(Chengdu Universiade)CHINA-CHENGDU-WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES-TABLE TENNIS (CN)

(Chengdu Universiade)CHINA-CHENGDU-WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES-TABLE TENNIS (CN)

(230804) -- CHENGDU, Aug. 4, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Bronze medalists Kurono Aoi/Motoi Akari (R) of Japan pose on the podium during the awarding ceremony for the Women's Doubles of table tennis at the 31st FISU Summer World University Games in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen)

(Chengdu Universiade)CHINA-CHENGDU-WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES-TABLE TENNIS(CN)

(Chengdu Universiade)CHINA-CHENGDU-WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES-TABLE TENNIS(CN)

(230804) -- CHENGDU, Aug. 4, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Kurono Aoi(R)/Motoi Akari of Japan compete during the Table Tennis Women's Doubles Semifinal match against He Zhuojia/Wang Xiaotong of China at the 31st FISU Summer World University Games in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

(Chengdu Universiade)CHINA-CHENGDU-WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES-TABLE TENNIS(CN)

(Chengdu Universiade)CHINA-CHENGDU-WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES-TABLE TENNIS(CN)

(230804) -- CHENGDU, Aug. 4, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Kurono Aoi(L)/Motoi Akari of Japan compete during the Table Tennis Women's Doubles Semifinal match against He Zhuojia/Wang Xiaotong of China at the 31st FISU Summer World University Games in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

Niigata marks 5th anniversary of fatal Chuetsu quake

Niigata marks 5th anniversary of fatal Chuetsu quake

NIIGATA, Japan - Haruo Motoi, who lost his mother in a 2007 earthquake, speaks during a memorial ceremony on July 16, 2012, in Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, which was held to mark the fifth anniversary of the magnitude 6.8 earthquake that hit the coast of the Chuetsu region in the prefecture claiming 15 lives.

Nakamoto named envoy to Greece

Nakamoto named envoy to Greece

TOKYO, Japan - File photo shows former Ambassador to Morocco Takashi Nakamoto who was appointed ambassador to Greece on June 11. Nakamoto, 60, replaces Motoi Okubo.

Japan's Ambassador Okubo speaks of release of hostages

Japan's Ambassador Okubo speaks of release of hostages

ATHENS, Greece - Japan's Ambassador to Greece Motoi Okubo tells reporters at the Japanese Embassy in Athens on the night of Nov. 4 that all 33 Japanese -- 32 tourists and a tour conductor -- were released unharmed about eight and a half hours after they had been taken hostage by a Greek gunman.

Vissel Kobe's Iniesta

TOKYO, Japan,-Oct 22:- Andres Iniesta of Vissel Kobe and Asics Corp. Chairman Motoi Oyama pose for photos during a press conference in Tokyo on Oct. 22, 2018. Iniesta signed an advisory staff contract with the sporting goods maker.

Asics becomes Gold Partner for 2020 Tokyo Games

Asics becomes Gold Partner for 2020 Tokyo Games

Asics Corp. President Motoi Oyama (C) and Yoshiro Mori (3rd from R), head of the organizing committee for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, pose for photos in Tokyo on April 6, 2015, after the sporting goods firm signed a deal to become the 10th Tokyo 2020 Gold Partner to support the Games. Paralympian Haruka Kitaura (L), sprinter Yoshihide Kiryu (2nd from L), and table-tennis player Kasumi Ishikawa (3rd from L) joined the photo session. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Asics inks 5-year supply contract with volleyball's governing body

Asics inks 5-year supply contract with volleyball's governing body

Asics Corp. President Motoi Oyama (L) and International Volleyball Federation President Ary Graca show at a ceremony in Kobe, western Japan, on Nov. 20, 2015, a five-year global agreement for the Japanese sportswear maker to provide tops and uniforms for players and referees from January 2016. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Soccer: Vissel Kobe's Iniesta

Soccer: Vissel Kobe's Iniesta

Andres Iniesta (L) of Vissel Kobe and Asics Corp. Chairman Motoi Oyama pose for photos during a press conference in Tokyo on Oct. 22, 2018. Iniesta signed an advisory staff contract with the sporting goods maker. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Soccer: Vissel Kobe's Iniesta

Soccer: Vissel Kobe's Iniesta

Andres Iniesta (L) of Vissel Kobe and Asics Corp. Chairman Motoi Oyama pose for photos during a press conference in Tokyo on Oct. 22, 2018. Iniesta signed an advisory staff contract with the sporting goods maker. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Nakamoto named envoy to Greece

Nakamoto named envoy to Greece

TOKYO, Japan - File photo shows former Ambassador to Morocco Takashi Nakamoto who was appointed ambassador to Greece on June 11. Nakamoto, 60, replaces Motoi Okubo.

Japan's Ambassador Okubo speaks of release of hostages

Japan's Ambassador Okubo speaks of release of hostages

ATHENS, Greece - Japan's Ambassador to Greece Motoi Okubo tells reporters at the Japanese Embassy in Athens on the night of Nov. 4 that all 33 Japanese -- 32 tourists and a tour conductor -- were released unharmed about eight and a half hours after they had been taken hostage by a Greek gunman.

New Japanese ambassadors appointed

New Japanese ambassadors appointed

TOKYO, Japan - Ambassadorial and other Foreign Ministry appointments approved by the cabinet on Feb. 15 are shown in these file photos. Pictured in the upper row (from left) are Motoi Okubo (ambassador to Greece), Sadaaki Numata (ambassador to Pakistan) and Hideaki Kobayashi (ambassador to the United Nations). Pictured in the bottom row (from left) are Toshinori Shigeie (envoy extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the United States) and Ryuichiro Yamazaki (Foreign Ministry spokesman).