Canada's Mikael Kingsbury

Canada's Mikael Kingsbury

ZHANGJIAKOU, China, Feb. 7 Kyodo - Mikael Kingsbury of Canada in this photo taken on Dec. 22, 2017, competes en route to winning the men's moguls at a freestyle skiing World Cup event in Zhangjiakou, China.

Ice dance pair Kana Muramoto and Chris Reed

Ice dance pair Kana Muramoto and Chris Reed

CHOFU, Japan, Dec. 26 Kyodo - Japan's Kana Muramoto (L) and Chris Reed perform during the ice dance short dance program on the second day of the national figure skating championships at Musashino Forest Sport Plaza in Tokyo on Dec. 22, 2017.

Gov't to hold meeting Dec. 1 to discuss emperor's abdication date

Gov't to hold meeting Dec. 1 to discuss emperor's abdication date

TOKYO, Japan, Nov. 22 Kyodo - Undated file photo shows Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito, Emperor Akihito's elder son, who will ascend the throne after his father's planned abdication, possibly within the next 18 months. The Japanese government said on Nov. 22, 2017 it will hold a meeting on Dec. 1 to discuss the date of Emperor Akihito's planned abdication.

Figure skating: Evgenia Medvedeva

Figure skating: Evgenia Medvedeva

TOKYO, Japan, Dec. 7 Kyodo - Evgenia Medvedeva (C) of Russia poses for photos on the podium after winning the Rostelecom Cup in Moscow on Oct. 22, 2017, alongside runner-up Carolina Kostner of Italy (L) and third-place finisher Wakaba Higuchi of Japan.

Japanese lawmaker to quit party over alleged abuse against staffer

Japanese lawmaker to quit party over alleged abuse against staffer

TOKYO, Japan, June 23 Kyodo - Mayuko Toyota points at her name listed at the Diet building in Tokyo on Dec. 26, 2012, on her first trip to parliament after being elected to the House of Representatives. Toyota submitted an application to leave the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on June 22, 2017, after a weekly magazine released an audio file seeming to back up allegations that she physically and verbally abused a secretary.