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Shops in Sochi with barrier-free access

TOKYO, Japan - A number of shops in the main part of Sochi, Russia, are equipped with slopes at the entrance to improve accessibility for those with disabilities or other special needs, as seen on Feb. 3, 2014. The Winter Olympic Games will open Feb. 7, 2014, in the Black Sea resort city, to be followed by the Paralympics in March.

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Thomas Bach

SOCHI, Russia - Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, speaks at a press conference in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 3, 2014.

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Japan women's team pursuit gives hope for medal

SOCHI, Russia - Japanese speed skaters Maki Tabata (L), Nana Takagi (C) and Misaki Oshigiri (R) mark 3 minutes and 3.65 seconds in a test run of the women's team pursuit for the Sochi Olympic Games in the Russian resort town on Feb. 3, 2014.

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Tanaka goods

NEW YORK, United States - Photo shows a sales clerk wearing a replica of the uniform of Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, who will join the New York Yankees, at a sports goods shop near New York on Feb. 3, 2014, where Tanaka's replica uniforms are displayed.

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Hanyu arrives in Sochi

SOCHI, Russia - Japanese figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu holds his accreditation card for the Sochi Olympics as he arrives at Sochi airport in Russia on Feb. 3, 2014, before the opening of the Winter Games on Feb. 7.

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Kearney ready for back-to-back Olympic gold at Sochi

SOCHI, Russia - Vancouver Olympic women's moguls champion Hannah Kearney of the United States tells a press conference in Sochi, Russia on Feb. 3, 2014 that "I'm definitely going to win again" at the Sochi Winter Games.

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Thomas Bach

SOCHI, Russia - Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, speaks at a press conference in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 3, 2014.

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Osaka Mayor Hashimoto

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, who is also co-head of the opposition Japan Restoration Party, attends a press conference in Osaka on Feb. 3, 2014. Hashimoto officially announced his resignation as mayor and said he will run again in a mayoral election to gain support for his main policy goal -- the merger of Osaka prefectural and municipal governments.

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People in feudal costumes at festival in Osaka

OSAKA, Japan - Men and women wearing feudal costumes walk during the traditional "Setsubun Omizukumi" festival featuring a water-drawing ritual at the end of winter in the Kita-Shinchi entertainment district in Osaka on Feb. 3, 2014.

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Osaka Mayor Hashimoto

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto (R), who is also co-head of the opposition Japan Restoration Party, and Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui, who is also secretary general of the JRP, look at each other during a press conference in Osaka on Feb. 3, 2014. Hashimoto officially announced his resignation as mayor and said he will run again in a mayoral election to gain support for his main policy goal -- the merger of Osaka prefectural and municipal governments.

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Thomas Bach

SOCHI, Russia - Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, holds a press conference in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 3, 2014.

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Demon-expelling ritual at Kofuku-ji temple in Nara

NARA, Japan - The "Tsuina-e" ritual to exorcise demons and wish for happiness is performed at the East Golden Hall, a natural treasure, at Kofuku-ji temple in the ancient Japanese capital of Nara on Feb. 3, 2014, as part of the "Setsubun" bean-throwing festival.

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Festival in Nara welcomes demons kicked out elsewhere

TONDABAYASHI, Japan - A traditional Japanese "setsubun" festival commemorating the turn from winter to spring is held at Kimpusenji, a temple on Mt. Yoshino in Nara Prefecture, on Feb. 3, 2014. The festival at the temple in western Japan, which is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, is unique because while other similar events are held to ward off demons and bring in fortune, this one welcomes both.

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Thomas Bach

SOCHI, Russia - Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, speaks at a press conference in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 3, 2014.

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Samuel Locklear

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R) shakes hands with Adm. Samuel Locklear, head of the U.S. Pacific Command, the U.S. military's top commander in the Pacific, at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Feb. 3, 2014.

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Samuel Locklear

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R) holds talks with Adm. Samuel Locklear, head of the U.S. Pacific Command, the U.S. military's top commander in the Pacific, at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Feb. 3, 2014.

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Osaka Mayor Hashimoto

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, who is also co-head of the opposition Japan Restoration Party, heads for a press conference in Osaka on Feb. 3, 2014. Hashimoto officially announced his resignation as mayor and said he will run again in a mayoral election to gain support for his main policy goal -- the merger of Osaka prefectural and municipal governments.

