Search｜Photos & Images & Videos｜KYODO NEWS IMAGES INC

[Breaking News]New Japan Coast Guard patrol boat Soya

KUSHIRO, Japan, Dec. 29 Kyodo - The Japan Coast Guard's new patrol vessel, the icebreaker Soya, arrives at Kushiro port in Kushiro in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Dec. 28, 2025. The 4,200-ton vessel replaced the JCG's oldest patrol vessel with the same name, which was decommissioned in November after traveling about 1.91 million kilometers, equivalent to 48 trips around the Earth, during 47 years of operation. (Kyodo)

E

New Japan Coast Guard patrol boat Soya

The Japan Coast Guard's new patrol vessel, the icebreaker Soya, arrives at Kushiro port in Kushiro in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Dec. 28, 2025. The 4,200-ton vessel replaced the JCG's oldest patrol vessel with the same name, which was decommissioned in November after traveling about 1.91 million kilometers, equivalent to 48 trips around the Earth, during 47 years of operation.

E

New Japan Coast Guard patrol boat Soya

The Japan Coast Guard's new patrol vessel, the icebreaker Soya, arrives at Kushiro port in Kushiro in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Dec. 28, 2025. The 4,200-ton vessel replaced the JCG's oldest patrol vessel with the same name, which was decommissioned in November after traveling about 1.91 million kilometers, equivalent to 48 trips around the Earth, during 47 years of operation.

E

JCG's oldest patrol boat departs for final voyage

The Japan Coast Guard's oldest active patrol vessel, the icebreaker Soya, departs from its home port of Kushiro in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Nov. 4, 2025, for its final voyage after 47 years in operation. The 3,100-ton ship will be decommissioned on Nov. 12 after traveling about 1.91 million kilometers, equivalent to 48 trips around the Earth

E

JCG's oldest patrol boat departs for final voyage

The Japan Coast Guard's oldest active patrol vessel, the icebreaker Soya, departs from its home port of Kushiro in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Nov. 4, 2025, for its final voyage after 47 years in operation. The 3,100-ton ship will be decommissioned on Nov. 12 after traveling about 1.91 million kilometers, equivalent to 48 trips around the Earth.

E

Fishermen sort 'shishamo' smelt at Kushiro port

KUSHIRO, Japan - Fishermen sort out "shishamo" smelt at Kushiro port in the northernmost Japanese prefecture of Hokkaido in October 2014. This year's catch of shishamo by seven fisheries associations in the region marked the lowest level of about 500 tons.

E

Research whaling begins in northern Japan coastal areas

KUSHIRO, Japan - A minke whale is unloaded in Kushiro port in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Sept. 7, 2014. Japan plans to catch up to 51 minke whales in waters off Kushiro in the seasonal hunting of the species for research purposes, which began the same day and will be conducted through the end of October to survey the impact on coastal fishing by checking the contents of the whales' stomachs.

E

'Research whaling' starts in seas off Hokkaido

KUSHIRO, Japan - A minke whale caught for the purpose of "scientific research" is landed at the port of Kushiro in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido on Sept. 7, 2014.

E

Ex-residents in Russian-held isles leave for visa-free visit

KUSHIRO, Japan - The first group of former Japanese residents in four Russian-held islands off Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido leaves Nemuro port for a visa-free visit to one of the isles on May 24, 2014.

E

Ship leaves for visa-free visit to Russian-held islands

KUSHIRO, Japan - A ship carrying the first group of former Japanese residents in four Russian-held islands off Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido leaves Nemuro port for a visa-free visit to one of the isles on May 24, 2014.

E

Russia releases 2 Japanese men

KUSHIRO, Japan - (From R) Shigeo Nakamura and Kuniaki Yamagata arrive at Nemuro port in Hokkaido on July 14, 2012, after Russia released the two Japanese men detained in late June by Russian border control officials while sailing near Kunashiri, a disputed island off Hokkaido.

E

75% of whale meat offered for auction remains unsold

TOKYO, Japan - A minke whale, catch during Japan's self-described "research whaling" activities, is landed at Kushiro port, Hokkaido, in September 2010. Three-quarters of more than 1,200 tons of meat from whales caught during such activities in the Northwest Pacific remains unsold, although the whaling organizer began inviting bids for the meat in 2011, according to the Iruka & Kujira (Dolphin & Whale) Action Network, a Japanese anti-whaling group. The Tokyo-based Institute of Cetacean Research has organized 13 rounds of public auctions since October, but 908.8 tons, or 75.0 percent of the 1,211.9 tons offered, remain unsold, according to a report compiled by freelance journalist Junko Sakuma and released by the group.

