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World Exposition in Osaka

(from L) Tottori Gov. Shinji Hirai, Shiga Gov. Taizo Mikazuki, and Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura make a toast during an event to pitch Wakayama Prefecture in the Kansai Pavilion at the World Exposition in Osaka, western Japan, on May 6, 2025. The pavilion showcases exhibitions from nine prefectures in the Kansai region.

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World Exposition in Osaka

Tottori Gov. Shinji Hirai (R) visits the area earmarked for the western Japan prefecture, home to the Tottori Sand Dunes, in the Kansai Pavilion at the 2025 World Exposition site in Osaka on March 23, 2025, ahead of the expo's start in April. The Kansai Pavilion will showcase exhibitions from nine prefectures in the western Japan region.

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Paris Olympics: Swimming

Japan's Mizuki Hirai swims in the third leg of the women's 4x100-meter medley relay final at the Paris Olympics at La Defense Arena in Nanterre near Paris on Aug. 4, 2024.

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Paris Olympics: Swimming

Japanese swimmers (from L), Rio Shirai, Mizuki Hirai, Satomi Suzuki, and Rikako Ikee, are pictured after competing in the women's 4x100-meter medley relay final at the Paris Olympics at La Defense Arena in Nanterre near Paris on Aug. 4, 2024.

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Paris Olympics: Swimming

Japanese swimmers (from L), Rio Shirai, Satomi Suzuki, Mizuki Hirai and Rikako Ikee, are pictured ahead of the women's 4x100-meter medley relay final at the Paris Olympics at La Defense Arena in Nanterre near Paris on Aug. 4, 2024.

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CORRECTED: Paris Olympics: Swimming

Japan's Rikako Ikee (R) is greeted by team members (from L), Rio Shirai, Mizuki Hirai and Satomi Suzuki, after competing in the women's 4x100-meter medley relay final at the Paris Olympics at La Defense Arena in Nanterre near Paris on Aug. 4, 2024.

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Paris Olympics: Swimming

Japanese swimmers (from L), Rikako Ikee, Mizuki Hirai, Satomi Suzuki and Rio Shirai, poses for photos after finishing 5th in the women's 4x100-meter medley relay final at the Paris Olympics at La Defense Arena in Nanterre near Paris on Aug. 4, 2024.

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Japan Post Group and Seino Holdings

Press conference regarding the business alliance between the Japan Post Group and the Seino Holdings for joint trunk line transport operations. Photo shows, from right, Yoshito Minami, Vice President of Japan Post, Tetsuya Senda, President of Japan Post, Satoshi Takahashi, President of Seino Unyu, and Katsumasa Hirai, Executive Officer of Seino Unyu. ＝May 9, 2024, in Tokyo

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Swimming: Olympics qualifying trials

Japanese swimmers Mizuki Hirai (L) and Rikako Ikee celebrate after earning spots at the Paris Olympics in the women's 100-meter butterfly at the qualifying trials on March 18, 2024, at Tokyo Aquatics Centre.

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Swimming: Olympics qualifying trials

Japanese swimmers Mizuki Hirai (R) and Rikako Ikee celebrate after earning spots at the Paris Olympics in the women's 100-meter butterfly at the qualifying trials on March 18, 2024, at Tokyo Aquatics Centre.

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Swimming: Olympics qualifying trials

Japanese swimmers Mizuki Hirai (R) and Rikako Ikee celebrate after earning spots at the Paris Olympics in the women's 100-meter butterfly at the qualifying trials on March 18, 2024, at Tokyo Aquatics Centre.

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Japanese at saxophone competition

Japanese saxophonists Wataru Hirai (front row, L) and Kenta Igarashi (front row, R) are pictured after placing fourth and fifth, respectively, at the prestigious Adolphe Sax International Competition in Dinant, Belgium, on Nov. 11, 2023.

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Japanese at saxophone competition

Japanese saxophonists Wataru Hirai (L) and Kenta Igarashi pose with their certificates after finishing fourth and fifth, respectively, at the prestigious Adolphe Sax International Competition in Dinant, Belgium, on Nov. 11, 2023.

