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

INI member Ozaki plays Yoshitsune in Iwate festival

Takumi Ozaki (C) of Japanese boy band INI waves to spectators as he plays the role of 12th-century warrior Minamoto no Yoshitsune during a parade in Hiraizumi in the northeastern Japan prefecture of Iwate on May 3, 2025.

E

INI member Ozaki plays Yoshitsune in Iwate festival

Takumi Ozaki of Japanese boy band INI waves to spectators as he plays the role of 12th-century warrior Minamoto no Yoshitsune during a parade in Hiraizumi in the northeastern Japan prefecture of Iwate on May 3, 2025.

E

Actor Yamamoto plays Yoshitsune in Iwate festival

HIRAIZUMI, Japan - Playing the role of Minamoto no Yoshitsune, a tragic warrior in the 12th century, in a parade, actor Yusuke Yamamoto waves on horseback to spectators in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture, on May 3, 2014, during the "Haruno Fujiwara Matsuri" (Spring Fujiwara Festival). The cultural heritage of Hiraizumi has been included on the World Heritage List.

E

World Heritage site certificate for Hiraizumi

HIRAIZUMI, Japan - Irina Bokova (L), director general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, hands a certificate showing the listing of the town of Hiraizumi in Iwate Prefecture as a World Heritage Site to Iwate Gov. Takuya Tasso (C) in the northeastern Japan town on Feb. 13, 2012. The temples, gardens and archaeological sites of Hiraizumi, in one of the prefectures severely ravaged by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, were inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage list in 2011.

E

Autumn leaves at Chusonji temple

HIRAIZUMI, Japan - People view on Nov. 8, 2011, autumn leaves along the approach road to Chusonji, a Buddhist temple in the town of Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture, in northeastern Japan. After a sharp drop in the wake of the March 11 quake-tsunami disaster, the temple has seen an increase in visitors since June when the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's World Heritage Committee authorized the Hiraizumi area as a new World Heritage cultural site.

E

U.S. envoy calls on people to visit Tohoku

HIRAIZUMI, Japan - U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos (2nd from R) tours the Golden Hall of Chusonji, one of the Buddhist temples in the ancient town of Hiraizumi, a recently registered UNESCO World Heritage cultural site in Iwate Prefecture, on June 29, 2011. Roos called on people to visit northeastern Japan and help boost tourism in the area hit hard by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

E

Iwate leaders welcome UNESCO decision on Hiraizumi

PARIS, France - Masayoshi Sugawara, mayor of Hiraizumi in Iwate Prefecture, speaks to reporters in Paris on June 25, 2011, as Iwate Gov. Takuya Tasso (R) looks on, after the ancient town's Buddhist temples and landscape were approved as a UNESCO World Heritage cultural site. Sugawara said he expects the registration of the site to contribute to the reconstruction of northeastern Japan following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

E

Hiraizumi recognized as World Heritage site

HIRAIZUMI, Japan - People visit Konjikido Sheath Hall of Chusonji, a Buddhist temple in the Hiraizumi area, on June 25, 2011, which the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's World Heritage Committee authorized as a new World Heritage cultural site during a meeting in Paris the same day.

E

Hiraizumi recognized as World Heritage site

HIRAIZUMI, Japan - People visit Konjikido Sheath Hall of Chusonji, a Buddhist temple in the Hiraizumi area, on June 25, 2011, which the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's World Heritage Committee authorized as a new World Heritage cultural site during a meeting in Paris the same day.

E

Motsuji in Hiraizumi

SENDAI, Japan - File photo taken on May 7, 2011, shows a garden at Motsuji, a Buddhist temple in the historic town of Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. The Hiraizumi area with its historic monuments and sites is a candidate to become a UNESCO World Heritage site.

E

Remains of Muryokoin in Hiraizumi

SENDAI, Japan - File photo taken on May 7, 2011, shows the remains of Muryokoin, a Buddhist temple in the historic town of Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. The Hiraizumi area with its historic monuments and sites is a candidate to become a UNESCO World Heritage site.

