Suntory researcher aiming to create deep-blue rose

Suntory researcher aiming to create deep-blue rose

SHIMAMOTO, Japan - Photo taken Dec. 25, 2013 shows Naoko Okitsu, a researcher at the Suntory Global Innovation Center in Shimamoto, Osaka Prefecture, who is aiming to develop the world's first deep-blue rose.

Essayist Agawa

Essayist Agawa

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken Dec. 25, 2013 shows Sawako Agawa, an essayist and TV celebrity who has conducted 1,000 interviews with actors, athletes, writers and people from various other fields, with the 1,000th one appearing in the special 2014 New Year edition of the Shukan Bunshun weekly magazine released the same day.

Mao Zedong anniversary

Mao Zedong anniversary

SHAOSHAN, China - Masses of people gather in Shaoshan, Hunan Province, on Dec. 25, 2013, for an event to celebrate the 120th anniversary of the birth of Mao Zedong, the founder of Communist China, on Dec. 26 in his hometown.

Mao Zedong anniversary

Mao Zedong anniversary

SHAOSHAN, China - Masses of people gather in Shaoshan, Hunan Province, on Dec. 25, 2013, for an event to celebrate the 120th anniversary of the birth of Mao Zedong, the founder of Communist China, on Dec. 26 in his hometown.

Russian Championships

Russian Championships

SOCHI, Russia - Turin Olympic gold medalist Evgeni Plushenko competes in the men's figure skating free skate at the Russian Championships in Sochi on Dec. 25, 2013. Plushenko was defeated by Maxim Kovtun in the event and announced he will not compete in the individual competition in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

Mao Zedong anniversary

Mao Zedong anniversary

SHAOSHAN, China - Masses of people gather at a statue of Mao Zedong, the founder of Communist China, in Shaoshan, Hunan Province, on Dec. 25, 2013, for an event to celebrate the 120th anniversary of his birth on Dec. 26 in his hometown.

Mao Zedong anniversary

Mao Zedong anniversary

SHAOSHAN, China - Masses of people gather in Shaoshan, Hunan Province, on Dec. 25, 2013, for an event to celebrate the 120th anniversary of the birth of Mao Zedong, the founder of Communist China, on Dec. 26 in his hometown.

Okinawa seen closer to approving landfill for U.S. base relocation

Okinawa seen closer to approving landfill for U.S. base relocation

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Shizo Abe speaks to reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Dec. 25, 2013, after talks with Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima about a central government request for landfill work to relocate a key U.S. military base within the island prefecture. Nakaima appeared set to approve the request on Dec. 27.

Russian Championships

Russian Championships

SOCHI, Russia - Maxim Kovtun competes in the men's figure skating free skate at the Russian Championships in Sochi on Dec. 25, 2013. Turin Olympic gold medalist Evgeni Plushenko was defeated by Kovtun in the event and announced he will not compete in the individual competition in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

Okinawa seen closer to approving landfill for U.S. base relocation

Okinawa seen closer to approving landfill for U.S. base relocation

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (L) bows to Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima (R) during their talks at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Dec. 25, 2013, about a central government request for landfill work to relocate a key U.S. military base within the island prefecture. Nakaima appeared set to approve the request on Dec. 27.

Okinawa seen closer to approving landfill for U.S. base relocation

Okinawa seen closer to approving landfill for U.S. base relocation

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (L) and Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima (R) hold talks at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Dec. 25, 2013, about a central government request for landfill work to relocate a key U.S. military base within the island prefecture. Nakaima appeared set to approve the request on Dec. 27.

Okinawa seen closer to approving landfill for U.S. base relocation

Okinawa seen closer to approving landfill for U.S. base relocation

TOKYO, Japan - Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima speaks to reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Dec. 25, 2013, after talks with Prime Minister Shizo Abe about a central government request for landfill work to relocate a key U.S. military base within the island prefecture. Nakaima appeared set to approve the request on Dec. 27.