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Asian Games: Weightlifting

Japan's Kaito Hirai lifts 112 kilograms in snatch during the men's weightlifting 61-kg event at the Asian Games on Oct. 1, 2023, in Hangzhou, China.

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Asian Games: Weightlifting

Japan's Kaito Hirai lifts 140 kilograms in the clean and jerk during the men's weightlifting 61-kg event at the Asian Games on Oct. 1, 2023, in Hangzhou, China.

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Former Sony Chairman Hirai

Former Sony Corp. Chairman Kazuo Hirai gives a speech in the central Japan city of Gifu on Feb. 9, 2023.

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Manga character guide panels in Tottori Pref.

TOTTORI, Japan - Tottori Gov. Shinji Hirai (C) poses for photos with characters of the comic series "Gegege no Kitaro" holding guide panels at the Tottori prefectural office in Tottori City on June 23, 2014. The panels are set to be installed along a road connecting Yonago and Sakaiminato.

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Sony Pres. Hirai talks about cyberattack

LAS VEGAS, United States - Sony Corp. President Kazuo Hirai (L) speaks at a press conference in Las Vegas, where he was attending the International Consumer Electronics Show, on Jan. 6, 2015. Regarding the cyberattack in 2014 against Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., Sony's movie studio, Hirai said the company was unable to block it because it was a type never experienced before.

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Comic author, Tottori governor promote local airport

TOTTORI, Japan - Gosho Aoyama (R), author of the popular Japanese comic series "Case Closed" (previously known as "Detective Conan"), and Tottori Gov. Shinji Hirai strike a pose in front of a poster drawn by Aoyama for Tottori Airport during an event in the cartoonist's hometown of Hokuei in the western Japan prefecture on Jan. 3, 2015. With Tottori known for its sand dunes, the airport will be nicknamed Tottori Sakyu (Dune) Conan Airport from March.

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Ichinojo named hometown ambassador for Tottori Pref.

TOTTORI, Japan - Sekiwake Ichinojo (C) poses in Tottori, western Japan, on Dec. 21, 2014, after being named a hometown ambassador for Tottori Prefecture by Gov. Shinji Hirai (2nd from L) as Tokiyoshi Ishiura (far R), manager of Tottori Johoku High School's sumo club to which the Mongolian wrestler belonged, looks on.

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Sony CEO vows to focus on profitability

TOKYO, Japan - Kazuo Hirai, the chief executive of Sony Corp., addresses a meeting with investors and analysts in Tokyo, on Nov. 18, 2014. He said the company will focus on profitability rather than sales volume to return to the black in the next business year.

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Half-Japanese H.K. student leads pro-democracy blitz

HONG KONG, China - Mio Hirai, 20, a senior member of a student group leading a pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, talks about the campaign in the group's office at Hong Kong Baptist University on Nov. 4, 2014. His Japanese mother Etsuko, married to a Chinese man, supports his activities.

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Japanese woman backs son in H.K. prodemocracy campaign

HONG KONG, China - Etsuko Hirai, 44, a Japanese woman living in Hong Kong with her Chinese husband since 1992, stands on a street in Mong Kok, Hong Kong, on Nov. 4, 2014. She supports her 20-year-old son Mio's involvement in a pro-democracy movement as a senior member of a student group leading the campaign.

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Tottori Airport nicknamed 'Dune Conan Airport'

TOTTORI, Japan - A person dressed as Edogawa Conan (C), a protagonist in the popular comic series "Case Closed" (previously known as "Detective Conan"), poses with Tottori Gov. Shinji Hirai (L) on Nov. 13, 2014, at an event marking the nicknaming of the western Japan prefecture's airport as "Tottori Dune Conan Airport" in honor of author Gosho Aoyama, who hails from the prefecture.

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Fukushima farmer hangs persimmons for drying

KOORI, Japan - Kunio Hirai, a farmer in Koori, Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan, hangs persimmons for drying on Nov. 1, 2014. The region's specialty called "ampo-gaki" (semi-dried persimmons) is made by smoking the fruit and drying them for about a month.