E

Remains of Muryokoin in Hiraizumi

SENDAI, Japan - File photo taken on May 7, 2011, shows the remains of Muryokoin, a Buddhist temple in the historic town of Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. The Hiraizumi area with its historic monuments and sites is a candidate to become a UNESCO World Heritage site.

E

Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken in May 2008 shows the historic town of Hiraizumi in Iwate Prefecture. An advisory panel to UNCESCO is expected to decide on registration of the area as a World Heritage site at the June 2011 committee meeting in Paris.

E

Hiraizumi in northeast Japan to be World Heritage site

HIRAIZUMI, Japan - Photo taken May 7, 2011, shows the garden of Motsuji, a Buddhist temple, in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. The Japanese government said the same day that an advisory panel to UNESCO has recommended registering the historic area in northeastern Japan and the Ogasawara Islands off Tokyo as World Heritage sites.

E

Hiraizumi in northeast Japan to be World Heritage site

HIRAIZUMI, Japan - Photo taken May 7, 2011, shows Chusonji, a Buddhist temple, in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. An advisory panel to UNESCO has recommended registering the historic area in northeastern Japan and the Ogasawara Islands off Tokyo as World Heritage sites, the Japanese government said the same day.

E

Hiraizumi in northeast Japan to be World Heritage site

HIRAIZUMI, Japan - Masayoshi Sugawara, mayor of Hiraizumi, a town in Iwate Prefecture, smiles as he meets the press May 7, 2011, in the town following reports that an advisory panel to UNESCO has recommended registering the Hiraizumi area in northeastern Japan and the Ogasawara Islands off Tokyo as World Heritage sites. Behind him is a poster of the Golden Hall at Chusonji, a Buddhist temple, in Hiraizumi.

E

Ogasawara Islands to be World Heritage sites

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken in July 2008 shows Minamijima 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.

E

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.

E

Hiraizumi in northeast Japan to be World Heritage site

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken in May 2008 shows Chusonji, a Buddhist temple known for its Golden Hall, located in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. An advisory panel to UNESCO has recommended registering the historic area in northeastern Japan and the Ogasawara Islands off Tokyo as World Heritage sites, the Japanese government said May 7, 2011.

E

Buddhist monk arrested for alleged lewd acts on minor

MORIOKA, Japan - Elder monks at Chusonji, a renowned Buddhist temple in the town of Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture, bow in apology during a new conference at the temple on April 14, 2010, after Risshu Sasaki, a 31-year-old male monk at the temple, was arrested on suspicion of engaging in lewd acts on a 16-year-old girl.

E

Lee speaks about impressions of Japan visit

HIRAIZUMI, Japan - Former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui, accompanied by his wife Tseng Wen-fui, speaks about impressions of his 11-day Japan visit in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture, on June 4. Arriving in Tokyo on May 30, Lee said he will follow in the footsteps of 17th century haiku master Matsuo Basho.

E

Lotus blooms from 800-year-old seed

HIRAIZUMI, Japan - A lotus blooms on July 25 from an 800-year-old seed in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. The seed was one of the eight found four year ago when Chusonji Temple was being excavated.

E

(4)Damage from strong quake in northeast Japan

HIRAIZUMI, Japan - Damage to the main gate of Motsuji Temple in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture is shown in a May 27 photo following a powerful earthquake that hit northeastern Japan the previous day.

E

(2)Tokyo Station, Iwate Noh stage proposed as cultural assets

HIRAIZUMI, Japan - The Noh stage at Hakusan Shrine (in file photo) located within Chusonji Temple in Iwate Prefecture was among eight structures proposed April 18 by the Cultural Affairs Agency to be designated as nationally important cultural assets.

