Ex-LDP President Tanigaki

Former Japanese Liberal Democratic Party President Sadakazu Tanigaki, a wheelchair user after a cycling accident, walks assisted by a trainer at a training gym event in Tokyo on Nov. 28, 2021. Tanigaki suffered a spinal cord injury after falling from a bicycle in July 2016 and retired from politics in October 2017.

Ex-LDP President Tanigaki

Former Japanese Liberal Democratic Party President Sadakazu Tanigaki, a wheelchair user after a cycling accident, walks assisted by a trainer at a training gym event in Tokyo on Nov. 28, 2021. Tanigaki suffered a spinal cord injury after falling from a bicycle in July 2016 and retired from politics in October 2017.

Horse racing: Contrail bows out after winning Japan Cup

Contrail, ridden by jockey Yuichi Fukunaga, wins the Grade 1 Japan Cup on Nov. 28, 2021, at Tokyo Racecourse. Last year's Japanese Triple Crown winner retired as a winner of eight races, five of those Grade 1 events.

Horse racing: Contrail bows out after winning Japan Cup

Contrail (2), ridden by jockey Yuichi Fukunaga, blows rivals away to win the Grade 1 Japan Cup on Nov. 28, 2021, at Tokyo Racecourse. Last year's Japanese Triple Crown winner retired as a winner of eight races, five of those Grade 1 events.

Horse racing: Contrail bows out after winning Japan Cup

Jockey Yuichi Fukunaga sheds tears after winning the Grade 1 Japan Cup on Nov. 28, 2021, at Tokyo Racecourse. Last year's Japanese Triple Crown winner retired as a winner of eight races, five of those Grade 1 events.

Horse racing: Contrail bows out after winning Japan Cup

Jockey Yuichi Fukunaga sheds tears after winning the Grade 1 Japan Cup on Nov. 28, 2021, at Tokyo Racecourse. Last year's Japanese Triple Crown winner retired as a winner of eight races, five of those Grade 1 events.

Ski jumping: Kobayashi becomes 1st Japanese man to win 20 World Cups

Japanese ski jumper Ryoyu Kobayashi celebrates after picking up his first World Cup win of the season at an event in Ruka, Finland, on Nov. 27, 2021. He became the first Japanese man to reach 20 individual ski jumping World Cup wins.

Ski jumping: Kobayashi becomes 1st Japanese man to win 20 World Cups

Japanese ski jumper Ryoyu Kobayashi is congratulated by people in Santa Claus costume after picking up his first World Cup win of the season at an event in Ruka, Finland, on Nov. 27, 2021. He became the first Japanese man to reach 20 individual ski jumping World Cup wins.

Ski jumping: Kobayashi becomes 1st Japanese man to win 20 World Cups

Japanese ski jumper Ryoyu Kobayashi is congratulated by people in Santa Claus costume after picking up his first World Cup win of the season at an event in Ruka, Finland, on Nov. 27, 2021. He became the first Japanese man to reach 20 individual ski jumping World Cup wins.

Ski jumping: Kobayashi becomes 1st Japanese man to win 20 World Cups

Ryoyu Kobayashi of Japan soars during his first jump at a World Cup ski jumping event in Ruka, Finland, on Nov. 27, 2021. He picked up his first World Cup win of the season and became the first Japanese man to reach 20 individual ski jumping World Cup wins.

Ski jumping: Kobayashi becomes 1st Japanese man to win 20 World Cups

Ryoyu Kobayashi of Japan soars during his first jump at a World Cup ski jumping event in Ruka, Finland, on Nov. 27, 2021. He picked up his first World Cup win of the season and became the first Japanese man to reach 20 individual ski jumping World Cup wins.

Ski jumping: Kobayashi becomes 1st Japanese man to win 20 World Cups

Ryoyu Kobayashi of Japan soars during his first jump at a World Cup ski jumping event in Ruka, Finland, on Nov. 27, 2021. He picked up his first World Cup win of the season and became the first Japanese man to reach 20 individual ski jumping World Cup wins.

Ski jumping: Kobayashi becomes 1st Japanese man to win 20 World Cups

Japanese ski jumper Ryoyu Kobayashi poses after picking up his first World Cup win of the season at an event in Ruka, Finland, on Nov. 27, 2021. He became the first Japanese man to reach 20 individual ski jumping World Cup wins.

