Preparations for 2026 Asian Games

Preparations for 2026 Asian Games

An officer checks a vending machine in a high-speed ferry with a security dog at Chubu Centrair International Airport in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, on Dec. 26, 2025, as the police and the Japan Coast Guard jointly tighten security ahead of the 2026 Asian Games in the central Japan prefecture.

Japan PM Takaichi

Japan PM Takaichi

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrives at the premier's office in Tokyo on Dec. 26, 2025.

Preparations for 2026 Asian Games

Preparations for 2026 Asian Games

An officer checks the interior of a high-speed ferry with a security dog at Chubu Centrair International Airport in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, on Dec. 26, 2025, as the police and the Japan Coast Guard jointly tighten security ahead of the 2026 Asian Games in the central Japan prefecture.

Preparations for 2026 Asian Games

Preparations for 2026 Asian Games

An officer checks the interior of a high-speed ferry with a security dog at Chubu Centrair International Airport in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, on Dec. 26, 2025, as the police and the Japan Coast Guard jointly tighten security ahead of the 2026 Asian Games in the central Japan prefecture.

Zodiac transition ceremony

Zodiac transition ceremony

A corn snake and a pony are pictured during a zodiac handover ceremony at Osaka's landmark Tsutenkaku Tower on Dec. 26, 2025. According to the Chinese zodiac, 2025 is the Year of the Snake and 2026 will be the Year of the Horse.

Zodiac transition ceremony

Zodiac transition ceremony

A corn snake and a pony are pictured during a zodiac handover ceremony at Osaka's landmark Tsutenkaku Tower on Dec. 26, 2025. According to the Chinese zodiac, 2025 is the Year of the Snake and 2026 will be the Year of the Horse.

Preparations for 2026 Year of Horse

Preparations for 2026 Year of Horse

A giant "ema" votive plaque bearing an illustration of a horse is put up at Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine in Nachikatsuura in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Dec. 15, 2025, ahead of the start of the Year of the Horse in 2026.

Preparations for 2026 Year of Horse

Preparations for 2026 Year of Horse

A giant "ema" votive plaque bearing an illustration of a horse is put up at Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine in Nachikatsuura in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Dec. 15, 2025, ahead of the start of the Year of the Horse in 2026.

Preparations for 2026 Year of Horse

Preparations for 2026 Year of Horse

A giant "ema" votive plaque bearing an illustration of a horse is put up at Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine in Nachikatsuura in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Dec. 15, 2025, ahead of the start of the Year of the Horse in 2026.

Boxing: Naoya Inoue

Boxing: Naoya Inoue

Undisputed super bantamweight world champion Naoya Inoue (L) and Mexican challenger Alan Picasso pose during a press conference in Riyadh on Dec. 25, 2025, ahead of their title match in the Saudi Arabian capital on Dec. 27.

Boxing: Naoya Inoue

Boxing: Naoya Inoue

Undisputed super bantamweight world champion Naoya Inoue (front, L) and Mexican challenger Alan Picasso (front, R) pose during a press conference in Riyadh on Dec. 25, 2025, ahead of their title match in the Saudi Arabian capital on Dec. 27.

Boxing: Naoya Inoue

Boxing: Naoya Inoue

Undisputed super bantamweight world champion Naoya Inoue (front, L) and Mexican challenger Alan Picasso (front, R) pose during a press conference in Riyadh on Dec. 25, 2025, ahead of their title match in the Saudi Arabian capital on Dec. 27.

Boxing: Naoya Inoue

Boxing: Naoya Inoue

Undisputed super bantamweight world champion Naoya Inoue of Japan speaks during a press conference in Riyadh on Dec. 25, 2025, ahead of his title defense against Mexican challenger Alan Picasso in the Saudi Arabian capital on Dec. 27.

Boxing: Naoya Inoue

Boxing: Naoya Inoue

Undisputed super bantamweight world champion Naoya Inoue of Japan speaks during a press conference in Riyadh on Dec. 25, 2025, ahead of his title defense against Mexican challenger Alan Picasso in the Saudi Arabian capital on Dec. 27.

Christmas in Ukraine

Christmas in Ukraine

People pose for a photo in front of a giant Christmas tree in Kyiv on Dec. 25, 2025.

Christmas in Ukraine

Christmas in Ukraine

People gather near a giant Christmas tree in Kyiv on Dec. 25, 2025.

Ex-Japan PM Ishiba

Ex-Japan PM Ishiba

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba gives an interview in Tokyo on Dec. 24, 2025.

Ex-Japan PM Ishiba

Ex-Japan PM Ishiba

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba gives an interview in Tokyo on Dec. 24, 2025.

Travel company outlet in Beijing

Travel company outlet in Beijing

Photo taken on Dec. 25, 2025, shows brochures for various travel destinations at a travel agency outlet in Beijing. No brochures on Japan are available at the outlet as the Chinese government has asked people to refrain from traveling to Japan following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's comments on Taiwan.

Travel company outlet in Beijing

Travel company outlet in Beijing

Photo taken on Dec. 25, 2025, shows brochures for various travel destinations at a travel agency outlet in Beijing. No brochures on Japan are available at the outlet as the Chinese government has asked people to refrain from traveling to Japan following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's comments on Taiwan.

Travel company outlet in Beijing

Travel company outlet in Beijing

Photo taken on Dec. 25, 2025, shows posters for various travel destinations at a travel agency outlet in Beijing. No posters introducing Japan are seen at the outlet as the Chinese government has asked people to refrain from traveling to Japan following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's comments on Taiwan.