E

Computer software PONANZA against Japanese chess master

Photo taken April 9, 2016, shows Japan's Takayuki Yamasaki, a professional shogi, or Japanese chess, player, during a match against PONANZA, a computer software, at Chuson-ji Temple in the northeastern Japan town of Hiraizumi. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Computer software PONANZA against Japanese chess master

Photo taken April 9, 2016, shows Japan's Takayuki Yamasaki (far R), a professional shogi, or Japanese chess, player, during a match against PONANZA, a computer software, at Chuson-ji Temple in the northeastern Japan town of Hiraizumi. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Lotus blooms from 800-year-old seed

HIRAIZUMI, Japan - A lotus blooms on July 25 from an 800-year-old seed in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. The seed was one of the eight found four year ago when Chusonji Temple was being excavated. (Kyodo)

E

Lee speaks about impressions of Japan visit

HIRAIZUMI, Japan - Former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui, accompanied by his wife Tseng Wen-fui, speaks about impressions of his 11-day Japan visit in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture, on June 4. Arriving in Tokyo on May 30, Lee said he will follow in the footsteps of 17th century haiku master Matsuo Basho. (Kyodo)

E

(2)Tokyo Station, Iwate Noh stage proposed as cultural assets

HIRAIZUMI, Japan - The Noh stage at Hakusan Shrine (in file photo) located within Chusonji Temple in Iwate Prefecture was among eight structures proposed April 18 by the Cultural Affairs Agency to be designated as nationally important cultural assets. (Kyodo)

E

Tokyo Olympic torch relay

Calligrapher and Tokyo Olympic torch relay runner Souun Takeda poses on the grounds of Chuson-ji temple in the Iwate Prefecture town of Hiraizumi, northeastern Japan, on June 18, 2021.

E

Tokyo Olympic torch relay

Calligrapher Souun Takeda runs during the Tokyo Olympic torch relay on the grounds of Chuson-ji temple in the Iwate Prefecture town of Hiraizumi, northeastern Japan, on June 18, 2021.

E

Tokyo Olympic torch relay

Calligrapher Souun Takeda runs during the Tokyo Olympic torch relay on the grounds of Chuson-ji temple in the Iwate Prefecture town of Hiraizumi, northeastern Japan, on June 18, 2021.

E

Tokyo Olympic torch relay

Calligrapher Souun Takeda runs during the Tokyo Olympic torch relay in the Iwate Prefecture town of Hiraizumi, northeastern Japan, on June 18, 2021.

E

Tokyo Olympic torch relay

Calligrapher Souun Takeda runs during the Tokyo Olympic torch relay in the Iwate Prefecture town of Hiraizumi, northeastern Japan, on June 18, 2021.

E

U.S. envoy calls on people to visit Tohoku

HIRAIZUMI, Japan - U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos (2nd from R) tours the Golden Hall of Chusonji, one of the Buddhist temples in the ancient town of Hiraizumi, a recently registered UNESCO World Heritage cultural site in Iwate Prefecture, on June 29, 2011. Roos called on people to visit northeastern Japan and help boost tourism in the area hit hard by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. (Kyodo)

E

Iwate leaders welcome UNESCO decision on Hiraizumi

PARIS, France - Masayoshi Sugawara, mayor of Hiraizumi in Iwate Prefecture, speaks to reporters in Paris on June 25, 2011, as Iwate Gov. Takuya Tasso (R) looks on, after the ancient town's Buddhist temples and landscape were approved as a UNESCO World Heritage cultural site. Sugawara said he expects the registration of the site to contribute to the reconstruction of northeastern Japan following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. (Kyodo)

E

Hiraizumi recognized as World Heritage site

HIRAIZUMI, Japan - People visit Konjikido Sheath Hall of Chusonji, a Buddhist temple in the Hiraizumi area, on June 25, 2011, which the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's World Heritage Committee authorized as a new World Heritage cultural site during a meeting in Paris the same day. (Kyodo)

