lawyers head for the Osaka High Court in Osaka, western Japan, on Dec. 25, 2014, to file a lawsuit seeking to nullify the results of the House of Representatives election on Dec. 14 for the Nara No. 4 constituency because of the disparity in the weight of votes.

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Abe re-elected as Japan PM at post-election Diet session

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (C back) stands up after being re-elected as Japan's prime minister during a plenary session of the House of Representatives in Tokyo on Dec. 24, 2014, the first day of a special three-day Diet session convened after his Liberal Democratic Party won a landslide victory in the Dec. 14 lower house general election.

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Abe re-elected as Japan PM at post-election Diet session

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (C) stands up after being re-elected as Japan's prime minister during a plenary session of the House of Representatives in Tokyo on Dec. 24, 2014, the first day of a special three-day Diet session convened after his Liberal Democratic Party won a landslide victory in the Dec. 14 lower house general election.

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Abe re-elected as Japan PM at post-election Diet session

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (C) stands up after being re-elected as Japan's prime minister during a plenary session of the House of Representatives in Tokyo on Dec. 24, 2014, the first day of a special three-day Diet session convened after his Liberal Democratic Party won a landslide victory in the Dec. 14 lower house general election.

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Abe to be re-elected as Japan PM

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe enters his office in Tokyo on Dec. 24, 2014. Abe, leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, will be re-elected as prime minister in a special Diet session the same day after a landslide victory in the Dec. 14 lower house election gave him a fresh mandate.

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Abe to be re-elected as Japan PM

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe waves as he enters his office in Tokyo on Dec. 24, 2014. Abe, leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, will be re-elected as prime minister in a special Diet session the same day after a landslide victory in the Dec. 14 lower house election gave him a fresh mandate.

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Century-old pillar still part of Tokyo Station platform

TOKYO, Japan - One of 14 original pillars that remain part of the Nos. 5 and 6 platforms at Tokyo Station in the Japanese capital since it opened 100 years ago is seen on Dec. 18, 2014. Two pillars will be turned into monuments.

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Calligraphers write names of newly elected lawmakers

TOKYO, Japan - Calligraphers write on plates on Dec. 17, 2014, the names of legislators newly elected to the lower house of the Diet in the Dec. 14 general election at a lacquerware wholesaler in Tokyo ahead of an extraordinary parliamentary session to be convened on Dec. 24.

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Writing of new lower house members' names in full swing

TOKYO, Japan - Calligraphers are busy writing on plates on Dec. 17, 2014, the names of legislators newly elected to the lower house of the Diet in the Dec. 14 general election at a lacquerware wholesaler in Tokyo ahead of an extraordinary parliamentary session to be convened on Dec. 24.

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Prof. Curtis gives press conference in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan - Columbia University professor Gerald Curtis speaks at Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo on Dec. 15, 2014, providing his analysis on the ruling coalition's landslide win in the Dec. 14 general election.

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Lawyers file suits to nullify election results

TOKYO, Japan - Lawyers attend a press conference in Tokyo on Dec. 15, 2014, after filing a lawsuit to seek to nullify the results of the Dec. 14 general election in Japan because of the disparity in the weight of votes among districts. Two groups of lawyers filed such suits with eight high courts and six branches across Japan.

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Runners start at 2014 Honolulu Marathon

HONOLULU, United States - Runners dressed in various costumes start at the Honolulu Marathon in Hawaii on Dec. 14, 2014. Some 30,000 runners took part, including about 13,000 Japanese.

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Tsuchida wins women's wheelchair marathon in Honolulu

HONOLULU, United States - Japan's Wakako Tsuchida is congratulated as she wins the women's wheelchair section in the Honolulu Marathon in Honolulu, the United States, on Dec. 14, 2014.

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Soejima wins men's wheelchair marathon in Honolulu

HONOLULU, United States - Japan's Masazumi Soejima finishes in first place in the men's wheelchair section in the Honolulu Marathon in Honolulu, the United States, on Dec. 14, 2014.

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Milan's Honda in action against Napoli

MILAN, Italy - Japanese footballer Keisuke Honda (R) of AC Milan jumps for a header in the first half of a Serie A match against Napoli on Dec. 14, 2014, in Milan, Italy. Milan won 2-0.