E

'Research whaling' starts off Hokkaido

KUSHIRO, Japan - Members of a community-based whaling association attend a ceremony in Kushiro port, Hokkaido, on Sept. 9, 2011, ahead of their departure for so-called research whaling authorized by the Fisheries Agency in waters off Kushiro. The association is aiming to catch up to 60 minke whales through late October to study their impact on coastal fishery stocks.

E

Coastal research whaling ship

ISHINOMAKI, Japan - Photo taken April 25, 2011, shows a whaling ship docked at Kushiro port in Hokkaido. The ship's departure from the port for coastal research whaling in waters off Kushiro under the approval of Japan's Fisheries Agency, which was scheduled April 25, was postponed due to bad weather. The whaling site was changed to waters off Hokkaido from off the Sanriku coastline in northeastern Japan after the catastrophic March 11 earthquake and tsunami wrecked whaling ships and related facilities in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, home to one of Japan's key coastal whaling bases.

E

One of world's most scenic evening glows in Kushiro

KUSHIRO, Japan - Local resident Hisanori Haga webcasts live the evening glow at Kushiro port in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Jan. 24, 2011. Some people have described the scene as ''one of the world's three most scenic'' along with those in Bali, Indonesia, and Manila in the Philippines.

E

One of world's most scenic evening glows in Kushiro

KUSHIRO, Japan - Local resident Hisanori Haga webcasts live the evening glow at Kushiro port in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Jan. 24, 2011. Some people have described the scene as ''one of the world's three most scenic'' along with those in Bali, Indonesia, and Manila in the Philippines.

E

One of world's most scenic evening glows in Kushiro

KUSHIRO, Japan - Photo shows the evening glow at Kushiro port in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Jan. 24, 2011. Some people have described the scene as ''one of the world's three most scenic'' along with those in Bali, Indonesia, and Manila in the Philippines.

E

Minke whale caught

KUSHIRO, Japan - A minke whale is landed at Kushiro port in Hokkaido following the start of research whaling in the area on Sept. 7, 2010.

E

Poor catch of saury

KUSHIRO, Japan - Saury are auctioned at a port in Kushiro, Hokkaido, on Aug. 24, 2010. Poor saury catches have been logged at fishing grounds in the Pacific east of Hokkaido.

E

Poor catch of saury

KUSHIRO, Japan - Saury are landed at Kushiro port in Hokkaido on Aug. 24, 2010. Poor saury catches have been logged at fishing grounds in the Pacific east of Hokkaido.

E

Coast Guard inspects boats bearing bullet marks

KUSHIRO, Japan - Japan Coast Guard officers inspect two fishing boats at a port in Rausu, Hokkaido, on Jan. 30, 2010. The inspectors found a total of 20 bullet marks on the two boats that were shot at by a Russian border guard helicopter the previous day.

E

Coast Guard inspects boats bearing bullet marks

KUSHIRO, Japan - Japan Coast Guard officers inspect two fishing boats at a port in Rausu, Hokkaido, on Jan. 30, 2010. The inspectors found a total of 20 bullet marks on the two boats that were shot at by a Russian border guard helicopter the previous day.

E

Coast Guard inspects boats bearing bullet holes

KUSHIRO, Japan - Japan Coast Guard officers inspect two fishing boats at a port in Rausu, Hokkaido, on Jan. 30, 2010. The inspectors found a total of 20 bullet holes on the two boats that were shot at by a Russian border guard helicopter the previous day.

E

Fewer Russian ships calling at Hokkaido ports

KUSHIRO, Japan - A Cambodian ship is docked at Hanasaki port in Nemuro, Hokkaido, on March 16.

E

Tourists visit disputed northern isles via Russian immigration

SAPPORO, Japan - In this photo taken July 6, a cruise ship leaves the Kushiro port in eastern Hokkaido, headed to the Russian-held Northern Territories claimed by Japan. Foreign travel agencies have been operating cruise tours to the Northern Territories under Russian immigration procedures almost every year since 2003, according to travel company officials.

