Olympic athletes at PM's office

Olympic athletes at PM's office

Japanese figures skaters (back, from L) Mone Chiba, Ami Nakai and Kaori Sakamoto pose for a photo after meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on April 24, 2026. ==Kyodo

Paralympic athlete at PM's office

Paralympic athlete at PM's office

Milan Cortina Paralympic alpine ski silver medalist Momoka Muraoka (R) of Japan receives a gift from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on April 24, 2026.

Olympic, Paralympic athletes at PM's office

Olympic, Paralympic athletes at PM's office

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (L) receives a signed jersey from Milan Cortina Olympic woman's figure skating silver medalist Kaori Sakamoto at the prime minister's office in Tokyo where Olympic and Paralympic athletes were invited on April 24, 2026.

Olympic, Paralympic athletes invited to PM's office

Olympic, Paralympic athletes invited to PM's office

Japanese athletes who competed in the Milan Cortina Olympics and Paralympics pose for a photo with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) at her office in Tokyo on April 24, 2026.

Olympic, Paralympic athletes at PM's office

Olympic, Paralympic athletes at PM's office

Japanese athletes who competed in the Milan Cortina Olympics and Paralympics meet with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (back, C) at her office in Tokyo on April 24, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi

Japan PM Takaichi

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrives at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on April 24, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi

Japan PM Takaichi

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrives at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on April 24, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi

Japan PM Takaichi

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrives at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on April 24, 2026.

Japanese PM Takaichi at parliament

Japanese PM Takaichi at parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a House of Representatives committee session in Tokyo on April 24, 2026.

Japanese PM Takaichi at parliament

Japanese PM Takaichi at parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (standing) speaks during a House of Representatives committee session in Tokyo on April 24, 2026.

Japanese PM Takaichi at parliament

Japanese PM Takaichi at parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a House of Representatives committee session in Tokyo on April 24, 2026.

Bill to create new Japan intelligence committee passes lower house

Bill to create new Japan intelligence committee passes lower house

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara bows after the House of Representatives passed a bill to establish a national intelligence committee during a plenary session in Tokyo on April 23, 2026.

Bill to create new Japan intelligence committee passes lower house

Bill to create new Japan intelligence committee passes lower house

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) smiles after the House of Representatives passed a bill to establish a national intelligence committee during a plenary session in Tokyo on April 23, 2026.

Bill to create new Japan intelligence committee passes lower house

Bill to create new Japan intelligence committee passes lower house

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) bows after the House of Representatives passed a bill to establish a national intelligence committee during a plenary session in Tokyo on April 23, 2026.

Bill to create new Japan intelligence committee passes lower house

Bill to create new Japan intelligence committee passes lower house

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) smiles after the House of Representatives passed a bill to establish a national intelligence committee during a plenary session in Tokyo on April 23, 2026.

Japan-Montenegro talks in Tokyo

Japan-Montenegro talks in Tokyo

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (far R) and Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic (far L) hold talks at the premier's office in Tokyo on April 22, 2026.

Japan-Montenegro meeting in Tokyo

Japan-Montenegro meeting in Tokyo

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) and Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic shake hands ahead of their meeting in Tokyo on April 22, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi marks 6 months in office

Japan PM Takaichi marks 6 months in office

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets the press at the premier's office in Tokyo on April 21, 2026, when she marked six months in office.

Japan PM Takaichi marks 6 months in office

Japan PM Takaichi marks 6 months in office

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets the press at the premier's office in Tokyo on April 21, 2026, when she marked six months in office.

Japan PM Takaichi marks 6 months in office

Japan PM Takaichi marks 6 months in office

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets the press at the premier's office in Tokyo on April 21, 2026, when she marked six months in office.

Japan PM Takaichi marks 6 months in office

Japan PM Takaichi marks 6 months in office

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets the press at the premier's office in Tokyo on April 21, 2026, when she marked six months in office.

Japan PM Takaichi marks 6 months in office

Japan PM Takaichi marks 6 months in office

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets the press at the premier's office in Tokyo on April 21, 2026, when she marked six months in office.

Japan PM Takaichi marks 6 months in office

Japan PM Takaichi marks 6 months in office

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets the press at the premier's office in Tokyo on April 21, 2026, when she marked six months in office.

Japan PM Takaichi marks 6 months in office

Japan PM Takaichi marks 6 months in office

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets the press at the premier's office in Tokyo on April 21, 2026, when she marked six months in office.

Japan PM Takaichi marks 6 months in office

Japan PM Takaichi marks 6 months in office

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets the press at the premier's office in Tokyo on April 21, 2026, when she marked six months in office.

Japan Association of Corporate Executives chief Yamaguchi

Japan Association of Corporate Executives chief Yamaguchi

Akio Yamaguchi, head of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives, a major Japanese business lobby known as Keizai Doyukai, holds a press conference in Tokyo on April 21, 2026.

Japan Crown Princess Kiko at ceremony

Japan Crown Princess Kiko at ceremony

Japanese Crown Princess Kiko attends a ceremony of a national convention organized by the Imperial Gift Foundation Boshi-Aiiku-Kai, a Japanese organization promoting maternal and child health, on April 21, 2026, in Tokyo.

Japan Crown Princess Kiko at ceremony

Japan Crown Princess Kiko at ceremony

Japanese Crown Princess Kiko delivers a speech during a ceremony of a national convention organized by the Imperial Gift Foundation Boshi-Aiiku-Kai, a Japanese organization promoting maternal and child health, on April 21, 2026, in Tokyo.