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DPJ leader Kaieda loses lower house seat

TOKYO, Japan - Banri Kaieda, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, holds a press conference at the DPJ's headquarters in Tokyo's Nagatacho district past midnight of Dec. 14, 2014, after losing in his single-seat constituency. Kaieda also failed to retain his seat under the proportional representation system, marking the first time since 1949 that the leader of the largest opposition party in Japan has lost his or her seat in the lower house election.

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Kenyan woman wins 2014 Honolulu Marathon

HONOLULU, United States - Joyce Chepkirui of Kenya crosses the finish line in 2 hours, 30 minutes and 23 seconds to win the women's section in the Honolulu Marathon in Hawaii on Dec. 14, 2014.

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LDP achieves landslide election victory

TOKYO, Japan - Red imitation roses, a marker for a successful candidate of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in the lower house election, are lined in a seamless manner on the board of the candidates at the LDP's headquarters in Tokyo's Nagatacho district on the night of Dec. 14, 2014, as the ruling party heads for a landslide victory in the election.

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Kenyan man wins 2014 Honolulu Marathon

HONOLULU, United States - Wilson Chebet of Kenya breaks the tape in 2 hours, 15 minutes and 35 seconds to win the men's section in the Honolulu Marathon in Hawaii on Dec. 14, 2014.

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Ex-Your Party chief Watanabe loses election

NASUSHIOBARA, Japan - Former Your Party leader Yoshimi Watanabe, an independent candidate in the lower house election, speaks in his electoral district in Nasushiobara, Tochigi Prefecture on the night of Dec. 14, 2014, after losing his seat in the election.

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JCP fares well in lower house election

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Communist Party leader Kazuo Shii (R) smiles as he receives the results of the lower house election at the party's headquarters in Tokyo's Sendagaya district on the night of Dec. 14, 2014. The JCP is expected to increase its seats substantially in the election, according to Kyodo News exit polls and projections.

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Japan ruling bloc assured of victory in lower house election

TOKYO, Japan - Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of the Komeito party, smiles at the ruling party's headquarters in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward on the night of Dec. 14, 2014, after all the party's nine candidates in the single-seat constituencies secured victory in the lower house election.

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LDP achieves landslide election victory

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe leaves his Liberal Democratic Party's headquarters in Tokyo's Nagatacho district past midnight of Dec. 14, 2014, after the LDP achieved a landslide victory in the day's lower house election.

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DPJ's Kan defeated in single-seat race

TOKYO, Japan - Election campaign posters for Naoto Kan, a former prime minister and candidate of the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan in the lower house election, are displayed at his campaign office in Tokyo's Fuchu City on the night of Dec. 14, 2014. Kan was defeated in the single-seat electoral district, although he may be able to secure a seat under the proportional representation system.

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JCP's Akamine wins in Okinawa No. 1 constituency

NAHA, Japan - Seiken Akamine, a candidate of the Japanese Communist Party in the lower house election, shakes hands with supporters in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture on the night of Dec. 14, 2014, after being elected in the Okinawa No. 1 constituency. Akamine drew wide support from voters by opposing the central government's plan to relocate a major U.S. military base in the southwestern prefecture.

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People's Life Party's Shuhama on lower house election

TOKYO, Japan - Ryo Shuhama, vice president of the opposition People's Life Party, holds a press conference at a Tokyo hotel on the results of the lower house election on the night of Dec. 14, 2014.

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Japan ruling bloc assured of victory in lower house election

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is interviewed for TV broadcasts on the results of the lower house election at his Liberal Democratic Party's headquarters in Tokyo's Nagatacho district on the night of Dec. 14, 2014. Japan's ruling coalition of the LDP and the Komeito party is on course to exceed a simple majority in the election, with more than 300 of the 475 lower house seats secured, Kyodo News exit polls and projections showed.

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Japan ruling bloc assured of victory in lower house election

TOKYO, Japan - Banri Kaieda, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, is interviewed for TV broadcasts on the results of the lower house election at the DPJ's headquarters in Tokyo's Nagatacho district on the night of Dec. 14, 2014. Japan's ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Komeito party is on course to exceed a simple majority in the election, with more than 300 of the 475 lower house seats secured, Kyodo News exit polls and projections showed.

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Scandal-hit ex-minister Matsushima to retain seat

TOKYO, Japan - Former Justice Minister Midori Matsushima, a candidate of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in the lower house election, celebrates in her electoral district in Tokyo's Sumida Ward on the night of Dec. 14, 2014, after securing victory in the election. Matsushima resigned from the Cabinet post in October less than two months after assuming it over allegations of violating the election law by distributing paper fans to constituents in the past, which could count as a donation banned under the law.