State-backed fund agrees on new business rehabilitation plan for TEPCO

State-backed fund agrees on new business rehabilitation plan for TEPCO

TOKYO, Japan - Kazuhiko Shimokobe (2nd from L), chairman of Tokyo Electric Power Co. speaks at a meeting of the top decision-making committee of the Nuclear Damage Liability Facilitation Fund, in Tokyo on Dec. 25, 2013, with TEPCO President Naomi Hirose seated next to him. The panel agreed in principle on a new business turnaround plan for TEPCO.

Seven & i to forge capital, business alliance with Francfranc operator

Seven & i to forge capital, business alliance with Francfranc operator

TOKYO, Japan - Noritoshi Murata (R), president and chief operating officer of Seven & I Holdings Co., and Fumio Takashima, president of BALS Corp., operator of the Francfranc store chain, shake hands during a press conference in Tokyo on Dec. 25, 2013, at which they announced that the two companies will conclude a capital and business alliance.

Okinawa governor to approve landfill for U.S. base relocation

Okinawa governor to approve landfill for U.S. base relocation

TOKYO, Japan - Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima arrives at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Dec. 25, 2013, to hold talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Nakaima is making final arrangements to approve landfill work needed for the relocation of the U.S. military's Futenma air base within his prefecture, a source close to the matter said the same day.

GSDF staff to be dispatched to S. Sudan

GSDF staff to be dispatched to S. Sudan

TOKYO, Japan - (From L) Yasutoshi Nishimura, senior vice minister of the Cabinet Office, and three officers of the Ground Self-Defense Force, attend a ceremony in Tokyo on Dec. 25, 2013, ahead of the GSDF staff's departure for South Sudan on Jan. 4 to replace their colleagues at the U.N. headquarters in the capital Juba.

State-backed fund agrees on new business rehabilitation plan for TEPCO

State-backed fund agrees on new business rehabilitation plan for TEPCO

TOKYO, Japan - Akio Harada, chairman of the top decision-making committee of the Nuclear Damage Liability Facilitation Fund, speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Dec. 25, 2013, after the committee agreed in principle on a new business turnaround plan for Tokyo Electric Power Co. The state-backed fund is expected to submit the plan to the government on Dec. 27, with Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshimitsu Motegi likely to approve it in January.

U.S. base relocation

U.S. base relocation

NAHA, Japan - Protesters demonstrate in front of the Okinawa prefectural offices in Naha on Dec. 25, 2013, against the relocation of the U.S. military's Futenma air base within the prefecture.

Okinawa governor holds talks with Abe

Okinawa governor holds talks with Abe

TOKYO, Japan - Reporters swarm as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (L front) and Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima (R front) hold talks over the proposed relocation of the U.S. military's Futenma air base within Okinawa Prefecture, at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Dec. 25, 2013.

Eagles allow Tanaka to go to majors through posting system

Eagles allow Tanaka to go to majors through posting system

SENDAI, Japan - Masahiro Tanaka, ace pitcher of the Japanese baseball club Rakuten Eagles, smiles while speaking to reporters at the club's office in Sendai on Dec. 25, 2013, after talks with team president Yozo Tachibana. The club agreed to release Tanaka through the posting system. Tanaka told the club on Nov. 17, soon after Nippon Professional Baseball had agreed to Major League Baseball's terms on a new posting system, that he wished to move to the majors.

U.S. base relocation

U.S. base relocation

NAHA, Japan - Protesters demonstrate in front of the Okinawa prefectural offices in Naha on Dec. 25, 2013, against the relocation of the U.S. military's Futenma air base within the prefecture.

Eagles allow Tanaka to go to majors through posting system

Eagles allow Tanaka to go to majors through posting system

SENDAI, Japan - Masahiro Tanaka, ace pitcher of the Japanese baseball club Rakuten Eagles, speaks to reporters at the club's office in Sendai on Dec. 25, 2013, after talks with team president Yozo Tachibana. The club agreed to release Tanaka through the posting system. Tanaka told the club on Nov. 17, soon after Nippon Professional Baseball had agreed to Major League Baseball's terms on a new posting system, that he wished to move to the majors.

