Japanese snowboarder named honorary consul at Swiss consulate

Japanese snowboarder named honorary consul at Swiss consulate

Japanese snowboarder Tomoka Takeuchi (C, L), a silver medalist at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, is pictured at the opening ceremony for an honorary consulate in Higashikawa on the northernmost Japanese main island of Hokkaido on May 10, 2024, after receiving the certificate from Swiss Ambassador to Japan Andreas Baum (C, R) naming her honorary consul. Takeuchi, 40, trained with Swiss national snowboard team members in Switzerland for five years starting in 2007, and is currently based in the Hokkaido town for training.

Japanese snowboarder named honorary consul at Swiss consulate

Japanese snowboarder named honorary consul at Swiss consulate

Japanese snowboarder Tomoka Takeuchi, a silver medalist at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, speaks during the opening ceremony for an honorary consulate in Higashikawa on the northernmost Japanese main island of Hokkaido on May 10, 2024, after being appointed honorary consul. Takeuchi, 40, trained with Swiss national snowboard team members in Switzerland for five years starting in 2007, and is currently based in the Hokkaido town for training.

Japanese skier Yuichiro Miura

Japanese skier Yuichiro Miura

Japan's 90-year-old adventure skier Yuichiro Miura (R) moves down a slope at Mt. Asahidake in Higashikawa, Hokkaido, northern Japan, on March 14, 2023.

Japanese skier Yuichiro Miura

Japanese skier Yuichiro Miura

Japan's 90-year-old adventure skier Yuichiro Miura (front) moves down a slope at Mt. Asahidake in Higashikawa, Hokkaido, northern Japan, on March 14, 2023.

Mt. Asahi in Hokkaido gets snow

Mt. Asahi in Hokkaido gets snow

HIGASHIKAWA, Japan - Mt. Asahi in Hokkaido is seen snow-covered while leaves around the mountain turn autumnal colors.

Mt. Asahi in Hokkaido gets snow

Mt. Asahi in Hokkaido gets snow

HIGASHIKAWA, Japan - Mt. Asahi in Hokkaido is seen snow-covered while leaves around the mountain turn autumnal colors. (Kyodo)

Young Thais practice cross-country skiing in Hokkaido town

Young Thais practice cross-country skiing in Hokkaido town

Three young Thais practice cross-country skiing in Higashikawa, Hokkaido, on March 5, 2015. The town on Japan's northernmost main island has launched a training program for cross-country skiers from snowless countries to enhance its name recognition overseas. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japan town offers cross-country skiing for people from snowless nations

Japan town offers cross-country skiing for people from snowless nations

Three young Thais pose during cross-country skiing practice in Higashikawa on Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido on March 5, 2015. The town office has launched a training program for cross-country skiers from snowless countries to enhance its name recognition overseas. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Students select pictures for national high school photo contest

Students select pictures for national high school photo contest

Teams of students select pictures matching themes proposed by the organizers of a national high school photo contest in Higashikawa in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido on Aug. 5, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Heavy rain brings flooding to Asahikawa in Hokkaido

Heavy rain brings flooding to Asahikawa in Hokkaido

A car is seen on a flooded road in Asahikawa in Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido on July 3, 2018, following heavy rain. Some 130 people were rescued from a hot spring in the nearby town of Higashikawa after being stranded there due to a flooded river that broke some parts of a road. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo