Search｜Photos & Images & Videos｜KYODO NEWS IMAGES INC

American serves as guide for Nagoya shopping street

NAGOYA, Japan - American Stephen Carter serves as a volunteer guide on the Osu shopping street in Nagoya, central Japan in this file photo taken on Dec. 23, 2014. He has been living the area for nearly 30 years.

E

Romania's Iliescu in interview with Kyodo News

BUCHAREST, Romania - Former Romanian President Ion Iliescu speaks during an interview with Kyodo News in Bucharest on Dec. 23, 2014, ahead of the 25th anniversary on Dec. 25 of the execution of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife. Iliescu played a leading role in the Romanian Revolution, becoming the country's first freely elected head of state in May 1990.

E

Tsunami-destroyed railway station to be restored

SENDAI, Japan - East Japan Railway Co.'s Rikuchu-Yamada Station on the Yamada Line in Yamada, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, is seen in tatters in this file photo taken on March 23, 2011, a dozen days after it was hit by the devastating earthquake and tsunami. The company and the local community agreed on Dec. 24, 2014, to restore the station, burned down by a tsunami-caused fire, as part of a project to revive the line wrecked by the disaster.

E

Japan actor plays lead role in Chinese WWII TV drama

SHANGHAI, China - Japanese actor Koji Yano attends an event in Shanghai, China, on Dec. 23, 2014, to promote a Chinese TV drama in which he plays a lead role. The drama depicts a Japanese man's support for Chinese resistance against the Japanese military during World War II.

E

Taiwan's 1st "carrier killer" handed over to navy

SUAO, Taiwan - Taiwan's first self-developed stealth missile corvette, Tuo Jiang, docks in Suao, a fishing port in northeastern Taiwan, on Dec. 23, 2014. Described by Taiwanese media as a "carrier killer," the 500-ton twin-hull vessel was handed over to the navy the same day.

E

Japanese wrestler Yoshida extends winning streak at nationals

TOKYO, Japan - Women's 53-kilogram world champion Saori Yoshida celebrates after defeating Chiho Hamada at the national championships at Tokyo's Yoyogi National Gymnasium on Dec. 23, 2014 for her 12th national title.

E

Japanese wrestler Yoshida extends winning streak at nationals

TOKYO, Japan - Women's 53-kilogram world champion Saori Yoshida celebrates after defeating Chiho Hamada at the national championships at Tokyo's Yoyogi National Gymnasium on Dec. 23, 2014 for her 12th national title.

E

Weathernews, Dwango partner on weather info program

CHIBA, Japan - Tomohiro Ishibashi (R), managing director at Weathernews Inc., poses with Seiji Sugimoto, public relations chief at Dwango Co., in Chiba east of Tokyo on Dec. 23, 2014, after announcing that Weathernews would air its weather program on Dwango's Nico Nico Douga video posting site in case of natural disasters to enable more people to watch the program.

E

Imperial Palace lit up

TOKYO, Japan - Tokyo's Imperial Palace is lit up on Dec. 23, 2014, the 81st birthday of Emperor Akihito. The third annual winter-time illumination, which began the same day, will be in place until Jan. 4 between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.

E

Imperial Palace lit up

TOKYO, Japan - Tokyo's Imperial Palace is lit up on Dec. 23, 2014, the 81st birthday of Emperor Akihito. The third annual winter-time illumination, which began the same day, will be in place until Jan. 4 between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.

E

Prince Akishino, Princess Kako arrive for emperor's birthday dinner

TOKYO, Japan - Prince Akishino (R) and his daughter Princess Kako arrive at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Dec. 23, 2014, to attend a dinner to celebrate Emperor Akihito's 81st birthday.

E

Princess Kiko, Prince Hisahito arrive for emperor's birthday dinner

TOKYO, Japan - Princess Kiko (R) and her son Prince Hisahito arrive at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Dec. 23, 2014, to attend a dinner to celebrate Emperor Akihito's 81st birthday.

E

Ichiro encourages baseball kids

NAGOYA, Japan - Japanese professional baseball player Ichiro Suzuki (R) shakes hands with a boy at a closing ceremony of the "Ichiro Cup" rubber-ball baseball competition for schoolchildren on Dec. 23, 2014, in the town of Toyoyama, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan.

E

Crown Prince, family arrive for emperor's birthday dinner

TOKYO, Japan - Crown Prince Naruhito (L), Crown Princess Masako (R) and their daughter Princess Aiko wave as the family arrives at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Dec. 23, 2014, to attend a dinner to celebrate Emperor Akihito's 81st birthday. (Pool photo)

E

Hasebe plays mini-soccer game with Banda Aceh kids

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia - Japan captain Makoto Hasebe (C) plays a mini-soccer game with elementary school children in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, on Dec, 23, 2014. Hasebe, in cooperation with the Japan Committee for UNICEF, visited the area hit by devastating tsunami in December 2004.

E

Footballer Hasebe encourages Banda Aceh kids

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia - Japanese footballer Makoto Hasebe (R) shows kindergartners on the outskirts of Indonesia's Banda Aceh, hit by huge tsunami in December 2004, a message of support from Japanese kindergartners in the town of Minamisanriku, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, devastated by the 2011 tsunami, in charity work on Dec. 23, 2014.