E

Saury fishermen halt work in appeal for government fuel cost aid

KUSHIRO, Japan - Sauries are landed from a fishing boat at Kushiro port in eastern Hokkaido on Aug. 18 before members of two major saury fishermen's groups from across Japan suspended work in a one-day appeal for government help to ameliorate their financial plight stemming from soaring fuel costs.

E

Sick skipper of seized boat returns home

KUSHIRO, Japan - Shigemi Fujimoto (R), the captain of the Hoyu Maru No. 31 which was seized by Russian border guards off the disputed Kunashiri Island on Dec. 13, returns to Nemuro port in Hokkaido on Dec. 20. The Japanese side had called for Fujimoto's early release because he suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure.

E

Japanese ship fined for illegal fishing in Russia returns

KUSHIRO, Japan - The fishing ship Yokei Maru No. 5 from Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, returns to Kushiro port in Hokkaido on Jan. 16 from Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East. The ship was taken to the peninsula by Russian authorities in November on suspicion of illegally fishing in Russia's exclusive economic waters.

E

Japanese fishing boat, crew return from Russia after detention

KUSHIRO, Japan - The fishing vessel Gyokuryu Maru returns to Kushiro port in Kushiro, Hokkaido, on Jan. 1 from the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East after a 2-month-long detention for illegal fishing in Russia's exclusive economic waters in the Bering Sea.

E

Research institute begins whaling off Hokkaido

KUSHIRO, Japan - A minke whale is landed at Kushiro port on Sept. 9 as a Japanese government-authorized research institute began its semiannual whaling campaign off the coast of Hokkaido. The Institute of Cetacean Research harpooned three minke whales off Kushiro on the first day of the fall whaling period that runs through Oct. 31. It aims to catch up to 60 minke whales during the period in order to investigate what impact whales have on the fisheries industry.

E

Research institute begins whaling off Hokkaido

KUSHIRO, Japan - A minke whale is unloaded at Kushiro port as a Japanese government-authorized research institute began its semiannual whaling campaign off the coast of Hokkaido on Sept. 9. The Institute of Cetacean Research harpooned three minke whales off Kushiro on the first day of the fall whaling period that runs through Oct. 31. It aims to catch up to 60 minke whales during the period in order to investigate what impact whales have on the fisheries industry.

E

(5)Major quakes jolt Japan's northern island of Hokkaido

KUSHIRO, Japan - Cracks are seen running through a pier at Kushiro port in eastern Hokkaido on Sept. 26 after two powerful earthquakes hit the region.

E

Saury fishermen halt work in appeal for government fuel cost aid

KUSHIRO, Japan - Sauries are landed from a fishing boat at Kushiro port in eastern Hokkaido on Aug. 18 before members of two major saury fishermen's groups from across Japan suspended work in a one-day appeal for government help to ameliorate their financial plight stemming from soaring fuel costs. (Kyodo)

E

Minke whale unloaded at port in Hokkaido

One of eight minke whales caught in Japan's whaling "for scientific research" off Kushiro in Hokkaido Prefecture, northern Japan, is unloaded at a local port on Sept. 5, 2015, on the first day of the controversial cetacean hunting. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Saury sold for highest price in decade in Hokkaido

A man picks up saury landed at the port of Kushiro in Japan's Hokkaido Prefecture on July 9, 2015. Saury was sold for 15,500 yen per kilogram in the year's first auction, the highest in 10 years. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Research institute begins whaling off Hokkaido

KUSHIRO, Japan - A minke whale is unloaded at Kushiro port as a Japanese government-authorized research institute began its semiannual whaling campaign off the coast of Hokkaido on Sept. 9. The Institute of Cetacean Research harpooned three minke whales off Kushiro on the first day of the fall whaling period that runs through Oct. 31. It aims to catch up to 60 minke whales during the period in order to investigate what impact whales have on the fisheries industry. (Kyodo)

E

Research institute begins whaling off Hokkaido

KUSHIRO, Japan - A minke whale is landed at Kushiro port on Sept. 9 as a Japanese government-authorized research institute began its semiannual whaling campaign off the coast of Hokkaido. The Institute of Cetacean Research harpooned three minke whales off Kushiro on the first day of the fall whaling period that runs through Oct. 31. It aims to catch up to 60 minke whales during the period in order to investigate what impact whales have on the fisheries industry. (Kyodo)