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Japan prefectural governors meet press in Beijing

BEIJING, China - Japanese prefectural governors attend a press conference on the occasion of a gubernatorial forum between Japan and China in Beijing on Oct. 28, 2014. From L: Hiroshima Deputy Gov. Yoshiaki Nakashita, Shiga Gov. Taizo Mikazuki, Tottori Gov. Shinji Hirai, Kyoto Gov. Keiji Yamada serving as president of the National Governors Association, Niigata Gov. Hirohiko Izumida, Nagano Gov. Shuichi Abe, and Yamaguchi Gov. Tsugumasa Muraoka.

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Positive outlook on 'wearable' devices, says Sony CEO

BERLIN, Germany - Sony Corp. CEO Kazuo Hirai speaks in an interview at the IFA global trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances in Berlin, Germany, on Sept. 4, 2014. He said the market potential of wearable devices is quite positive, citing a projection that it will grow into a 20 billion dollar business in four years.

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Barcos bags to go on sale at Neiman Marcus

TOTTORI, Japan - Barcos Co. President Takashi Yamamoto (R) shows one of his company's products to Tottori Gov. Shinji Hirai in Tottori City on Sept. 1, 2014. The company's Hanaa-fu brand bags are on sale at luxurious U.S. department store Neiman Marcus. The company's head office is located in Kurayoshi in the western Japanese prefecture.

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Female racing drivers promote Tottori Pref. EV facilities

TOTTORI, Japan - Race car drivers Nanami Tsukamoto (R) and Urara Tachibana pay a courtesy call on Tottori Gov. Shinji Hirai at the prefectural office in Tottori City on July 11, 2014. Their racing team started making a commercial video to publicize the western Japanese prefecture's charging facilities for electric vehicles.

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Gion Festival begins in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Masato Hirai (front) takes part in the "Osendo no Gi" ritual to pray for the safety and success of Gion Matsuri (Gion Festival) at Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto City on July 1, 2014, as the month-long summer festival opened the same day. Hirai was selected as "Chigo," the poster boy who rides on the leading "Naginatahoko" float during the "Yamahoko Jungyo" parade in the festival.

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Good Smile to build plant in Tottori Pref.

TOTTORI, Japan - Takanori Aki (2nd from R), president of Good Smile Company Inc., and Tottori Gov. Shinji Hirai (R) clasp hands at a signing ceremony in Tottori City on June 26, 2014, for the character figure maker's construction of a plant in Kurayoshi, Tottori Prefecture.

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Farmers in Tottori Pref. begin exporting watermelons to H.K.

TOTTORI, Japan - Gov. Shinji Hirai (2nd from L) of Tottori Prefecture and Dole Japan Inc. President Yosuke Watanabe (extreme R) hold a watermelon with other officials in Hokuei in the western Japan prefecture on June 26, 2014, at a launch ceremony to export local watermelons to Hong Kong, China.

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Sony president

TOKYO, Japan - Sony Corp. President Kazuo Hirai is interviewed in Tokyo on May 26, 2014.

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Sony vows to complete restructuring in FY 2014

TOKYO, Japan - Sony Corp. President Kazuo Hirai announces the company's management policy for fiscal 2014, at a press conference at Sony's headquarters in Tokyo on May 22, 2014. Hirai vowed to complete a series of restructuring measures in the business year through March 31, 2015, by selling off the company's personal computer business and drastically cutting costs to revive its flagging electronics operations.

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Sony vows to complete restructuring in FY 2014

TOKYO, Japan - Sony Corp. President Kazuo Hirai announces the company's management policy for fiscal 2014, at a press conference at Sony's headquarters in Tokyo on May 22, 2014. Hirai vowed to complete a series of restructuring measures in the business year through March 31, 2015, by selling off the company's personal computer business and drastically cutting costs to revive its flagging electronics operations.

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Tottori Gov. at Japan-Russia investment forum

TOKYO, Japan - Tottori Gov. Shinji Hirai speaks about economic ties between the western Japan prefecture and Russia's Far East during a Japan-Russia investment forum in Tokyo on March 19, 2014. He expressed his expectation for Russia's contribution to world peace and stability. Tottori is one of Japan's most proactive prefectures in engaging in economic exchanges with the Russian region.