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Rope-supported pine trees glow gold in light

KANAZAWA, Japan - Pine trees supported by ropes and poles glow gold under illumination in Kenroku-en Garden in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Feb. 3, 2014. The support, known as yuki-tsuri (snow suspender), is a technique to protect tree branches from breaking under the weight of snow by means of ropes and bamboo poles.

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Emperor meets Swiss president

TOKYO, Japan - Emperor Akihito (far L), Swiss President Didier Burkhalter (3rd from L), Burkhalter's wife (3rd from R) and Empress Michiko (far R) meet at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Feb. 3, 2014. (Pool photo)

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A foggy Tokyo aerial view

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Feb. 3, 2014, shows an aerial view of a foggy Tokyo area, with Tokyo Skytree at its center.

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A foggy Tokyo aerial view

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Feb. 3, 2014, shows an aerial view of a foggy Tokyo area, with Tokyo Tower at its center.

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Trainee assistance dog boards plane at ANA training center

TOKYO, Japan - A trainee assistance dog boards a plane during training at All Nippon Airways' training center in Tokyo on Feb. 3, 2014.

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Osaka Mayor Hashimoto

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, who is also co-head of the opposition Japan Restoration Party, attends a press conference in Osaka on Feb. 3, 2014. Hashimoto officially announced his resignation as mayor and said he will run again in a mayoral election to gain support for his main policy goal -- the merger of Osaka prefectural and municipal governments.

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Caroline Kennedy

YOKOHAMA, Japan - U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy delivers a speech during a symposium in Yokohama, near Tokyo, on Feb. 3, 2014.

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Osaka Mayor Hashimoto

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, who is also co-head of the opposition Japan Restoration Party, attends a press conference in Osaka on Feb. 3, 2014. Hashimoto officially announced his resignation as mayor and said he will run again in a mayoral election to gain support for his main policy goal -- the merger of Osaka prefectural and municipal governments.

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Trainee assistance dogs board plane at ANA training center

TOKYO, Japan - People with trainee assistance dogs practice boarding a plane at All Nippon Airways' training center in Tokyo on Feb. 3, 2014.

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Osaka Mayor Hashimoto

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, who is also co-head of the opposition Japan Restoration Party, attends a press conference in Osaka on Feb. 3, 2014. Hashimoto officially announced his resignation as mayor and said he will run again in a mayoral election to gain support for his main policy goal -- the merger of Osaka prefectural and municipal governments.

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Osaka Mayor Hashimoto

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, who is also co-head of the opposition Japan Restoration Party, attends a press conference in Osaka on Feb. 3, 2014. Hashimoto officially announced his resignation as mayor and said he will run again in a mayoral election to gain support for his main policy goal -- the merger of Osaka prefectural and municipal governments.

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Osaka Mayor Hashimoto

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, who is also co-head of the opposition Japan Restoration Party, bows during a press conference in Osaka on Feb. 3, 2014. Hashimoto officially announced his resignation as mayor and said he will run again in a mayoral election to gain support for his main policy goal -- the merger of Osaka prefectural and municipal governments.

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Farewell to voice actor Nagai, known for role as Sazae-san's father

TOKYO, Japan - A funeral service is held for voice actor Ichiro Nagai, known as the voice of Sazae-san's father Namihei in the long-running popular television animation series, in Tokyo on Feb. 3, 2014, with his photo and Namihei's image seen among flowers.

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Farmer charges EV with solar power in Miyagi Pref.

SENDAI, Japan - Atsushi Sabusawa, a farmer in Iwanuma, Miyagi Prefecture, charges an electric vehicle with electricity generated from a solar power facility on Feb. 3, 2014. Sabusawa is cooperating with an experimental project in the northeastern Japanese city to store solar powered energy in electric cars and use it for farming based on the concept of local production for local consumption.

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Alberto Zaccheroni

NARITA, Japan - Japan's national men's soccer team manager Alberto Zaccheroni speaks with reporters after arriving at Narita airport near Tokyo on Feb. 3, 2014.

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Tests on solar power generation for farm use begin

SENDAI, Japan - Experiments on solar power generation for use by farmers begin in Iwanuma, Miyagi Prefecture, on Feb. 3, 2014. The project is designed to store photovoltaic electricity in electric vehicles for agricultural use.

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U.S. Navy commander in Japan

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera (L) and Adm. Samuel Locklear (R), head of the U.S. Pacific Command, hold talks at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on Feb. 3, 2014.

