Ex-Japan governor sent sexually harassing texts to staff

Ex-Japan governor sent sexually harassing texts to staff

File photo shows Fukui Gov. Tatsuji Sugimoto speaking at a press conference in Fukui, central Japan, on Dec. 4, 2025, after the prefectural parliament approved his resignation over a sexual harassment allegation. An investigative report by external lawyers said on Jan. 7, 2026, that he sent some 1,000 sexually harassing texts to multiple female staff of the local government and touched female staff members' bodies several times.

CES tech show in Las Vegas

CES tech show in Las Vegas

Photo taken in Las Vegas on Jan. 4, 2026, shows an advertisement board for the four-day CES technology show ahead of its opening in the U.S. city on Jan. 6.

CES tech show in Las Vegas

CES tech show in Las Vegas

Photo taken in Las Vegas on Jan. 4, 2026, shows an advertisement board for the four-day CES technology show ahead of its opening in the U.S. city on Jan. 6.

CES tech show in Las Vegas

CES tech show in Las Vegas

Samsung Electronics Co. holds a press conference in Las Vegas on Jan. 4, 2026, ahead of the four-day CES technology show opening in the U.S. city on Jan. 6.

CES tech show in Las Vegas

CES tech show in Las Vegas

Samsung Electronics Co. holds a press conference in Las Vegas on Jan. 4, 2026, ahead of the four-day CES technology show opening in the U.S. city on Jan. 6.

CES tech show in Las Vegas

CES tech show in Las Vegas

Samsung Electronics Co. holds a press conference in Las Vegas on Jan. 4, 2026, ahead of the four-day CES technology show opening in the U.S. city on Jan. 6.

Tea-leaf spill causes multi-vehicle crash in eastern Japan, kills 1

Tea-leaf spill causes multi-vehicle crash in eastern Japan, kills 1

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows tea leaves scattered on a road in Sano in Tochigi Prefecture, eastern Japan, on Jan. 4, 2026. The tea leaves spilled from a moving truck on the road, causing drivers of vehicles behind it to lose control and leading to a multi-vehicle crash resulting in the death of one man.

Football: Spanish La Liga

Football: Spanish La Liga

Takefusa Kubo (C) of Real Sociedad plays in a Spanish La Liga football match against Atletico Madrid in San Sebastian, Spain, on Jan. 4, 2026.

Football: Spanish La Liga

Football: Spanish La Liga

Takefusa Kubo (R) of Real Sociedad plays in a Spanish La Liga football match against Atletico Madrid in San Sebastian, Spain, on Jan. 4, 2026.

Year's 1st pufferfish auction in western Japan

Year's 1st pufferfish auction in western Japan

The year's first "fugu" pufferfish auction is held at a market in Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, in the early hours of Jan. 4, 2026.

Year's 1st pufferfish auction in western Japan

Year's 1st pufferfish auction in western Japan

The year's first "fugu" pufferfish auction is held at a market in Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, in the early hours of Jan. 4, 2026.

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period (794-1185), at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2026.

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period (794-1185), at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2026.

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period (794-1185), at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2026.

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period (794-1185), at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2026.

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period (794-1185), at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2026.

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period (794-1185), at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2026.

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period (794-1185), at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2026.

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period (794-1185), at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2026.

Ski jumping: Four Hills tournament

Ski jumping: Four Hills tournament

Ren Nikaido (C) of Japan poses after winning gold at the Four Hills ski jumping tournament in Innsbruck, Austria, on Jan. 4, 2026, alongside silver medalist Domen Prevc (L) of Slovenia and bronze medalist Stephan Embacher of Austria.

Ski jumping: Four Hills tournament

Ski jumping: Four Hills tournament

Ren Nikaido of Japan celebrates after winning gold at the Four Hills ski jumping tournament in Innsbruck, Austria, on Jan. 4, 2026.

Ski jumping: Four Hills tournament

Ski jumping: Four Hills tournament

Ren Nikaido of Japan celebrates after winning gold at the Four Hills ski jumping tournament in Innsbruck, Austria, on Jan. 4, 2026.

Ski jumping: Four Hills tournament

Ski jumping: Four Hills tournament

Ren Nikaido of Japan competes en route to winning gold at the Four Hills ski jumping tournament in Innsbruck, Austria, on Jan. 4, 2026.

Ski jumping: Four Hills tournament

Ski jumping: Four Hills tournament

Ren Nikaido of Japan competes en route to winning gold at the Four Hills ski jumping tournament in Innsbruck, Austria, on Jan. 4, 2026.

Ski jumping: Four Hills tournament

Ski jumping: Four Hills tournament

Ren Nikaido of Japan competes en route to winning gold at the Four Hills ski jumping tournament in Innsbruck, Austria, on Jan. 4, 2026.

Ski jumping: Four Hills tournament

Ski jumping: Four Hills tournament

Ren Nikaido of Japan competes en route to winning gold at the Four Hills ski jumping tournament in Innsbruck, Austria, on Jan. 4, 2026.

Ski jumping: Four Hills tournament

Ski jumping: Four Hills tournament

Ren Nikaido of Japan competes en route to winning gold at the Four Hills ski jumping tournament in Innsbruck, Austria, on Jan. 4, 2026.

Football: Spanish La Liga

Football: Spanish La Liga

Takefusa Kubo (R) of Real Sociedad plays in a Spanish La Liga football match against Atletico Madrid in San Sebastian, Spain, on Jan. 4, 2026.

Football: Spanish La Liga

Football: Spanish La Liga

Takefusa Kubo (R) of Real Sociedad plays in a Spanish La Liga football match against Atletico Madrid in San Sebastian, Spain, on Jan. 4, 2026.