E

Tourists visit disputed northern isles via Russian immigration

SAPPORO, Japan - In this photo taken July 6, a cruise ship leaves the Kushiro port in eastern Hokkaido, headed to the Russian-held Northern Territories claimed by Japan. Foreign travel agencies have been operating cruise tours to the Northern Territories under Russian immigration procedures almost every year since 2003, according to travel company officials. (Kyodo)

E

Icebreaking patrol boat leads fishing boats through drift ice

KUSHIRO, Japan - The Japan Coast Guard's icebreaker Soya (front) leads seven fishing boats through drift ice in the Sea of Okhotsk off Hokkaido on Jan. 29. The fishing boats were heading to Kushiro port for repairs and regular checks. Photo provided by the First Regional Coast Guard Headquarters. (Kyodo)

E

Sick skipper of seized boat returns home

KUSHIRO, Japan - Shigemi Fujimoto (R), the captain of the Hoyu Maru No. 31 which was seized by Russian border guards off the disputed Kunashiri Island on Dec. 13, returns to Nemuro port in Hokkaido on Dec. 20. The Japanese side had called for Fujimoto's early release because he suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure. (Kyodo)

E

Japanese ship fined for illegal fishing in Russia returns

KUSHIRO, Japan - The fishing ship Yokei Maru No. 5 from Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, returns to Kushiro port in Hokkaido on Jan. 16 from Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East. The ship was taken to the peninsula by Russian authorities in November on suspicion of illegally fishing in Russia's exclusive economic waters. (Kyodo)

E

Japanese fishing boat, crew return from Russia after detention

KUSHIRO, Japan - The fishing vessel Gyokuryu Maru returns to Kushiro port in Kushiro, Hokkaido, on Jan. 1 from the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East after a 2-month-long detention for illegal fishing in Russia's exclusive economic waters in the Bering Sea. (Kyodo)

E

Poor catch of saury

KUSHIRO, Japan - Saury are auctioned at a port in Kushiro, Hokkaido, on Aug. 24, 2010. Poor saury catches have been logged at fishing grounds in the Pacific east of Hokkaido. (Kyodo)

E

Poor catch of saury

KUSHIRO, Japan - Saury are landed at Kushiro port in Hokkaido on Aug. 24, 2010. Poor saury catches have been logged at fishing grounds in the Pacific east of Hokkaido. (Kyodo)

E

'Research whaling' starts off Hokkaido

KUSHIRO, Japan - Members of a community-based whaling association attend a ceremony in Kushiro port, Hokkaido, on Sept. 9, 2011, ahead of their departure for so-called research whaling authorized by the Fisheries Agency in waters off Kushiro. The association is aiming to catch up to 60 minke whales through late October to study their impact on coastal fishery stocks. (Kyodo)

E

Minke whale caught

KUSHIRO, Japan - A minke whale is landed at Kushiro port in Hokkaido following the start of research whaling in the area on Sept. 7, 2010. (Kyodo)

E

Coastal research whaling ship

ISHINOMAKI, Japan - Photo taken April 25, 2011, shows a whaling ship docked at Kushiro port in Hokkaido. The ship's departure from the port for coastal research whaling in waters off Kushiro under the approval of Japan's Fisheries Agency, which was scheduled April 25, was postponed due to bad weather. The whaling site was changed to waters off Hokkaido from off the Sanriku coastline in northeastern Japan after the catastrophic March 11 earthquake and tsunami wrecked whaling ships and related facilities in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, home to one of Japan's key coastal whaling bases. (Kyodo)

E

One of world's most scenic evening glows in Kushiro

KUSHIRO, Japan - Local resident Hisanori Haga webcasts live the evening glow at Kushiro port in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Jan. 24, 2011. Some people have described the scene as ''one of the world's three most scenic'' along with those in Bali, Indonesia, and Manila in the Philippines. (Kyodo)

E

One of world's most scenic evening glows in Kushiro

KUSHIRO, Japan - Local resident Hisanori Haga webcasts live the evening glow at Kushiro port in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Jan. 24, 2011. Some people have described the scene as ''one of the world's three most scenic'' along with those in Bali, Indonesia, and Manila in the Philippines. (Kyodo)

E

One of world's most scenic evening glows in Kushiro

KUSHIRO, Japan - Photo shows the evening glow at Kushiro port in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Jan. 24, 2011. Some people have described the scene as ''one of the world's three most scenic'' along with those in Bali, Indonesia, and Manila in the Philippines. (Kyodo)