Ski jumping: Kobayashi becomes 1st Japanese man to win 20 World Cups

Ryoyu Kobayashi of Japan soars during his second jump at a World Cup ski jumping event in Ruka, Finland, on Nov. 27, 2021. He picked up his first World Cup win of the season and became the first Japanese man to reach 20 individual ski jumping World Cup wins.

Ski jumping: Kobayashi becomes 1st Japanese man to win 20 World Cups

Ryoyu Kobayashi of Japan soars during his first jump at a World Cup ski jumping event in Ruka, Finland, on Nov. 27, 2021. He picked up his first World Cup win of the season and became the first Japanese man to reach 20 individual ski jumping World Cup wins.

Japan PM Kishida at Self-Defense Force base

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida takes a ride in a tank during his visit to the Ground Self-Defense Force's Asaka base straddling Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture on Nov. 27, 2021. (Pool photo)

Japan PM Kishida at Self-Defense Force base

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida takes a ride in a tank during his visit to the Ground Self-Defense Force's Asaka base straddling Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture on Nov. 27, 2021. (Pool photo)

Japan PM Kishida at Self-Defense Force base

Ground Self-Defense Force members listen to a speech by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during his visit to the GSDF's Asaka base straddling Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture on Nov. 27, 2021. (Pool photo)

Japan PM Kishida at Self-Defense Force base

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (front L) visits the Ground Self-Defense Force's Asaka base straddling Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture on Nov. 27, 2021. (Pool photo)

Japan PM Kishida at Self-Defense Force base

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (2nd from L) visits the Ground Self-Defense Force's Asaka base straddling Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture on Nov. 27, 2021. (Pool photo)

Japan PM Kishida at Self-Defense Force base

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida makes a speech during his visit to the Ground Self-Defense Force's Asaka base straddling Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture on Nov. 27, 2021. (Pool photo)

Japan PM Kishida at Self-Defense Force base

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (2nd from L) visits the Ground Self-Defense Force's Asaka base straddling Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture on Nov. 27, 2021. (Pool photo)

Japan's Miss Universe contestant

Juri Watanabe (L), who will represent Japan at the Miss Universe beauty pageant, poses with the Israeli designer of her national costume on Nov. 26, 2021, at the Japanese ambassador's official residence in Herzliya, Israel. The Miss Universe will be held in Israel in December.

Japan's Miss Universe contestant

Juri Watanabe, who will represent Japan at the Miss Universe beauty pageant, poses next to her national costume at the Japanese ambassador's official residence in Herzliya, Israel, on Nov. 26, 2021. The Miss Universe will be held in Israel in December.

Japan Cabinet approves record 36 tril. yen extra budget

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (C) prepares to attend an extraordinary Cabinet meeting in Tokyo on Nov. 26, 2021, to approve a record 36.0 trillion yen ($314 billion) supplementary budget for fiscal 2021.

Japan PM Kishida at Cabinet meeting

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attends a Cabinet meeting at the premier's office in Tokyo on Nov. 26, 2021, along with Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi (L) and Seiko Noda, minister in charge of regional revitalization.

Japan film director Kawase appointed UNESCO goodwill ambassador

Japanese film director Naomi Kawase attends a ceremony for her appointment as UNESCO goodwill ambassador at the organization's headquarters in Paris on Nov. 25, 2021.

Japan film director Kawase appointed UNESCO goodwill ambassador

Japanese film director Naomi Kawase (R) holds a letter of appointment as UNESCO goodwill ambassador, alongside UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay, at the organization's headquarters in Paris on Nov. 25, 2021.

Japan film director Kawase appointed UNESCO goodwill ambassador

Japanese film director Naomi Kawase (R) gives a speech at UNESCO's headquarters in Paris on Nov. 25, 2021, after she was appointed as UNESCO goodwill ambassador.

Snowboarding: Kokomo Murase

Japanese snowboarder Kokomo Murase practices in the Gifu Prefecture city of Hashima, central Japan, on Nov. 25, 2021. About a month earlier, Murase won the season-opening World Cup women's big air event in Chur, Switzerland.