Eagles allow Tanaka to go to majors through posting system

Eagles allow Tanaka to go to majors through posting system

SENDAI, Japan - Yozo Tachibana, president of the Japanese baseball club Rakuten Eagles, smiles during a news conference at the club's office in Sendai on Dec. 25, 2013, after talks with the team's ace pitcher Masahiro Tanaka. The club agreed to release Tanaka through the posting system. Tanaka told the club on Nov. 17, soon after Nippon Professional Baseball had agreed to Major League Baseball's terms on a new posting system, that he wished to move to the majors.

U.S. base relocation

U.S. base relocation

NAHA, Japan - Protesters demonstrate in front of the Okinawa prefectural offices in Naha on Dec. 25, 2013, against the relocation of the U.S. military's Futenma air base within the prefecture.

Eagles allow Tanaka to go to majors through posting system

Eagles allow Tanaka to go to majors through posting system

SENDAI, Japan - Yozo Tachibana, president of the Japanese baseball club Rakuten Eagles, speaks at a news conference at the club's office in Sendai on Dec. 25, 2013, after talks with the team's ace pitcher Masahiro Tanaka. The club agreed to release Tanaka through the posting system. Tanaka told the club on Nov. 17, soon after Nippon Professional Baseball had agreed to Major League Baseball's terms on a new posting system, that he wished to move to the majors.

Mt. Fuji admission fee set at 1,000 yen

Mt. Fuji admission fee set at 1,000 yen

TOKYO, Japan - File photo shows Mt. Fuji, seen from near the border between the cities of Fuji and Fujinomiya in Shizuoka Prefecture. Local prefectures agreed Dec. 25, 2013, to collect a 1,000 yen admission fee from climbers on Mt. Fuji from the summer of 2014 on a voluntary basis.

Okinawa gov. to approve landfill for U.S. base relocation

Okinawa gov. to approve landfill for U.S. base relocation

TOKYO, Japan - Photo shows Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (L) and Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima. Nakaima is making final arrangements to approve landfill work needed for the relocation of the U.S. military's Futenma air base within his prefecture, a source close to the matter said Dec. 25, 2013. Abe seeks to obtain local approval for the work needed to build a replacement facility in Okinawa for the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station.

Chugoku Electric files for reactor safety checks

Chugoku Electric files for reactor safety checks

TOKYO, Japan - Mareshige Shimizu (R), vice president of Chugoku Electric Power Co., submits an application to an official of the Nuclear Regulation Authority in Tokyo on Dec. 25, 2013, for a state safety assessment on its No. 2 reactor at the Shimane nuclear power plant.

Mt. Fuji admission fee set at 1,000 yen

Mt. Fuji admission fee set at 1,000 yen

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken Dec. 12, 2013, shows Mt. Fuji, seen from Miho no Matsubara in Shizuoka Prefecture. Local prefectures agreed Dec. 25, 2013, to collect a 1,000 yen admission fee from climbers on Mt. Fuji from the summer of 2014 on a voluntary basis.

N. Korea purges leader's uncle

N. Korea purges leader's uncle

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken on July 25, 2013, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (far L) and Jang Song Thaek (2nd from L), Kim's uncle and a vice chairman of the National Defense Commission, walking in a cemetery in Pyongyang for soldiers who died during the Korean War. North Korea said Dec. 9, 2013, that Jang, widely seen as the second most powerful figure in the country after Kim, has been stripped of all his posts for committing "anti-party" and "counter-revolutionary factional acts."

Court rules Dec. election invalid over vote disparity

Court rules Dec. election invalid over vote disparity

HIROSHIMA, Japan - Tetsuya Kanao, one of the lawyers who filed a lawsuit claiming the general election held in December 2012 was invalid due to significant disparities in the weight of votes, holds a press conference in Hiroshima on March 25, 2013, after the local high court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs. The Hiroshima High Court ruled the same day that the results of the election in Hiroshima's No. 1 and 2 districts were invalid, becoming the first court in Japan to declare an election result void amid a series of lawsuits over disparities in the weight of votes.