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Ruling bloc to win stable majority in lower house

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe smiles as he receives the results of the lower house election at his Liberal Democratic Party's headquarters in Tokyo's Nagatacho district on the night of Dec. 14, 2014. The ruling bloc of the LDP and the Komeito party will secure a stable majority in the election, according to Kyodo News exit polls and projections.

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Ruling bloc to win stable majority in lower house

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe smiles as he receives the results of the lower house election at his Liberal Democratic Party's headquarters in Tokyo's Nagatacho district on the night of Dec. 14, 2014. The ruling bloc of the LDP and the Komeito party will secure a stable majority in the election, according to Kyodo News exit polls and projections.

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Suzuki of Japan U21s scores in 2-0 win over Thailand

BANGKOK, Thailand - Japan under-21 player Musashi Suzuki (L) scores the second goal for the team in the second half of a friendly match against Thailand in Bangkok on Dec. 14, 2014. Japan won 2-0.

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SDP's Yoshida on lower house election

TOKYO, Japan - Social Democratic Party leader Tadatomo Yoshida is interviewed for TV broadcasts on the results of the lower house election at the opposition party's headquarters in Tokyo's Nagatacho district on the night of Dec. 14, 2014.

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Ruling bloc to win stable majority in lower house

TOKYO, Japan - Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of the Komeito party, receives the results of the lower house election at the party's headquarters in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward on the night of Dec. 14, 2014. The ruling bloc of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Komeito party will secure a stable majority in the election, according to Kyodo News exit polls and projections.

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Ballot counting in lower house election

TOKYO, Japan - Ballots in the lower house election are counted at the Minatoku Sports Center in Tokyo's Shibaura district on the night of Dec. 14, 2014.

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LDP to win lower house majority

TOKYO, Japan - Yukio Edano, secretary general of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, receives the results of the lower house election at the DPJ's headquarters in Tokyo's Nagatacho district on the night of Dec. 14, 2014. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party will likely secure a majority in the election, according to Kyodo News exit polls and projections.

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Japan Innovation Party's Hashimoto on lower house election

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, one of the co-heads of the opposition Japan Innovation Party, holds a press conference at an Osaka hotel on the results of the lower house election on the night of Dec. 14, 2014. Hashimoto said his party "failed to win public confidence."

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Japan U21 coach Teguramori at friendly against Thailand

BANGKOK, Thailand - Coach Makoto Teguramori of Japan's under-21 squad is seen during a friendly match against Thailand in Bangkok on Dec. 14, 2014. Japan beat Thailand 2-0.

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Ballot counting in lower house election

TOKYO, Japan - Ballots in the lower house election are counted at the Minatoku Sports Center in Tokyo's Shibaura district on the night of Dec. 14, 2014.

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Obuchi to retain Diet seat

TAKASAKI, Japan - Scandal-hit former trade minister Yuko Obuchi, a candidate of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in the lower house election, smiles during an interview in her electoral district in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture after securing victory in the election on the night of Dec. 14, 2014. Obuchi, the daughter of the late Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, resigned from the Cabinet post in October less than two months after assuming it over dubious political funds reports.

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Relative of N. Korean abduction victim loses in lower house election

SENDAI, Japan - Teruaki Masumoto, whose elder sister Rumiko is among Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea, speaks in Sendai, northeastern Japan, on the night of Dec. 14, 2014, after losing in the lower house election. Masumoto ran on the ticket of the small opposition Party for Future Generations.

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U.N. climate conference members agree on target-setting framework

LIMA, Peru - Participants in U.N. climate change talks in Lima applaud on Dec. 14, 2014, after agreeing on a framework for setting national pledges for reducing greenhouse gas emissions toward a summit in Paris in 2015.

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LDP to win lower house majority

TOKYO, Japan - Takeo Hiranuma, head of the minor opposition Party for Future Generations, receives the results of the lower house election at a Tokyo hotel on the night of Dec. 14, 2014. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party will likely secure a majority in the election, according to Kyodo News exit polls and projections.

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LDP to win lower house majority

TOKYO, Japan - Sadakazu Tanigaki, secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, smiles during an interview for TV broadcasts on the results of the lower house election at the LDP's headquarters in Tokyo's Nagatacho district on the night of Dec. 14, 2014. The LDP will likely secure a majority in the election, according to Kyodo News exit polls and projections.