Hitoyoshi signature boxed lunch

Hitoyoshi signature boxed lunch

Photo taken on July 1, 2024, in Hitoyoshi in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, shows signature boxed lunches from Hitoyoshi Ekiben Yamaguchi, a local food shop near Hitoyoshi Station, with one on the left including chestnut rice and the other featuring sweetfish sushi.

Chip exhibition in Japan

Chip exhibition in Japan

Photo taken on Feb. 28, 2024, shows a booth of Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing, a subsidiary of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., at Kumamoto Industrial Revitalization Expo 2024 in Mashiki in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan.

Chip exhibition in Japan

Chip exhibition in Japan

Photo taken on Feb. 28, 2024, shows a booth of Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing, a subsidiary of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., at Kumamoto Industrial Revitalization Expo 2024 in Mashiki in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan.

TSMC's 1st Japan chip plant in Kumamoto

TSMC's 1st Japan chip plant in Kumamoto

Photo taken on Feb. 20, 2024, shows Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s first chip plant in Japan, located in Kikuyo in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan.

TSMC's 1st Japan chip plant in Kumamoto

TSMC's 1st Japan chip plant in Kumamoto

Photo taken on Feb. 20, 2024, shows Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s first chip plant in Japan, located in Kikuyo in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan.

TSMC's 1st Japan factory in Kumamoto

TSMC's 1st Japan factory in Kumamoto

Photo taken on Feb. 20, 2024, shows Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s first chip plant in Japan, located in Kikuyo in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan.

TSMC's 1st Japan chip plant in Kumamoto

TSMC's 1st Japan chip plant in Kumamoto

Photo taken on Feb. 20, 2024, shows Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s first chip plant in Japan, located in Kikuyo in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan.

TSMC's 1st Japan chip plant in Kumamoto

TSMC's 1st Japan chip plant in Kumamoto

Photo taken on Feb. 20, 2024, shows Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s first chip plant in Japan, located in Kikuyo in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan.

TSMC's 1st Japan chip plant in Kumamoto

TSMC's 1st Japan chip plant in Kumamoto

Photo taken on Feb. 20, 2024, shows Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s first chip plant in Japan, located in Kikuyo in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan.

TSMC's 1st Japan chip plant in Kumamoto

TSMC's 1st Japan chip plant in Kumamoto

Photo taken on Feb. 20, 2024, shows Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s first chip plant in Japan, located in Kikuyo in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan.

TSMC's 1st Japan chip plant in Kumamoto

TSMC's 1st Japan chip plant in Kumamoto

Photo taken on Feb. 20, 2024, shows Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s first chip plant in Japan, located in Kikuyo in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan.

TSMC's 1st Japan chip plant in Kumamoto

TSMC's 1st Japan chip plant in Kumamoto

Photo taken on Feb. 20, 2024, shows Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s first chip plant in Japan, located in Kikuyo in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan.

TSMC's 1st Japan chip plant in Kumamoto

TSMC's 1st Japan chip plant in Kumamoto

Photo taken on Feb. 20, 2024, shows Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s first chip plant in Japan, located in Kikuyo in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan.

TSMC's 1st Japan factory in Kumamoto

TSMC's 1st Japan factory in Kumamoto

Photo taken Feb. 24, 2024, shows a wastewater treatment facility at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s first chip plant in Japan, located in Kikuyo in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan. TSMC held an opening ceremony the same day for the factory, which will begin operating sometime in the October-December quarter of 2024.

TSMC's 1st Japan factory in Kumamoto

TSMC's 1st Japan factory in Kumamoto

Photo taken Feb. 24, 2024, shows a wastewater treatment facility at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s first chip plant in Japan, located in Kikuyo in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan. TSMC held an opening ceremony the same day for the factory, which will begin operating sometime in the October-December quarter of 2024.

TSMC's 1st Japan factory in Kumamoto

TSMC's 1st Japan factory in Kumamoto

Photo taken Feb. 24, 2024, shows wastewater tanks at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s first chip plant in Japan, located in Kikuyo in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan. TSMC held an opening ceremony the same day for the factory, which will begin operating sometime in the October-December quarter of 2024.

Opening ceremony for TSMC's 1st Japan factory in Kumamoto

Opening ceremony for TSMC's 1st Japan factory in Kumamoto

Photo taken on Feb. 24, 2024, shows Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s first chip plant in Japan, located in Kikuyo in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan. The world's largest contract chipmaker held an opening ceremony the same day for the factory, which will be operated by its subsidiary Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. from the October-December quarter of 2024.

Opening ceremony for TSMC's 1st Japan factory in Kumamoto

Opening ceremony for TSMC's 1st Japan factory in Kumamoto

Photo taken on Feb. 24, 2024, shows Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s first chip plant in Japan, located in Kikuyo in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan. The world's largest contract chipmaker held an opening ceremony the same day for the factory, which will be operated by its subsidiary Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. from the October-December quarter of 2024.

Opening ceremony for TSMC's 1st Japan factory in Kumamoto

Opening ceremony for TSMC's 1st Japan factory in Kumamoto

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. holds an opening ceremony on Feb. 24, 2024, for the company's first chip plant in Japan, located in Kikuyo in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan. The factory of the world's largest contract chipmaker will be operated by its subsidiary Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. from the October-December quarter of 2024.