Snowboarding: Kokomo Murase

Japanese snowboarder Kokomo Murase practices in the Gifu Prefecture city of Hashima, central Japan, on Nov. 25, 2021. About a month earlier, Murase won the season-opening World Cup women's big air event in Chur, Switzerland.

Snowboarding: Kokomo Murase

Japanese snowboarder Kokomo Murase practices in the Gifu Prefecture city of Hashima, central Japan, on Nov. 25, 2021. About a month earlier, Murase won the season-opening World Cup women's big air event in Chur, Switzerland.

Snowboarding: Kokomo Murase

Japanese snowboarder Kokomo Murase practices in the Gifu Prefecture city of Hashima, central Japan, on Nov. 25, 2021. About a month earlier, Murase won the season-opening World Cup women's big air event in Chur, Switzerland.

Amphibious drill by Japanese GSDF

Members of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force's amphibious rapid deployment unit conduct a drill on Nov. 25, 2021, on Tanegashima Island in the southwestern Japanese prefecture of Kagoshima aboard AAV-7 amphibious vehicles. The landing operation by the unit specializing in the defense of Japan's remote islands opened to the media.

Amphibious drill by Japanese GSDF

Members of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force's amphibious rapid deployment unit conduct a drill on Nov. 25, 2021, on Tanegashima Island in the southwestern Japanese prefecture of Kagoshima aboard AAV-7 amphibious vehicles. The landing operation by the unit specializing in the defense of Japan's remote islands opened to the media.

Amphibious drill by Japanese GSDF

Members of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force's amphibious rapid deployment unit conduct a drill on Nov. 25, 2021, on Tanegashima Island in the southwestern Japanese prefecture of Kagoshima aboard AAV-7 amphibious vehicles. The landing operation by the unit specializing in the defense of Japan's remote islands opened to the media.

Japan PM Kishida eats persimmon

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida eats a persimmon made in the western Japan prefecture of Nara at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Nov. 25, 2021.

Japan PM Kishida receives persimmons

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (C) receives a basket of persimmons made in the western Japan prefecture of Nara as part of a promotion of the fruit at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Nov. 25, 2021.

Japan's top government spokesman Matsuno

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno attends a press conference at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Nov. 25, 2021.

Japan's top government spokesman Matsuno

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno attends a press conference at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Nov. 25, 2021.

Japanese, Vietnamese foreign ministers meet

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi (R) and his Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son shake hands at the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo on Nov. 25, 2021. (Pool photo)

Japanese, Vietnamese foreign ministers meet

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi (far R) and his Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son (far L) hold talks at the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo on Nov. 25, 2021. (Pool photo)

"Hina" dolls of 2021 newsmakers

"Hina" dolls modeled after newsmakers of the year 2021 are unveiled by a doll maker in Tokyo's Ueno area on Nov. 25, 2021, including one depicting Japanese major league baseball two-way player Shohei Ohtani who won the American League's MVP award earlier in the year.

"Hina" dolls of 2021 newsmakers

"Hina" dolls modeled after newsmakers of the year 2021 are unveiled by a doll maker in Tokyo's Ueno area on Nov. 25, 2021, including one depicting Japanese major league baseball two-way player Shohei Ohtani who won the American League's MVP award earlier in the year.

Amphibious drill by Japanese GSDF

Members of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force's amphibious rapid deployment unit conduct a drill on Nov. 25, 2021, on Tanegashima Island in the southwestern Japanese prefecture of Kagoshima aboard AAV-7 amphibious vehicles. The landing operation by the unit specializing in the defense of Japan's remote islands opened to the media.

Japan-Vietnam talks

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (2nd from R) holds talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh (2nd from L) in Tokyo on Nov. 24, 2021.

Japan-Vietnam talks

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (R) and his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh bump fists after a joint press conference in Tokyo on Nov. 24, 2021.

Japan-Vietnam talks

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attends a joint press conference with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida in Tokyo on Nov. 24, 2021.

Japan-Vietnam talks

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (R) and his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh attend a joint press conference in Tokyo on Nov. 24, 2021.

Japan-Vietnam talks

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attends a joint press conference with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh in Tokyo on Nov. 24, 2021.