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Unseen parts of Imperial Palace to open to public

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken in October 2010 shows the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. The Imperial Household Agency said Dec. 16, 2013, that it will open parts of the palace previously inaccessible to the public in the spring and fall of 2014 to commemorate Emperor Akihito's 80th birthday, which falls on Dec. 23, 2013.

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Teenage film director

TOKYO, Japan - Ryugo Nakamura, a 14-year-old student in Okinawa, poses for a photo at a Tokyo hotel on Dec. 23, 2010. His film ''Yagi no Boken'' (adventure of a goat) will be shown at theaters across Japan beginning with three cinemas in Tokyo and Yokohama from Jan. 8, 2011.

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Video game tie-up in local town

TOKYO, Japan - People stroll the Shibu hot spa area in Yamanouchi, Nagano Prefecture, on Dec. 23, 2010, the host town of a special event featuring the smash hit video game ''Monster Hunter Portable 3.''

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Shirase reaches Showa Base in Antarctic

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's icebreaker Shirase makes its way through the Antarctic ice sheet on Dec. 23, 2010. The 12,650-ton icebreaker, which is on a mission to support an Antarctic observation expedition, reached the offshore waters of the country's Showa Base in the Antarctic on Dec. 31, 2010. (Pool photo)

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Used car market in Beijing

BEIJING, China - People visit a used car market in Beijing on Dec. 19, 2010. The city government decided on Dec. 23, 2010, to limit the number of new auto registrations for 2011 to 240,000, about one third of the limit in 2010, to ease the traffic congestion in the city.

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Japanese ambassador to Russia

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken on Nov. 3, 2010, at Narita international airport in Chiba Prefecture shows Japanese Ambassador to Russia Masaharu Kono. The Japanese government is considering replacing Kono over his information gathering on Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's November visit to a disputed island, sources said Dec. 23, 2010.

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S. Korea conducts firing drills

POCHEON, South Korea - South Korean soldiers participate in a major military exercise conducted by the South Korean Army and Air Force at Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, on Dec. 23, 2010. The firing drills near the land border with North Korea were conducted to check preparedness against possible further provocation by the North.

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Ritual for snowfall at Daisen ski resort

YONAGO, Japan - People involved in the ski resort business pray for snowfall at the town of Daisen, Tottori Prefecture, on Dec. 23, 2010, the opening day of the Daisen ski resort. Accumulated snow observed in early December has all melted away.

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Japanese expedition teams at Antarctica

TOKYO, Japan - Members of Japan's 51st wintering team and 52nd Antarctic observation expedition team celebrate their reunion at Showa Base in Antarctic on Dec. 23, 2010. The 52nd team boarding the icebreaker Shirase delivered supplies and packages containing letters from families to the 51st team by helicopter, after the icebreaker reached a point about 20 kilometers from the base.

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Used car market in Beijing

BEIJING, China - People visit a used car market in Beijing on Dec. 19, 2010. The city government decided on Dec. 23, 2010, to limit the number of new auto registrations for 2011 to 240,000, about one third of the limit in 2010, to ease the traffic congestion in the city.

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S. Korea conducts firing drills

POCHEON, South Korea - F-15 fighter jets take part in a major military exercise conducted by the South Korean Army and Air Force at Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, on Dec. 23, 2010. The firing drills near the land border with North Korea were conducted to check preparedness against possible further provocation by the North.

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Denso beats Toray for national title

TOKYO, Japan - Kaori Inoue of the Denso Airybees (back) spikes the ball in the first set of the women's national volleyball championship final against the Toray Arrows at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo on Dec. 23, 2010. Denso went on to win their first title.

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S. Korea conducts firing drills

POCHEON, South Korea - South Korean soldiers participate in a major military exercise conducted by the South Korean Army and Air Force at Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, on Dec. 23, 2010. The firing drills near the land border with North Korea were conducted to check preparedness against possible further provocation by the North.

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S. Korea conducts firing drills

POCHEON, South Korea - South Korean tanks fire shots during a major military exercise conducted by the South Korean Army and Air Force at Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, on Dec. 23, 2010. The firing drills near the land border with North Korea were conducted to check preparedness against possible further provocation by the North.

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Denso beats Toray for national title

TOKYO, Japan - The Denso Airybees players celebrate their first women's national volleyball championship at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo on Dec. 23, 2010, by beating the Toray Arrows in the final.