Opening ceremony for TSMC's 1st Japan factory in Kumamoto

Opening ceremony for TSMC's 1st Japan factory in Kumamoto

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Chairman Mark Liu speaks during an opening ceremony on Feb. 24, 2024, for the company's first chip plant in Japan, located in Kikuyo in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan. The factory of the world's largest contract chipmaker will be operated by its subsidiary Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. from the October-December quarter of 2024.

Opening ceremony for TSMC's 1st Japan factory in Kumamoto

Opening ceremony for TSMC's 1st Japan factory in Kumamoto

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. founder Morris Chang speaks during an opening ceremony on Feb. 24, 2024, for the company's first chip plant in Japan, located in Kikuyo in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan. The factory of the world's largest contract chipmaker will be operated by its subsidiary Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. from the October-December quarter of 2024.

Opening ceremony for TSMC's 1st Japan factory in Kumamoto

Opening ceremony for TSMC's 1st Japan factory in Kumamoto

Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Ken Saito speaks during an opening ceremony on Feb. 24, 2024, for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s first chip plant in Japan, located in Kikuyo in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan. The factory of the world's largest contract chipmaker will be operated by its subsidiary Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. from the October-December quarter of 2024.

Opening ceremony for TSMC's 1st Japan factory in Kumamoto

Opening ceremony for TSMC's 1st Japan factory in Kumamoto

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (on screen) is shown in a video message during an opening ceremony on Feb. 24, 2024, for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s first chip plant in Japan, located in Kikuyo in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan. The factory of the world's largest contract chipmaker will be operated by its subsidiary Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. from the October-December quarter of 2024.

Opening ceremony for TSMC's 1st Japan factory in Kumamoto

Opening ceremony for TSMC's 1st Japan factory in Kumamoto

Photo taken on Feb. 24, 2024, shows Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s first chip plant in Japan, located in Kikuyo in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan. The world's largest contract chipmaker held an opening ceremony the same day for the factory, which will be operated by its subsidiary Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing from the October-December quarter of 2024.

Opening ceremony for TSMC's 1st Japan factory in Kumamoto

Opening ceremony for TSMC's 1st Japan factory in Kumamoto

Photo taken on Feb. 24, 2024, shows Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s first chip plant in Japan, located in Kikuyo in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan. The world's largest contract chipmaker held an opening ceremony the same day for the factory, which will be operated by its subsidiary Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing from the October-December quarter of 2024.

Opening ceremony for TSMC's 1st Japan factory in Kumamoto

Opening ceremony for TSMC's 1st Japan factory in Kumamoto

Photo taken on Feb. 24, 2024, shows Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s first chip plant in Japan, located in Kikuyo in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan. The world's largest contract chipmaker held an opening ceremony the same day for the factory, which will be operated by its subsidiary Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing from the October-December quarter of 2024.

Opening ceremony for TSMC's 1st Japan factory in Kumamoto

Opening ceremony for TSMC's 1st Japan factory in Kumamoto

Photo taken on Feb. 24, 2024, shows Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s first chip plant in Japan, located in Kikuyo in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan. The world's largest contract chipmaker held an opening ceremony the same day for the factory, which will be operated by its subsidiary Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing from the October-December quarter of 2024.

Golf: Japan twins achieve rare feat

Golf: Japan twins achieve rare feat

Akie Iwai (L) poses for a photo with her younger sister Chisato after winning the Vantelin Ladies Open golf tournament at Kumamoto Kuko Country Club in Kikuyo, Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on April 16, 2023. They became the first twins, male or female, with titles on Japan's top professional golf tour.

Golf: Japan twins achieve rare feat

Golf: Japan twins achieve rare feat

Akie Iwai holds up the trophy after winning the Vantelin Ladies Open golf tournament at Kumamoto Kuko Country Club in Kikuyo, Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on April 16, 2023. Akie and her younger sister Chisato became the first twins, male or female, with titles on Japan's top professional golf tour.

Golf: Japan twins achieve rare feat

Golf: Japan twins achieve rare feat

Akie Iwai (R) hugs her younger sister Chisato after winning the Vantelin Ladies Open golf tournament at Kumamoto Kuko Country Club in Kikuyo, Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on April 16, 2023. They became the first twins, male or female, with titles on Japan's top professional golf tour.

Golf: Japan twins achieve rare feat

Golf: Japan twins achieve rare feat

Akie Iwai pumps her fists in the air after sinking the winning putt at the Vantelin Ladies Open golf tournament at Kumamoto Kuko Country Club in Kikuyo, Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on April 16, 2023. Akie and her younger sister Chisato became the first twins, male or female, with titles on Japan's top professional golf tour.

1,000 women dance in Kumamoto festival

1,000 women dance in Kumamoto festival

KUMAMOTO, Japan - About 1,000 women clad in cotton summer kimono with paper lanterns on their heads dance at the traditional "Sennin Toro Odori" in Yamaga, Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Aug. 16, 2014.

Feudal Japanese Christian woman to be portrayed in play

Feudal Japanese Christian woman to be portrayed in play

KUMAMOTO, Japan - Uto Mayor Shigeki Motomatsu (L), lead actress Ryoko Usui (2nd from L) and Uto's mascot character "Uton Yukinaga shan" (C) join a press conference announcing the musical "Julia Otaa" in Uto, Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on July 24, 2014. The stage play, opening on Sept. 20, portrays the life of a woman of Korean descent adopted by a local Japanese warlord and Christianized in the late 16th century when Christianity was not fully permitted.