E

KDDI unveils Japan's first Firefox OS smartphone

TOKYO, Japan - KDDI Corp., the operator of the "au" cellphone service, announces on Dec. 23, 2014, the release on Dec. 25 of Japan's first Firefox operating system-based smartphone "Fx0".

E

Japanese emperor turns 81

TOKYO, Japan - A banquet is held at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Dec. 23, 2014, to celebrate Emperor Akihito's 81st birthday. (Pool photo)

E

Nagatomo says Japan's players have to trust embattled coach Aguirre

TOKYO, Japan - Inter Milan defender Yuto Nagatomo attends a fan event in Tokyo on Dec. 23, 2014, after returning from Italy earlier in the day. Nagatomo told reporters the same day he is unconcerned over the alleged involvement of Japan coach Javier Aguirre in a match-fixing scandal in Spain and that all the players can do is keep their faith in the Mexican.

E

Japanese emperor turns 81

TOKYO, Japan - Emperor Akihito speaks during a banquet at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Dec. 23, 2014, to celebrate his 81st birthday. (Pool photo)

E

Japanese emperor turns 81

TOKYO, Japan - A banquet is held at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Dec. 23, 2014, to celebrate Emperor Akihito's 81st birthday. (Pool photo)

E

Japanese emperor turns 81

TOKYO, Japan - Emperor Akihito (R) chats with Empress Michiko during a banquet at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Dec. 23, 2014, to celebrate the emperor's 81st birthday. (Pool photo)

E

Osaka Mayor Hashimoto to temporarily quit as party co-leader

TOKYO, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto (R) and Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui attend an executives' meeting of the Japan Innovation Party at a Tokyo hotel on Dec. 23, 2014. The opposition party accepted the resignations of Hashimoto, a party co-leader, and secretary general Matsui, albeit that their resignations might be effective only until spring.

E

Japanese emperor turns 81

TOKYO, Japan - Emperor Akihito (C) makes a toast during a banquet at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Dec. 23, 2014, to celebrate his 81st birthday. (Pool photo)

E

Mainz's Okazaki gives gifts in Kobe

KOBE, Japan - Wearing a Santa Claus costume, Shinji Okazaki of German Bundesliga club Mainz hands a gift to a child during an event organized by his football school at Takigawa Daini senior high school, from which he graduated, in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, on Dec. 23, 2014.

E

'Human Christmas tree' made by some 1,100 people

OSAKA, Japan - About 1,100 people dressed up like Santa Claus hold red and green boards at the stairs in front of the Grand Front Osaka commercial complex to form a Christmas tree on Dec. 23, 2014, in Osaka, western Japan.

E

Temporary kabuki theater planned in downtown Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan - Kabuki actors Nakamura Kankuro (R) and Nakamura Shichinosuke show at a press conference in Kyoto, western Japan, on Dec. 23, 2014, an artist's image of a makeshift playhouse to be set up in the precincts of Sensoji Temple in downtown Tokyo for the Heisei Nakamura-za company's kabuki performances in April-May 2015.

E

Japanese emperor turns 81

TOKYO, Japan - Members of the imperial family appear on a balcony of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Dec. 23, 2014, Emperor Akihito's 81st birthday.

E

Japanese emperor turns 81

TOKYO, Japan - Members of the imperial family wave to general well-wishers at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Dec. 23, 2014, Emperor Akihito's 81st birthday.

E

Japanese emperor turns 81

TOKYO, Japan - Emperor Akihito waves to general well-wishers at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Dec. 23, 2014, his 81st birthday.

E

Japanese emperor turns 81

TOKYO, Japan - Emperor Akihito addresses general well-wishers at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Dec. 23, 2014, his 81st birthday.

E

Japanese emperor turns 81

TOKYO, Japan - Emperor Akihito (L) and Empress Michiko wave to general well-wishers at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Dec. 23, 2014, the emperor's 81st birthday.

E

DPJ aiming to block majority for Abe's LDP in election

TOKYO, Japan - Banri Kaieda, president of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, speaks during an interview with Kyodo News in Tokyo on Nov. 23, 2014. Kaieda said the DPJ aims to prevent Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Liberal Democratic Party from securing a majority in the Dec. 14 lower house election.

E

A month before Sochi Olympics

SOCHI, Russia - Russian supporters pose for a photo before an ice hockey friendly at the Olympic Park in Sochi, Russia, on Dec. 22, 2013. The Winter Games will be held in the Black Sea resort from Feb. 7 to 23, 2014.

E

A month before Sochi Olympics

SOCHI, Russia - Police officers check luggage at a gate before an ice hockey friendly at the Olympic Park in Sochi, Russia, on Dec. 21, 2013. The Winter Games will be held in the Black Sea resort from Feb. 7 to 23, 2014.

E

A month before Sochi Olympics

SOCHI, Russia - A girl poses for a photo with the Olympic monument reflected in water in Sochi, Russia, on Dec. 24, 2013. The Winter Games will be held in the Black Sea resort from Feb. 7 to 23, 2014.

E

A month before Sochi Olympics

SOCHI, Russia - Photo shows the illuminated Olympic Park in Sochi, Russia, on Dec. 27, 2013. The Black Sea is seen at back. The Winter Games will be held in the resort city from Feb. 7 to 23, 2014.