Upper house election in Japan

Upper house election in Japan

TOKYO, Japan - Photo series shows leaders of Japanese political parties campaigning on July 20, 2013, the day before the upper house election. They are (top row, from L) Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of the New Komeito party; Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who leads the Liberal Democratic Party; Banri Kaieda, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan; (middle row, from L) Japanese Communist Party leader Kazuo Shii; Ichiro Ozawa, leader of the People's Life Party; Your Party leader Yoshimi Watanabe; (bottom row, from L) Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, who doubles as co-leader of the Japan Restoration Party; Kuniko Tanioka, leader of the Green Wind party; and Mizuho Fukushima, leader of the Social Democratic Party.

32-yr-old promotes peace with "Barefoot Gen"

32-yr-old promotes peace with "Barefoot Gen"

HIROSHIMA, Japan - In her efforts to convey the tragedy of the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima to the younger generation, Kuniko Watanabe is drawing attention to the comic series "Barefoot Gen" (Hadashi no Gen), about a survivor's experience. Photo taken June 19, 2013 in Hiroshima.

Party leaders' debate

Party leaders' debate

TOKYO, Japan - Political party chiefs join hands before a debate on their policies in Tokyo on July 3, 2013, ahead of the July 21 House of Councillors election. From left are Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima, People's Life Party leader Ichiro Ozawa, New Komeito party leader Natsuo Yamaguchi, Democratic Party of Japan leader Banri Kaieda, Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic Party leader Shinzo Abe, Japan Restoration Party co-leader Toru Hashimoto, Your Party leader Yoshimi Watanabe, Japanese Communist Party leader Kazuo Shii and Green Wind party head Kuniko Tanioka.

Party leaders' debate

Party leaders' debate

TOKYO, Japan - Political party chiefs join hands before a debate on their policies in Tokyo on July 3, 2013, ahead of the July 21 House of Councillors election. From left are Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima, People's Life Party leader Ichiro Ozawa, New Komeito party leader Natsuo Yamaguchi, Democratic Party of Japan leader Banri Kaieda, Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic Party leader Shinzo Abe, Japan Restoration Party co-leader Toru Hashimoto, Your Party leader Yoshimi Watanabe, Japanese Communist Party leader Kazuo Shii and Green Wind party head Kuniko Tanioka.

Bodies of 3 Japanese returned from China

Bodies of 3 Japanese returned from China

NARITA, Japan - Airport workers bow to containers holding the bodies of three Japanese travelers -- Yoko Ogawa, 62, Kuniko Watanabe, 68, and Shunichiro Yanai, 76 -- at Narita airport, near Tokyo, on Nov. 10, 2012. The bodies of the three, who died in heavy snows during a trekking tour near the Great Wall outside Beijing, were transferred to a funeral hall in Tokyo after arriving at the airport.