Football: Spanish La Liga

Football: Spanish La Liga

Takefusa Kubo (L) of Real Sociedad plays in a Spanish La Liga football match against Atletico Madrid in San Sebastian, Spain, on Jan. 4, 2026.

N. Korea conducts test launches of hypersonic missiles

N. Korea conducts test launches of hypersonic missiles

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi meets the press in Tokyo on Jan. 4, 2026, after North Korea test-fired hypersonic missiles earlier in the day.

Tennis: Wimbledon championships

Tennis: Wimbledon championships

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain plays against Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany in the men's singles third round at the Wimbledon tennis tournament in London on July 4, 2025.

Tennis: Wimbledon championships

Tennis: Wimbledon championships

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain reacts after beating Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany in the men's singles third round at the Wimbledon tennis tournament in London on July 4, 2025.

Tennis: Wimbledon championships

Tennis: Wimbledon championships

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain plays against Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany in the men's singles third round at the Wimbledon tennis tournament in London on July 4, 2025.

Lantern festival in quake-hit central Japan town

Lantern festival in quake-hit central Japan town

People carry giant lantern floats called kiriko during the Abare fire festival, dating back to the 17th century, in Noto, a town in the central Japan prefecture of Ishikawa on July 4, 2025, devastated by a powerful quake that hit the region on Jan. 1, 2024.

Lantern festival in quake-hit central Japan town

Lantern festival in quake-hit central Japan town

People carry giant lantern floats called kiriko during the Abare fire festival, dating back to the 17th century, in Noto, a town in the central Japan prefecture of Ishikawa on July 4, 2025, devastated by a powerful quake that hit the region on Jan. 1, 2024.

Lantern festival in quake-hit central Japan town

Lantern festival in quake-hit central Japan town

People carry a giant lantern float called kiriko during the Abare festival, dating back to the 17th century, in Noto, a town in the central Japan prefecture of Ishikawa, on July 4, 2025. The area was devastated by a powerful quake that hit the region on Jan. 1, 2024.

Lantern festival in quake-hit central Japan town

Lantern festival in quake-hit central Japan town

People carry giant lantern floats called kiriko during the Abare festival, dating back to the 17th century, in Noto, a town in the central Japan prefecture of Ishikawa on July 4, 2025, devastated by a powerful quake that hit the region on Jan. 1, 2024.

Giant float parades in quake-hit Ishikawa Pref. city

Giant float parades in quake-hit Ishikawa Pref. city

A giant float parades during a Seihaku-sai festival on May 4, 2025, in Nanao, an Ishikawa Prefecture city devastated by the massive Jan. 1, 2024 earthquake, following a hiatus in 2024 due to the disaster.

Giant float parades in quake-hit Ishikawa Pref. city

Giant float parades in quake-hit Ishikawa Pref. city

A giant float parades during a Seihaku-sai festival on May 4, 2025, in Nanao, an Ishikawa Prefecture city devastated by the massive Jan. 1, 2024 earthquake, following a hiatus in 2024 due to the disaster.

Giant float parades in quake-hit Ishikawa Pref. city

Giant float parades in quake-hit Ishikawa Pref. city

A giant float parades during a Seihaku-sai festival on May 4, 2025, in Nanao, an Ishikawa Prefecture city devastated by the massive Jan. 1, 2024 earthquake, following a hiatus in 2024 due to the disaster.

Carp streamers in quake-hit Ishikawa Pref. city

Carp streamers in quake-hit Ishikawa Pref. city

"Koinobori" carp streamers fly on May 4, 2025, over a field in Suzu, an Ishikawa Prefecture city devastated by the massive Jan. 1, 2024 earthquake, following a hiatus in 2024 due to the disaster.

Carp streamers in quake-hit Ishikawa Pref. city

Carp streamers in quake-hit Ishikawa Pref. city

"Koinobori" carp streamers fly on May 4, 2025, over a field in Suzu, an Ishikawa Prefecture city devastated by the massive Jan. 1, 2024 earthquake, following a hiatus in 2024 due to the disaster.

Japanese actresses Sairi Ito, Kanna Hashimoto

Japanese actresses Sairi Ito, Kanna Hashimoto

TOKYO, Japan, Jan. 8 Kyodo - Japanese actresses Sairi Ito (L) and Kanna Hashimoto exchange presents during a ceremony in the western Japan city of Osaka on Sept. 4, 2024, to mark the upcoming end of public broadcaster NHK's morning drama series and start of the next one. The handover ceremony involves the actors playing the lead roles of the two series.

Year's 1st pufferfish auction in western Japan

Year's 1st pufferfish auction in western Japan

The year's first "fugu" pufferfish auction is held at a market in Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, in the early hours of Jan. 4, 2025.

Year's 1st pufferfish auction in western Japan

Year's 1st pufferfish auction in western Japan

The year's first "fugu" pufferfish auction is held at a market in Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, in the early hours of Jan. 4, 2025.

Football: Premier League

Football: Premier League

Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma (front) plays in a Premier League football match against Arsenal in Brighton, England, on Jan. 4, 2025.

Football: Premier League

Football: Premier League

Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma plays in a Premier League football match against Arsenal in Brighton, England, on Jan. 4, 2025.

Return rush of New Year holidaymakers in Japan

Return rush of New Year holidaymakers in Japan

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows Tokyo-bound lanes on the Tomei Expressway packed with cars in Ayase, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Jan. 4, 2025, as the New Year's holiday season nears its end.

Return rush of New Year holidaymakers in Japan

Return rush of New Year holidaymakers in Japan

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows Tokyo-bound lanes on the Tomei Expressway packed with cars near the Ebina service area in Kanagawa Prefecture on Jan. 4, 2025, as the New Year's holiday season nears its end.