Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

A decorated float is pulled around for a "tsuji-mawashi" corner turn during the Gion Festival's Yamahoko Junko parade in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 24, 2026.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

A decorated float is pulled around for a "tsuji-mawashi" corner turn during the Gion Festival's Yamahoko Junko parade in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 24, 2026.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

People fill the streets as decorated floats adorned with illuminated lanterns are displayed during the annual Gion Festival's Yoiyama event in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 16, 2026, the eve of the Yamahoko Junko parade, the highlight of the month-long festival.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

People fill the streets as decorated floats adorned with illuminated lanterns are displayed during the annual Gion Festival's Yoiyama event in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 16, 2026, the eve of the Yamahoko Junko parade, the highlight of the month-long festival.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

People fill the streets as decorated floats adorned with illuminated lanterns are displayed during the annual Gion Festival's Yoiyama event in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 16, 2026, the eve of the Yamahoko Junko parade, the highlight of the month-long festival.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

People fill the streets as decorated floats adorned with illuminated lanterns are displayed during the annual Gion Festival's Yoiyama event in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 16, 2026, the eve of the Yamahoko Junko parade, the highlight of the month-long festival.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

People fill the streets as decorated floats adorned with illuminated lanterns are displayed during the annual Gion Festival's Yoiyama event in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 16, 2026, the eve of the Yamahoko Junko parade, the highlight of the month-long festival.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

A decorated float is pulled around for a "tsuji-mawashi" corner turn during the Gion Festival's Yamahoko Junko parade in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 17, 2026.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

A decorated float is pulled around for a "tsuji-mawashi" corner turn during the Gion Festival's Yamahoko Junko parade in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 17, 2026.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

A decorated float is pulled around for a "tsuji-mawashi" corner turn during the Gion Festival's Yamahoko Junko parade in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 17, 2026.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

A procession of decorated floats takes place down a street in Kyoto, western Japan, during the Gion Festival's Yamahoko Junko parade on July 17, 2026.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

A procession of decorated floats takes place down a street in Kyoto, western Japan, during the Gion Festival's Yamahoko Junko parade on July 17, 2026.

Order of Culture Award

Order of Culture Award

Japanese fashion designer Junko Koshino (R) receives the Order of Culture, Japan's top cultural award, from Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Nov. 3, 2025. (Pool photo)

Order of Culture Award

Order of Culture Award

Japanese fashion designer Junko Koshino attends a press conference in Tokyo on Nov. 3, 2025, after receiving the Order of Culture, Japan's top cultural award, at an Imperial Palace ceremony.

Vatican: St. Peter’s Square Holds Rosary Prayer in Memory of Pope Francis 2

The Vatican held a rosary prayer at St. Peter’s Square on Monday, April 21, and Tuesday, April 22, following the death of Pope Francis. Thousands of Catholics gathered in prayer for the Holy Father, who died at age 88 earlier Monday morning.

BOJ introduces 2nd female Policy Board member

BOJ introduces 2nd female Policy Board member

Junko Koeda, a new member of the Bank of Japan Policy Board, attends an introductory press conference at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on March 26, 2025. The former economics professor at Waseda University became the nine-person board's second female member.

BOJ introduces 2nd female Policy Board member

BOJ introduces 2nd female Policy Board member

Junko Koeda, a new member of the Bank of Japan Policy Board, attends an introductory press conference at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on March 26, 2025. The former economics professor at Waseda University became the nine-person board's second female member.

BOJ introduces 2nd female Policy Board member

BOJ introduces 2nd female Policy Board member

Junko Koeda, a new member of the Bank of Japan Policy Board, attends an introductory press conference at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on March 26, 2025. The former economics professor at Waseda University became the nine-person board's second female member.

Designer Junko Koshino's expo uniforms

Designer Junko Koshino's expo uniforms

Japanese fashion designer Junko Koshino (2nd from R) unveils in Osaka on March 7, 2025, uniforms to be worn by staff working at the booth of Takara Belmont Corp., a manufacturer of equipment for barbershops and beauty salons, during the 2025 World Exposition in the western Japan city.

Designer Junko Koshino's expo uniforms

Designer Junko Koshino's expo uniforms

Japanese fashion designer Junko Koshino (2nd from L) unveils in Osaka on March 7, 2025, uniforms to be worn by staff working at the booth of Takara Belmont Corp., a manufacturer of equipment for barbershops and beauty salons, during the 2025 World Exposition in the western Japan city.

Japan Diet enacts law to compensate forced sterilization victims

Japan Diet enacts law to compensate forced sterilization victims

Junko Mihara, Japanese minister for policies related to children, bows during a plenary session of the House of Councillors in Tokyo on Oct. 8, 2024, after the Diet enacted a law to pay 15 million yen ($101,000) each to victims of forced sterilization surgery under a now-defunct eugenics protection law.

