Abe visits tsunami-hit areas

Abe visits tsunami-hit areas

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe smiles after putting on a cardigan at a knitwear manufacturer in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture on Feb. 14, 2015. The company was founded after the area was devastated by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, and has hired more than 30 local women. (Pool photo by Kyodo News)

"Lady KAGA" landladies stage publicity blitz in Kanazawa

"Lady KAGA" landladies stage publicity blitz in Kanazawa

KANAZAWA, Japan - Members of "Lady KAGA," a team of landladies promoting the Kaga hot spa resort in Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, gather for a publicity event in the prefectural capital of Kanazawa on Jan. 14, 2015. The resort and other parts of the prefecture expect visitors to increase following the launch of services on the Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet train line in March.

New bullet train station in Niigata Pref.

New bullet train station in Niigata Pref.

NIIGATA, Japan - Joetsu-myoko station in Joetsu, Niigata Prefecture, northeastern Japan, shown in this photo taken on Aug. 17, 2014, is one of the new station built for the Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet train line to be operated from March 14, 2015.

Plarail diorama on Shinkansen bullet train

Plarail diorama on Shinkansen bullet train

FUKUOKA, Japan - Invited nursery school children play with Tomy Co.'s Plarail railroad toys placed on a special Shinkansen bullet train on July 14, 2014, between Hiroshima and Okayama stations. The train will be operated from July 19, 2014, through March 2015 between Shin-Osaka and Hakata stations, one round trip a day.

Plarail diorama on Shinkansen bullet train

Plarail diorama on Shinkansen bullet train

FUKUOKA, Japan - Invited nursery school children look at a Plarail railroad toy diorama displayed on a special Shinkansen bullet train on July 14, 2014, between Hiroshima and Okayama stations. The train will be operated from July 19, 2014, through March 2015 between Shin-Osaka and Hakata stations, one round trip a day.

World Heritage site Himeji Castle reappears after repair

World Heritage site Himeji Castle reappears after repair

KOBE, Japan - The main keep of Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, is photographed from a Kyodo News helicopter on June 14, 2014. The castle, under repair since October 2009, is scheduled to reopen in March 2015.

Toshiba president Sasaki in interview

Toshiba president Sasaki in interview

TOKYO, Japan - Toshiba Corp. President Norio Sasaki speaks during an interview in Tokyo on April 14, 2011. He said the company may be forced to revise its plan to win orders to build 39 nuclear reactors around the world by fiscal 2015 following the nuclear power plant accident in Fukushima Prefecture triggered by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami disaster.