Lawmakers at Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine

Lawmakers at Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine

Ichiro Aisawa (C), who heads a cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers, speaks during a press conference after the group visited the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on April 22, 2026, during its three-day spring festival.

Lawmakers at Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine

Lawmakers at Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine

Minoru Kiuchi (R), Japanese economic and fiscal policy minister, meets the press after visiting the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on April 22, 2026, during its three-day spring festival.

Japan emperor, empress meet with Montenegrin president

Japan emperor, empress meet with Montenegrin president

Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic (2nd from L) greets Japanese Emperor Naruhito (2nd from R) and Empress Masako (far R) at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on April 21, 2026. (Pool photo)

Japan emperor, empress meet with Montenegrin president

Japan emperor, empress meet with Montenegrin president

Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic (2nd from L) meets with Japanese Emperor Naruhito (2nd from R) and Empress Masako (far R) at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on April 21, 2026. (Pool photo)

Lawmakers at Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine

Lawmakers at Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine

A cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers visits the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on the occasion of its three-day spring festival on April 22, 2026.

Japan eases arms export rules to enable weapons sales

Japan eases arms export rules to enable weapons sales

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara holds a press conference at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on April 21, 2026, following a Cabinet decision to revise limits on Japan's defense equipment exports to enable the sale of weapons overseas.

Japan eases arms export rules to enable weapons sales

Japan eases arms export rules to enable weapons sales

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara holds a press conference at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on April 21, 2026, following a Cabinet decision to revise limits on Japan's defense equipment exports to enable the sale of weapons overseas.

Japan eases arms export rules to enable weapons sales

Japan eases arms export rules to enable weapons sales

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara holds a press conference at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on April 21, 2026, following a Cabinet decision to revise limits on Japan's defense equipment exports to enable the sale of weapons overseas.

Football: ACLE

Football: ACLE

Vissel Kobe players are pictured after the Japanese team lost to Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli in an Asian Champions League Elite semifinal match on April 20, 2026, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Japanese lawmaker visits Yasukuni shrine

Japanese lawmaker visits Yasukuni shrine

Fumitake Fujita, co-leader of the Japan Innovation Party, a ruling coalition partner of the Liberal Democratic Party, visits the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on April 21, 2026, the first day of the three-day spring festival.

Japanese lawmaker visits Yasukuni shrine

Japanese lawmaker visits Yasukuni shrine

Fumitake Fujita, co-leader of the Japan Innovation Party, a ruling coalition partner of the Liberal Democratic Party, visits the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on April 21, 2026, the first day of the three-day spring festival.

Japanese lawmaker visits Yasukuni shrine

Japanese lawmaker visits Yasukuni shrine

Fumitake Fujita, co-leader of the Japan Innovation Party, a ruling coalition partner of the Liberal Democratic Party, speaks to the press after visiting the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on April 21, 2026, the first day of the three-day spring festival.

Japan PM Takaichi's ritual offering to Yasukuni shrine

Japan PM Takaichi's ritual offering to Yasukuni shrine

Photo taken at the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on April 21, 2026, shows the "masakaki" ritual offering (L) sent by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for the Shinto shrine's three-day spring festival. Takaichi, who had routinely visited the shrine before taking office last October, appears to have sent the offering instead of visiting.

Japan PM Takaichi's ritual offering to Yasukuni shrine

Japan PM Takaichi's ritual offering to Yasukuni shrine

Photo taken at the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on April 21, 2026, shows the "masakaki" ritual offering (L) sent by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for the Shinto shrine's three-day spring festival. Takaichi, who had routinely visited the shrine before taking office last October, appears to have sent the offering instead of visiting.

Japan-Britain foreign ministerial talks

Japan-Britain foreign ministerial talks

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi (R) and British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper shake hands in Tokyo on April 20, 2026, after signing a memorandum of cooperation to assist in evacuating their nationals in the event of emergencies in third countries.

Japan-Britain foreign ministerial talks

Japan-Britain foreign ministerial talks

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi (R) and British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper shake hands in Tokyo on April 20, 2026.

Japan-Britain foreign ministerial talks

Japan-Britain foreign ministerial talks

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi (R) and British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper hold a joint press conference following their talks in Tokyo on April 20, 2026.

M7.7 quake jolts northeastern, northern Japan

M7.7 quake jolts northeastern, northern Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets the press at the premier's office in Tokyo on April 20, 2026, after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake jolted northeastern and northern Japan.

M7.7 quake jolts northeastern, northern Japan

M7.7 quake jolts northeastern, northern Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets the press at the premier's office in Tokyo on April 20, 2026, after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake jolted northeastern and northern Japan.

M7.7 quake jolts northeastern, northern Japan

M7.7 quake jolts northeastern, northern Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets the press at the premier's office in Tokyo on April 20, 2026, after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake jolted northeastern and northern Japan.

M7.7 quake jolts northeastern, northern Japan

M7.7 quake jolts northeastern, northern Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets the press at the premier's office in Tokyo on April 20, 2026, after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake jolted northeastern and northern Japan.

M7.7 quake jolts northeastern, northern Japan

M7.7 quake jolts northeastern, northern Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets the press at the premier's office in Tokyo on April 20, 2026, after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake jolted northeastern and northern Japan.