Japan lower house passes forced sterilization compensation bill

Japan lower house passes forced sterilization compensation bill

Junko Mihara, Japanese minister for policies related to children, stands at a House of Representatives plenary session in Tokyo on Oct. 7, 2024, after the passage of a bill requiring the government to compensate people who were forced to undergo sterilization surgery under a now-defunct eugenics protection law.

Lineup of Japan PM Ishiba's Cabinet

Lineup of Japan PM Ishiba's Cabinet

Junko Mihara, who is set to become minister responsible for child policy in the Cabinet of new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, arrives at the premier's office in Tokyo on Oct. 1, 2024, before her attestation in a ceremony at the Imperial Palace.

Japan Paralympic athletes return home from Paris

Japan Paralympic athletes return home from Paris

Junko Hirose, Japan's gold medalist in the women's judo 57-kilogram J2 event at Paris Paralympics, arrives at Haneda airport in Tokyo upon her return from France on Sept. 10, 2024.

Yamahoko parade at Kyoto's Gion Festival

Yamahoko parade at Kyoto's Gion Festival

Decorated floats are paraded on a street during the Yamahoko Junko procession, a highlight of the traditional Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 24, 2023.

Yamahoko parade at Kyoto's Gion Festival

Yamahoko parade at Kyoto's Gion Festival

Decorated floats are paraded on a street during the Yamahoko Junko procession, a highlight of the traditional Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 24, 2023.

Junko Koshino at carnival

Junko Koshino at carnival

SAO PAULO, Brazil - Japanese fashion designer Junko Koshino dances in a costume she designed at a carnival in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Feb. 12, 2013.

Junko Koshino at carnival

Junko Koshino at carnival

SAO PAULO, Brazil - Japanese fashion designer Junko Koshino dances in a costume she designed at a carnival in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Feb. 12, 2013.

Koshino designs uniforms for Osaka Marriott Miyako Hotel

Koshino designs uniforms for Osaka Marriott Miyako Hotel

OSAKA, Japan - Staff of the Osaka Marriott Miyako Hotel model uniforms designed by fashion designer Junko Koshino (center) on Feb. 4, 2014 in Osaka, western Japan.

Japan's Hoshino practices on moguls course in Sochi

Japan's Hoshino practices on moguls course in Sochi

SOCHI, Russia - Japanese freestyle skier Junko Hoshino takes part in her first practice session on the moguls course of the Sochi Olympics in Russia on Feb. 2, 2014.

Paralympics: Japan's Hirose wins judo bronze

Paralympics: Japan's Hirose wins judo bronze

Japan's Junko Hirose (R) competes against Maria Monica Merenciano Herrero of Spain in a bronze-medal match of the women's judo 57-kilogram division for visually impaired athletes at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics on Sept. 9, 2016. Hirose became the first Japanese female judoka to claim a Paralympic medal.

A-bomb survivors in S. America publish testimonies

A-bomb survivors in S. America publish testimonies

HIROSHIMA, Japan - Takashi Morita (R), president of the Peace Association of Atomic Bomb Victims in Brazil, and Junko Watanabe, a member of the group's board of directors, show a collection of testimonies from 90 atomic bomb survivors who have later emigrated to South America, during a press conference at the Hiroshima City Hall in western Japan on Nov. 7, 2014.

Japanese nurse recalls hard job to treat Ebola patients

Japanese nurse recalls hard job to treat Ebola patients

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese nurse Junko Otaki recalls her experience at a talk in Tokyo on Oct. 23, 2014, in helping treat Ebola fever patients in the eastern Sierra Leone district of Kailahun this summer as a registered nurse at Doctors Without Borders, saying the protective suit she wore made her feel as if she were in a sauna.

Kunugi, special UNICEF representative in Palestine

Kunugi, special UNICEF representative in Palestine

TOKYO, Japan - Junko Kunugi, special representative of UNICEF in the Palestinian territory, speaks to Kyodo News in Tokyo on Oct. 17, 2014.

Designer Koshino pins high hopes on 'Rimpa' school anniv.

Designer Koshino pins high hopes on 'Rimpa' school anniv.

KYOTO, Japan - Junko Koshino, a top Japanese fashion designer, expresses enthusiasm at a press conference in Kyoto, western Japan, on Sept. 5, 2014, for disseminating art from Kyoto as the western Japan city will celebrate next year the 400th anniversary of the "Rimpa" school of Japanese painting.

Aftermath of mudslides in Hiroshima

Aftermath of mudslides in Hiroshima

HIROSHIMA, Japan - Junko Hirata, 69, stands in what used to be her house, in the city of Hiroshima on Aug. 26, 2014. The area was hit by massive mudslides following torrential rain on Aug. 20.