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AKB48 members appointed Tottori sports ambassador

TOTTORI, Japan - Members of the all-girl pop group AKB48 including Reina Fujie (2nd from R) receive a letter of appointment as Tottori Prefecture's sports support ambassador from Gov. Shinji Hirai (L) at a ceremony before the Tottori marathon in the city facing the Sea of Japan on March 16, 2014.

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Sony unveils Xperia Z2 smartphone

BARCELONA, Spain - Kazuo Hirai, president of Sony Corp., speaks at the Mobile World Congress 2014 in Barcelona, Spain, on Feb. 24, 2014. The company unveiled the same day the Xperia Z2, the latest version of its smartphone series, equipped with "4K" video recording technology that displays images at four times the resolution of conventional high definition.

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Sony to fall into red

TOKYO, Japan - Kazuo Hirai, president of Sony Corp., releases the company's latest earnings forecast for the year through March 2014, at a press conference in Tokyo on Feb. 6, 2014. Hirai said Sony is expecting a group net loss of 110 billion yen for the year, against an earlier projected profit of 30 billion yen, citing disposal costs for its personal computer business and sluggish television sales.

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Sony to fall into red

TOKYO, Japan - Kazuo Hirai, president of Sony Corp., ends a press conference in Tokyo on Feb. 6, 2014. Hirai said Sony is expecting a group net loss of 110 billion yen for the year through March 2014, against an earlier projected profit of 30 billion yen, citing disposal costs for its personal computer business and sluggish television sales.

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Sony to fall into red

TOKYO, Japan - Kazuo Hirai, president of Sony Corp., is pictured during a press conference in Tokyo on Feb. 6, 2014. Hirai said Sony is expecting a group net loss of 110 billion yen for the year through March 2014, against an earlier projected profit of 30 billion yen, citing disposal costs for its personal computer business and sluggish television sales.

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International CES

LAS VEGAS, United States - Sony Corp. President Kazuo Hirai delivers a keynote address during the International CES, a global consumer electronics and consumer technology tradeshow, in Las Vegas on Jan. 7, 2014.

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International CES

LAS VEGAS, United States - Sony Corp. President Kazuo Hirai delivers a keynote address during the International CES, a global consumer electronics and consumer technology tradeshow, in Las Vegas on Jan. 7, 2014.

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CEATEC Japan

CHIBA, Japan - Sony Corp. Chief Executive Officer Kazuo Hirai (R) and Panasonic Corp. President Kazuhiro Tsuga exchange words at the CEATEC Japan exhibition at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, east of Tokyo, on Oct. 1, 2013.

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Sony-Olympus tie-up

TOKYO, Japan - Sony Corp. Kazuo Hirai (L) and Olympus Corp. President Hiroyuki Sasa hold a press conference in Tokyo on Oct. 1, 2012, on their new tie-up. Hirai said his company aims to achieve sales of more than 200 billion yen from the medical business through the new tie-up.

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Sony-Olympus tie-up

TOKYO, Japan - Sony Corp. Kazuo Hirai (L) and Olympus Corp. President Hiroyuki Sasa shake hands in a press conference in Tokyo on Oct. 1, 2012, on their new tie-up. Hirai said his company aims to achieve sales of more than 200 billion yen from the medical business through the new tie-up.

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Japan wins bronze in women's 4x100m medley relay

LONDON, Britain - Japan's Haruka Ueda (L), Yuka Kato (2nd from L) and Aya Terakawa (R) celebrate after winning their bronze medals in the women's 4x100 meters medley relay at the 2012 London Olympics, at the Aquatics Centre on Aug. 4, 2012. Seen 2nd from right is Japan's coach Norimasa Hirai.

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Sony President Hirai

TOKYO, Japan - Sony Corp. President Kazuo Hirai gives a press conference at the company's head office in Tokyo on April 12, 2012.

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New Sony President Hirai

TOKYO, Japan - Kazuo Hirai, the new president of Sony Corp., speaks at a press conference at the company's headquarters in Tokyo on April 5, 2012. Hirai assumed the post April 1 in promotion from the post of executive deputy president.

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Sony to replace president

TOKYO, Japan - Sony Corp. President and Chief Executive Officer Howard Stringer (R) and Executive Deputy President Kazuo Hirai shake hands after a press conference in Tokyo on Feb. 2, 2012. Hirai will replace Stringer in April.