Tokyo Gov. Koike

Tokyo Gov. Koike

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike gives an interview at the Tokyo metropolitan government headquarters in the capital on Dec. 25, 2025.

Tokyo Gov. Koike

Tokyo Gov. Koike

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike gives an interview at the Tokyo metropolitan government headquarters in the capital on Dec. 25, 2025.

Tokyo Gov. Koike

Tokyo Gov. Koike

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike gives an interview at the Tokyo metropolitan government headquarters in the capital on Dec. 25, 2025.

Tokyo Gov. Koike

Tokyo Gov. Koike

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike gives an interview at the Tokyo metropolitan government headquarters in the capital on Dec. 25, 2025.

Tokyo Gov. Koike

Tokyo Gov. Koike

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike gives an interview at the Tokyo metropolitan government headquarters in the capital on Dec. 25, 2025.

New Japanese Antarctic expedition team arrives at base

New Japanese Antarctic expedition team arrives at base

Members (R) of the 67th Japanese Antarctic research expedition are greeted by members of the 66th expedition at Japan's Syowa Station in Antarctica on Dec. 25, 2025, upon their arrival via helicopter from the Japanese icebreaker Shirase. (Photo by accompanying journalist)

BOJ chief

BOJ chief

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda attends a meeting hosted by the Japanese Business Federation in Tokyo on Dec. 25, 2025.

BOJ chief

BOJ chief

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda attends a meeting hosted by the Japanese Business Federation in Tokyo on Dec. 25, 2025.

Japan PM Takaichi

Japan PM Takaichi

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi makes a speech in Tokyo on Dec. 25, 2025. (Pool photo)

Japan PM Takaichi

Japan PM Takaichi

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi makes a speech in Tokyo on Dec. 25, 2025. (Pool photo)

Taiwanese tourists to Japan

Taiwanese tourists to Japan

Tourists from Taiwan pose for a photo in front of a statue of Ryoma Sakamoto, a famed 19th-century historic figure who played a key role in Japan's transition from feudal rule to modern statehood during the Meiji Restoration, in Kochi, western Japan, on Dec. 15, 2025.

Taiwanese tourists to Japan

Taiwanese tourists to Japan

Tourists from Taiwan pose for a photo in front of a statue of Ryoma Sakamoto, a famed 19th-century historic figure who played a key role in Japan's transition from feudal rule to modern statehood during the Meiji Restoration, in Kochi, western Japan, on Dec. 15, 2025.

Taiwanese tourists to Japan

Taiwanese tourists to Japan

Tourists from Taiwan listen to a guide in front of a statue of Ryoma Sakamoto, a famed 19th-century historic figure who played a key role in Japan's transition from feudal rule to modern statehood during the Meiji Restoration, in Kochi, western Japan, on Dec. 15, 2025. ==Kyodo

BOJ chief Ueda

BOJ chief Ueda

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda speaks in Tokyo on Dec. 25, 2025.

BOJ chief Ueda

BOJ chief Ueda

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda speaks in Tokyo on Dec. 25, 2025.

Northern boobook

Northern boobook

Photo taken on Nov. 16, 2025, shows a northern boobook at Hamura municipal zoo in Hamura, western Tokyo.

Northern boobook

Northern boobook

Photo taken on Nov. 16, 2025, shows a northern boobook at Hamura municipal zoo in Hamura, western Tokyo.

BOJ chief Ueda

BOJ chief Ueda

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda speaks in Tokyo on Dec. 25, 2025.

Christmas in Ukraine

Christmas in Ukraine

A Christmas Eve service is held at St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv on Dec. 24, 2025.

Christmas in Ukraine

Christmas in Ukraine

A Christmas Eve service is held at St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv on Dec. 24, 2025.

Christmas in Ukraine

Christmas in Ukraine

A Christmas Eve service is held at St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv on Dec. 24, 2025.

Christmas in Bethlehem

Christmas in Bethlehem

A large crowd gather and fill the square of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the West Bank, on Dec. 24, 2025.

Christmas in Ukraine

Christmas in Ukraine

Women attend a Christmas Eve service at St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv on Dec. 24, 2025.

Christmas in Bethlehem

Christmas in Bethlehem

Women pose for a photo in front of a Christmas Tree at the square of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the West Bank, on Dec. 24, 2025.

Christmas in Bethlehem

Christmas in Bethlehem

Police officers stand guard around a Christmas Tree at the square of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the West Bank, on Dec. 24, 2025.

Takaichi at economic and fiscal policy meeting

Takaichi at economic and fiscal policy meeting

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (blue) speaks at a Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy meeting at her office in Tokyo on Dec. 25, 2025.

Takaichi at economic and fiscal policy meeting

Takaichi at economic and fiscal policy meeting

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (blue) speaks at a Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy meeting at her office in Tokyo on Dec. 25, 2025.

Takaichi at economic and fiscal policy meeting

Takaichi at economic and fiscal policy meeting

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks at a Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy meeting at her office in Tokyo on Dec. 25, 2025.

Baseball:veteran pitcher Maeda joins Rakuten Eagles

Baseball:veteran pitcher Maeda joins Rakuten Eagles

SENDAI, Japan, Dec. 24 Kyodo - Right-hander Kenta Maeda poses for a photo with fans at Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi in Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Dec. 16, 2025, as he holds his first news conference after joining the Pacific League pro baseball team Rakuten Eagles. He returned to Japan after playing for 10 years in the U.S. majors.