A-bomb victim in Brazil speaks to high school students

A-bomb victim in Brazil speaks to high school students

FUKUOKA, Japan - Junko Watanabe (R) speaks in Portuguese to students at a high school in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on July 21, 2014, about her childhood exposure to radiation from the U.S. atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945.

Journalist visits whale meat shop to examine theory of food culture

Journalist visits whale meat shop to examine theory of food culture

TOKYO, Japan - Journalist Junko Sakuma visits a whale meat store in the Tsukiji Market in Tokyo's Chuo Ward for her research into the consumption trend of whale meat in Japan.

Kyoto's Gion Festival in full swing

Kyoto's Gion Festival in full swing

KYOTO, Japan - Photo shows a procession led by the Naginata-hoko float during Yamahoko Junko, a highlight of Kyoto's flamboyant Gion Festival, in the western Japanese city on July 17, 2014.

Omote sets tournament course record at Yokohama Tire cup

Omote sets tournament course record at Yokohama Tire cup

KOCHI, Japan - Junko Omote (R) plays in the final round of the Yokohama Tire Golf Tournament PRGR Ladies Cup at Tosa Country Club in Kochi Prefecture on March 16, 2014. She posted a tournament course record 63 to finish in a sixth-place tie with 4-under-par.

Japan's Hoshino in Olympic moguls qualifications

Japan's Hoshino in Olympic moguls qualifications

SOCHI, Russia - Junko Hoshino of Japan (L) is encouraged by her coach in the women's moguls second qualifying round of the Winter Olympics at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 8, 2014. Hoshino failed to advance to the final round.

Japan's Hoshino in Olympic moguls qualifications

Japan's Hoshino in Olympic moguls qualifications

SOCHI, Russia - Junko Hoshino of Japan competes during the second qualifying round in the women's moguls at the Winter Olympics at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 8, 2014.

Hoshino in Olympic moguls qualifications

Hoshino in Olympic moguls qualifications

SOCHI, Russia - Junko Hoshino of Japan competes during the first qualifying round in the women's moguls of the Sochi Olympic Games at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park in Russia on Feb. 6, 2014.

Hoshino in Olympic moguls qualifications

Hoshino in Olympic moguls qualifications

SOCHI, Russia - Junko Hoshino of Japan takes to the air during the first qualifying round in the women's moguls of the Sochi Olympic Games at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park in Russia on Feb. 6, 2014.

Hoshino in World Cup moguls

Hoshino in World Cup moguls

VAL SAINT-COME, Canada - Japan's Junko Hoshino competes in a women's World Cup moguls event at Val St. Come, Quebec, Canada, on Jan. 19, 2014. She came third in the event for her first career podium finish on the circuit, clearing the Ski Association of Japan's basic standard for participation at next month's Sochi Olympic Games.

Hoshino on 1st podium at World Cup moguls

Hoshino on 1st podium at World Cup moguls

VAL SAINT-COME, Canada - Junko Hoshino (R) stands on the podium after coming third in a women's World Cup moguls meet in Val St. Come, Quebec, Canada, on Jan. 19, 2014. Chloe and Justine Dufour-Lapointe of Canada made a 1-2 finish on home snow.

Junko Koshino-designed Myanmar uniform

Junko Koshino-designed Myanmar uniform

YANGON, Myanmar - Japanese fashion designer Junko Koshino (C) participates Nov. 16, 2013, in a show in Yangon to unveil the official uniforms she designed for athletes in the Myanmar national team to compete in the 27th South East Asia Games to be held in the country in December.

Indonesian girls carry Japanese portable shrine

Indonesian girls carry Japanese portable shrine

JAKARTA, Indonesia - Teenage Indonesian girls carry a Japanese portable shrine, a festival item in Japan, in Jakarta on Aug. 25, 2013, as part of events in step with a sumo tournament held in the Indonesian capital. The Japan Sumo Association held its first-ever tournament in Southeast Asia in Jakarta on Aug. 24-25. (Photo by Junko Ozaki)

Residents use homes to connect with communities

Residents use homes to connect with communities

TOKYO, Japan - Junko Konno (2nd from R) holds an event at her home in Tokyo's Sumida Ward on June 8, 2013. Konno moved into a vacant store in the shopping street in the ward three years ago and converted part of the building into a small reading space she dubbed Kosumi Tosho (Kosumi Library).

PM Abe in Poland

PM Abe in Poland

WARSAW, Poland - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (2nd from R) and his wife Akie (2nd from L) make a toast at a reception to introduce Japanese food culture in Warsaw, Poland, on June 15, 2013. On the right is Japanese fashion designer Junko Koshino.