Ogasawara Islands to be World Heritage sites

Ogasawara Islands to be World Heritage sites

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken in October 2007 shows Futami port on Chichijima Island, part of the Ogasawara Islands off Tokyo. An advisory panel to UNESCO has recommended registering the islands and the Hiraizumi area in northeastern Japan as World Heritage sites, the Japanese government said May 7, 2011.

Headquarters of Toyo Machinery & Metal Co.

Headquarters of Toyo Machinery & Metal Co.

Exterior view of the head office on August 5, 2019, Futami-cho, Akashi City, Hyogo Prefecture; Credit: Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun / Kyodo News Images

Headquarters of Toyo Machinery & Metal Co.

Headquarters of Toyo Machinery & Metal Co.

Exterior view of the head office on August 5, 2019, Futami-cho, Akashi City, Hyogo Prefecture; Credit: Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun / Kyodo News Images

Couple rocks at Ise Futamigaura

Couple rocks at Ise Futamigaura

Fufuiwa (man and wife rock) is located in Futami-cho of Watarai-gun of Mie prefecture. The larger rock is a height of 9 m and a circumference of 44 m. The smaller rock has 4 m in height, and 10 m circumference. A great Shimenawa (rope decoration) connects the two, and is a symbol of harmonious man and wife and forming nuptial ties.==Date:unknown, Place:Mie, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number46‐138‐0]

Ogasawara Islands to be World Heritage sites

Ogasawara Islands to be World Heritage sites

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken in October 2007 shows Futami port on Chichijima Island, part of the Ogasawara Islands off Tokyo. An advisory panel to UNESCO has recommended registering the islands and the Hiraizumi area in northeastern Japan as World Heritage sites, the Japanese government said May 7, 2011. (Kyodo)

Heavy rain in southwestern Japan

Heavy rain in southwestern Japan

The Futami River is swollen in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, due to heavy rain, on July 3, 2019. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Heavy rain in southwestern Japan

Heavy rain in southwestern Japan

The Futami River is swollen in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, due to heavy rain, on July 3, 2019. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Superfriendly fish at aquarium demands petting, toothbrushing

Superfriendly fish at aquarium demands petting, toothbrushing

A longtooth grouper called Futami No. 1 at Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium in the central Japan city of Nagoya demands to be petted on Dec. 14, 2016. The one-meter-long fish, which has become so accustomed to humans, also has its teeth brushed by its keeper. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Superfriendly fish at aquarium demands petting, toothbrushing

Superfriendly fish at aquarium demands petting, toothbrushing

Hitoshi Okamoto, a keeper at Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium in the central Japan city of Nagoya, brushes the teeth of a longtooth grouper called Futami No. 1 on Dec. 14, 2016. The one-meter-long fish, which has become so accustomed to humans, also demands to be petted. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo