Locals form World Cup emblem with umbrellas

Locals form World Cup emblem with umbrellas

HASAKI, Japan - Some 540 local people with umbrellas form a huge emblem of the upcoming World Cup soccer finals April 28 at Hasaki beach near Kashima Stadium, one of Japan's 10 World Cup venues, in commemoration of the sport event.

85 whales washed ashore on Ibaraki beach

85 whales washed ashore on Ibaraki beach

MITO, Japan - Melon-headed whales are seen lying on Hasaki beach in Ibaraki Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, on Feb. 25 after being washed ashore. A total of 85 melon-headed whales washed ashore and 32 of them were pushed back into the sea.

10 whales found beached in Ibaraki

10 whales found beached in Ibaraki

HASAKI, Japan - Local residents try to push a beached whale back to the open sea in the town of Hasaki in Ibaraki Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, on Feb. 24. Ten whales measuring 2 to 3 meters in length were found washed ashore earlier in the day in the town, three of them already dead. The other seven whales were pushed back into the sea.

50 whales run ashore on Japanese coast

50 whales run ashore on Japanese coast

HASAKI, Japan - About 50 whales run ashore along a 1-kilometer beach on the coast of Hasaki, Ibaraki Prefecture, on the morning of Feb. 11. Surfers and local residents were busy trying to rescue the whales, which appear to be black whales measuring about 2.5 meters in length, and get them back out to sea. Photo was taken at 9:30 a.m. from a Kyodo News helicopter over the town of Hasaki in the prefecture.

Locals form World Cup emblem with umbrellas

Locals form World Cup emblem with umbrellas

HASAKI, Japan - Some 540 local people with umbrellas form a huge emblem of the upcoming World Cup soccer finals April 28 at Hasaki beach near Kashima Stadium, one of Japan's 10 World Cup venues, in commemoration of the sport event.

10 whales found beached in Ibaraki

10 whales found beached in Ibaraki

HASAKI, Japan - Local residents try to push a beached whale back to the open sea in the town of Hasaki in Ibaraki Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, on Feb. 24. Ten whales measuring 2 to 3 meters in length were found washed ashore earlier in the day in the town, three of them already dead. The other seven whales were pushed back into the sea.

85 whales washed ashore on Ibaraki beach

85 whales washed ashore on Ibaraki beach

MITO, Japan - Melon-headed whales are seen lying on Hasaki beach in Ibaraki Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, on Feb. 25 after being washed ashore. A total of 85 melon-headed whales washed ashore and 32 of them were pushed back into the sea.

50 whales run ashore on Japanese coast

50 whales run ashore on Japanese coast

HASAKI, Japan - About 50 whales run ashore along a 1-kilometer beach on the coast of Hasaki, Ibaraki Prefecture, on the morning of Feb. 11. Surfers and local residents were busy trying to rescue the whales, which appear to be black whales measuring about 2.5 meters in length, and get them back out to sea. Photo was taken at 9:30 a.m. from a Kyodo News helicopter over the town of Hasaki in the prefecture.