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Cazares wins decision over Hisataka

OSAKA, Japan - Japanese challenger Hiroyuki Hisataka (R) and Hugo Cazares of Mexico exchange blows in the 12th round of the WBA super flyweight title match in Osaka on Dec. 23, 2010. Cazares defended his title with a 3-0 decision.

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Suntory wallops JT to win national title

TOKYO, Japan - Players of the Suntory Sunbirds celebrate their national title after beating the JT Thunders in straight sets in the men's national volleyball championship final at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo on Dec. 23, 2010.

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Cazares wins decision over Hisataka

OSAKA, Japan - Mexican champion Hugo Cazares (L) lands a punch on Japanese challenger Hiroyuki Hisataka in the 12th round of the WBA super flyweight title match in Osaka on Dec. 23, 2010. Cazares defended his title with a 3-0 decision.

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S. Korea conducts firing drills

POCHEON, South Korea - Tanks and an attack helicopter are seen taking part in a major military exercise conducted by the South Korean Army and Air Force at Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, on Dec. 23, 2010. The firing drills near the land border with North Korea were conducted to check preparedness against possible further provocation by the North.

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S. Korea conducts firing drills

POCHEON, South Korea - Massive explosions are observed during a major military exercise conducted by the South Korean Army and Air Force at Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, on Dec. 23, 2010. The firing drills near the land border with North Korea were conducted to check preparedness against possible further provocation by the North.

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Japan's oldest 'shogi' board in exhibition

MATSUE, Japan - Visitors take a look at Japan's oldest known ''shogi'' board in existence, exhibited in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, on Dec. 23, 2010.

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S. Korea conducts firing drills

POCHEON, South Korea - An attack helicopter is seen taking part in a major military exercise conducted by the South Korean Army and Air Force at Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, on Dec. 23, 2010. The firing drills near the land border with North Korea were conducted to check preparedness against possible further provocation by the North.

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'Ainu' traditional dried salmon

SHIRAOI, Japan - Photo taken on Dec. 23, 2010, at the Ainu Museum in the town of Shiraoi, Hokkaido, shows thousands of salmon hanging to dry as part of a process of making a traditional Ainu preservative food. The Ainu are indigenous people of Japan.

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Turkish energy minister Yildiz in interview

TOKYO, Japan - Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz speaks during an interview in Tokyo on Dec. 23, 2010. Yildiz expressed hopes for Japanese cooperation in building a nuclear power plant in a Black Sea coastal area.

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Emperor Akihito turns 77

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Emperor Akihito (C), Empress Michiko (R) and Crown Prince Naruhito (L) greet well-wishers who gathered to celebrate the emperor's 77th birthday at the Imperial Palace on Dec. 23, 2010. Walking behind them is Crown Princess Masako.

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Emperor Akihito turns 77

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Emperor Akihito greets well-wishers who gathered to celebrate his 77th birthday at the Imperial Palace on Dec. 23, 2010.

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White-naped cranes in Kagoshima Pref.

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken on Dec. 3, 2008, shows a flock of white-naped cranes in the Izumi Plains in Kagoshima Prefecture. A white-naped crane in the plains is suspected of being infected with avian influenza, a local official said on Dec. 23, 2010.

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Emperor Akihito turns 77

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko wave to people who gathered to celebrate the emperor's 77th birthday on Dec. 23, 2010, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

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Emperor Akihito turns 77

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Emperor Akihito (3rd from L) and his family members greet well-wishers who gathered to celebrate his 77th birthday at the Imperial Palace on Dec. 23, 2010.

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'Norwegian Wood' T-shirt

TOKYO, Japan - Photo shows a T-shirt which is part of Uniqlo Co.'s collection commemorating the film adaptation of Haruki Murakami's novel ''Norwegian Wood.'' The T-shirts, decorated with images symbolizing the title of the novel and scenes from the story, will go on sale for 1,500 each on Nov. 23, 2010, ahead of the Dec. 11 release of the movie.

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Legendary racehorse Oguri Cap dies

TOKYO, Japan - This file photo shows legendary racehorse Oguri Cap (8) winning the Arima Memorial on Dec. 23, 1990, at Nakayama Racecourse, east of Tokyo. The dapple-grey horse died at 25 on July 3, 2010.

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Goldfish with heart-shaped tail fin

IWAKI, Japan - Goldfish with heart-shaped tail fins are displayed at Aquamarine Fukushima aquarium in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, on Dec. 23, 2010. The new goldfish named Sakura Bristol is a hybrid of the Bristol Shubunkin goldfish bred in Britain and Tamasaba goldfish bred in Niigata Prefecture in Japan.