E

Hiraizumi recognized as World Heritage site

HIRAIZUMI, Japan - People visit Konjikido Sheath Hall of Chusonji, a Buddhist temple in the Hiraizumi area, on June 25, 2011, which the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's World Heritage Committee authorized as a new World Heritage cultural site during a meeting in Paris the same day. (Kyodo)

E

Remains of Muryokoin in Hiraizumi

SENDAI, Japan - File photo taken on May 7, 2011, shows the remains of Muryokoin, a Buddhist temple in the historic town of Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. The Hiraizumi area with its historic monuments and sites is a candidate to become a UNESCO World Heritage site. (Kyodo)

E

Remains of Muryokoin in Hiraizumi

SENDAI, Japan - File photo taken on May 7, 2011, shows the remains of Muryokoin, a Buddhist temple in the historic town of Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. The Hiraizumi area with its historic monuments and sites is a candidate to become a UNESCO World Heritage site. (Kyodo)

E

Motsuji in Hiraizumi

SENDAI, Japan - File photo taken on May 7, 2011, shows a garden at Motsuji, a Buddhist temple in the historic town of Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. The Hiraizumi area with its historic monuments and sites is a candidate to become a UNESCO World Heritage site. (Kyodo)

E

Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken in May 2008 shows the historic town of Hiraizumi in Iwate Prefecture. An advisory panel to UNCESCO is expected to decide on registration of the area as a World Heritage site at the June 2011 committee meeting in Paris. (Kyodo)

E

Hiraizumi in northeast Japan to be World Heritage site

HIRAIZUMI, Japan - Photo taken May 7, 2011, shows the garden of Motsuji, a Buddhist temple, in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. The Japanese government said the same day that an advisory panel to UNESCO has recommended registering the historic area in northeastern Japan and the Ogasawara Islands off Tokyo as World Heritage sites. (Kyodo)

E

Hiraizumi in northeast Japan to be World Heritage site

HIRAIZUMI, Japan - Masayoshi Sugawara, mayor of Hiraizumi, a town in Iwate Prefecture, smiles as he meets the press May 7, 2011, in the town following reports that an advisory panel to UNESCO has recommended registering the Hiraizumi area in northeastern Japan and the Ogasawara Islands off Tokyo as World Heritage sites. Behind him is a poster of the Golden Hall at Chusonji, a Buddhist temple, in Hiraizumi. (Kyodo)

E

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)

E

Hiraizumi in northeast Japan to be World Heritage site

HIRAIZUMI, Japan - Photo taken May 7, 2011, shows Chusonji, a Buddhist temple, in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. An advisory panel to UNESCO has recommended registering the historic area in northeastern Japan and the Ogasawara Islands off Tokyo as World Heritage sites, the Japanese government said the same day. (Kyodo)

E

Ogasawara Islands to be World Heritage sites

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken in July 2008 shows Minamijima 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)

E

Hiraizumi in northeast Japan to be World Heritage site

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken in May 2008 shows Chusonji, a Buddhist temple known for its Golden Hall, located in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. An advisory panel to UNESCO has recommended registering the historic area in northeastern Japan and the Ogasawara Islands off Tokyo as World Heritage sites, the Japanese government said May 7, 2011. (Kyodo)

E

Buddhist monk arrested for alleged lewd acts on minor

MORIOKA, Japan - Elder monks at Chusonji, a renowned Buddhist temple in the town of Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture, bow in apology during a new conference at the temple on April 14, 2010, after Risshu Sasaki, a 31-year-old male monk at the temple, was arrested on suspicion of engaging in lewd acts on a 16-year-old girl. (Kyodo)

E

World Heritage site certificate for Hiraizumi

HIRAIZUMI, Japan - Irina Bokova (L), director general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, hands a certificate showing the listing of the town of Hiraizumi in Iwate Prefecture as a World Heritage Site to Iwate Gov. Takuya Tasso (C) in the northeastern Japan town on Feb. 13, 2012. The temples, gardens and archaeological sites of Hiraizumi, in one of the prefectures severely ravaged by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, were inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage list in 2011. (Kyodo)