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Osaka Mayor Hashimoto

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto (R), who is also co-head of the opposition Japan Restoration Party, speaks at a press conference in Osaka on Feb. 3, 2014. Hashimoto officially announced his resignation as mayor and said he will run again in a mayoral election to gain support for his main policy goal -- the merger of Osaka prefectural and municipal governments. At left is Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui, who is also secretary general of the JRP.

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Osaka Mayor Hashimoto

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, who is also co-head of the opposition Japan Restoration Party, attends a press conference in Osaka on Feb. 3, 2014. Hashimoto officially announced his resignation as mayor and said he will run again in a mayoral election to gain support for his main policy goal -- the merger of Osaka prefectural and municipal governments.

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Sumo wrestlers at bean-throwing festival

NARITA, Japan - Photo shows sumo wrestlers -- grand champion Hakuho (back R) and maegashira Endo (back L) -- during an annual bean-throwing festival, marking the start of spring according to the lunar calendar, at Naritasan Shinsho Temple in Narita, Chiba Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, on Feb. 3, 2014.

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Sumo wrestlers at bean-throwing festival

NARITA, Japan - Photo shows sumo wrestlers -- grand champion Hakuho (back R) and maegashira Endo (back L) -- during an annual bean-throwing festival, marking the start of spring according to the lunar calendar, at Naritasan Shinsho Temple in Narita, Chiba Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, on Feb. 3, 2014.

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Bean-throwing festival

OSAKA, Japan - Photo shows (from R) actress Naomi Zaizen, actress An and Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui during an annual bean-throwing festival, marking the start of spring according to the lunar calendar, at a temple in Neyagawa, Osaka Prefecture, on Feb. 3, 2014.

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Alberto Zaccheroni

NARITA, Japan - Japan's national men's soccer team manager Alberto Zaccheroni speaks with reporters after arriving at Narita airport near Tokyo on Feb. 3, 2014.

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Bean-throwing festival

OSAKA, Japan - Actress An throws beans during an annual bean-throwing festival, marking the start of spring according to the lunar calendar, at a temple in Neyagawa, Osaka Prefecture, on Feb. 3, 2014.

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A foggy Tokyo aerial view

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Feb. 3, 2014, shows an aerial view of a foggy Tokyo area, with Mt. Fuji seen in the background.

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U.S. Navy commander in Japan

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera (L) and Adm. Samuel Locklear, head of the U.S. Pacific Command, shake hands at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on Feb. 3, 2014.

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Demonstration in Thailand

BANGKOK, Thailand - Photo shows a base of antigovernment demonstrators in central Bangkok, Thailand, on Feb. 3, 2014, the day following a general election.

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A foggy Tokyo aerial view

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Feb. 3, 2014, shows an aerial view of a foggy Tokyo area, with Tokyo Tower at its center.

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AUM trial

TOKYO, Japan - Photo shows two buses, each believed to be carrying a former senior member of the AUM Shinrikyo doomsday cult, entering the Tokyo District Court on Feb. 3, 2014. The court in a rare move summoned a death row inmate, Yoshihiro Inoue, as a witness in the trial of Makoto Hirata, following the questioning of another death row inmate in January.

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A foggy Tokyo aerial view

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Feb. 3, 2014, shows an aerial view of a foggy Tokyo area, with the Imperial Palace seen at center R, and Mt. Fuji in the background.

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AUM trial

TOKYO, Japan - A police vehicle leads two buses, each believed to be carrying a former senior member of the AUM Shinrikyo doomsday cult, as the convoy heads to the Tokyo District Court on Feb. 3, 2014. The court in a rare move summoned a death row inmate, Yoshihiro Inoue, as a witness in the trial of Makoto Hirata, following the questioning of another death row inmate in January.

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Naraha town serves as storage site for nuclear waste

SENDAI, Japan - An aerial view of the Maehara district in the town of Naraha in Fukushima Prefecture is seen in two contrasting photos, with the upper image taken on Feb. 26, 2012, and the lower one taken on Sept. 3, 2014. The lower photo shows part of farmland serving as a temporary storage site for nuclear waste generated in decontamination efforts following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident.

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Japanese scientist eyes 'creature-like' robot in Switzerland

ZURICH, Switzerland - Japanese scientist Fumiya Iida shows a new "creature-like" robot he is developing at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland, on Feb. 3, 2014. Iida is seeking to come up with a robot with kangaroo-like leaping powers, bee-like visual abilities and other functions of living things.