Japan's fermentation culture showcased in Zurich

Japan's fermentation culture showcased in Zurich

Participants sample rice balls made with rice from Japan's Niigata Prefecture at an event showcasing Japanese fermentation culture in Zurich on Sept. 11, 2026.

Memorial for Sado mine forced workers

Memorial for Sado mine forced workers

A memorial ceremony is held on Sado Island in Japan's Niigata Prefecture on Sept. 12, 2026, to honor laborers, including those from the Korean Peninsula, who worked at a gold and silver mine complex there during World War II.

Memorial for Sado mine forced workers

Memorial for Sado mine forced workers

A memorial ceremony is held on Sado Island in Japan's Niigata Prefecture on Sept. 12, 2026, to honor laborers, including those from the Korean Peninsula, who worked at a gold and silver mine complex there during World War II.

Nuclear power plant drill in Niigata

Nuclear power plant drill in Niigata

Residents get on board a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force helicopter in Kariwa, Niigata Prefecture, on Sept. 5, 2026, during a drill simulating a major earthquake and nuclear accident hitting Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.'s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant.

Nuclear power plant drill in Niigata

Nuclear power plant drill in Niigata

Residents get on board a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force helicopter in Kariwa, Niigata Prefecture, on Sept. 5, 2026, during a drill simulating a major earthquake and nuclear accident hitting Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.'s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant.

Nuclear power plant drill in Niigata

Nuclear power plant drill in Niigata

Residents get on board a Japan Coast Guard helicopter in Kariwa, Niigata Prefecture, on Sept. 5, 2026, during a drill simulating a major earthquake and nuclear accident hitting Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.'s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant.

Event to pitch Niigata goods held in Sao Paulo

Event to pitch Niigata goods held in Sao Paulo

Niigata Gov. Hideyo Hanazumi speaks during an event to pitch imports from the Japanese prefecture in Sao Paulo on Aug. 22, 2026.

Event to pitch Niigata goods held in Sao Paulo

Event to pitch Niigata goods held in Sao Paulo

Visitors gather in a tasting area for sake from Japan's Niigata Prefecture during an event to pitch imports from the Japanese prefecture in Sao Paulo on Aug. 22, 2026.

Event to pitch Niigata goods held in Sao Paulo

Event to pitch Niigata goods held in Sao Paulo

Niigata Gov. Hideyo Hanazumi (L) explains locally made edged tools to a visitor at an event to pitch imports from the Japanese prefecture in Sao Paulo on Aug. 22, 2026.

Fireworks festival in Niigata

NAGAOKA, Japan, Aug. 3 Kyodo - Fireworks light up the night sky in Nagaoka in Niigata Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, on Aug. 2, 2026, during one of the three largest fireworks festivals in Japan. (Kyodo)

Perseid meteor shower

Perseid meteor shower

A shooting star lights up the sky over Sado in Niigata Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, in the early hours of Aug. 13, 2026, as the annual summer Perseid meteor shower peaks.

Perseid meteor shower

Perseid meteor shower

A shooting star lights up the sky over Sado in Niigata Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, in the early hours of Aug. 13, 2026, as the annual summer Perseid meteor shower peaks.

Perseid meteor shower

Perseid meteor shower

A shooting star lights up the sky over Sado in Niigata Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, in the early hours of Aug. 13, 2026, as the annual summer Perseid meteor shower peaks.

Perseid meteor shower

Perseid meteor shower

A shooting star lights up the sky over Sado in Niigata Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, in the early hours of Aug. 13, 2026, as the annual summer Perseid meteor shower peaks.

Perseid meteor shower

Perseid meteor shower

A shooting star lights up the sky over Sado in Niigata Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, in the early hours of Aug. 13, 2026, as the annual summer Perseid meteor shower peaks.

Perseid meteor shower

Perseid meteor shower

A shooting star lights up the sky over Sado in Niigata Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, in the early hours of Aug. 13, 2026, as the annual summer Perseid meteor shower peaks.

Perseid meteor shower

Perseid meteor shower

A shooting star lights up the sky over Sado in Niigata Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, in the early hours of Aug. 13, 2026, as the annual summer Perseid meteor shower peaks.

Japan: Funnel Cloud Sightings Reported in Niigata’s Murakami City

Funnel clouds were reported multiple times in Murakami, Niigata Prefecture, on Sunday, August 9.

Japanese ex-abductee Soga

Japanese ex-abductee Soga

Hitomi Soga, a 67-year-old Japanese woman who was abducted by North Korea in 1978 and repatriated in 2002, speaks during a seminar for teachers in Joetsu, Niigata Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, on Aug. 7, 2026.

Japanese ex-abductee Soga

Japanese ex-abductee Soga

Hitomi Soga, a 67-year-old Japanese woman who was abducted by North Korea in 1978 and repatriated in 2002, speaks during a seminar for teachers in Joetsu, Niigata Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, on Aug. 7, 2026.

Japanese ex-abductee Soga

Japanese ex-abductee Soga

Hitomi Soga, a 67-year-old Japanese woman who was abducted by North Korea in 1978 and repatriated in 2002, speaks during a seminar for teachers in Joetsu, Niigata Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, on Aug. 7, 2026.

Japan: Nagaoka Fireworks Festival Lights Up Sky With 20,000 Shells 5

The Nagaoka Fireworks Festival, one of Japan's three major fireworks displays, was held on Sunday and Monday, August 2 and 3, along the Shinano River in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture. The two-day event featured about 20,000 fireworks, including large traditional shells that bloomed into flowers roughly 650 meters wide.

Japan: Nagaoka Fireworks Festival Lights Up Sky With 20,000 Shells 4

The Nagaoka Fireworks Festival, one of Japan's three major fireworks displays, was held on Sunday and Monday, August 2 and 3, along the Shinano River in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture. The two-day event featured about 20,000 fireworks, including large traditional shells that bloomed into flowers roughly 650 meters wide.

Japan: Nagaoka Fireworks Festival Lights Up Sky With 20,000 Shells

The Nagaoka Fireworks Festival, one of Japan's three major fireworks displays, was held on Sunday and Monday, August 2 and 3, along the Shinano River in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture. The two-day event featured about 20,000 fireworks, including large traditional shells that bloomed into flowers roughly 650 meters wide.

Japan: Nagaoka Fireworks Festival Lights Up Sky With 20,000 Shells 3

The Nagaoka Fireworks Festival, one of Japan's three major fireworks displays, was held on Sunday and Monday, August 2 and 3, along the Shinano River in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture. The two-day event featured about 20,000 fireworks, including large traditional shells that bloomed into flowers roughly 650 meters wide.

Japan: Nagaoka Fireworks Festival Lights Up Sky With 20,000 Shells 2

The Nagaoka Fireworks Festival, one of Japan's three major fireworks displays, was held on Sunday and Monday, August 2 and 3, along the Shinano River in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture. The two-day event featured about 20,000 fireworks, including large traditional shells that bloomed into flowers roughly 650 meters wide.

Fireworks festival in Niigata

Fireworks festival in Niigata

Fireworks light up the night sky in Nagaoka in Niigata Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, on Aug. 2, 2026, during one of the three largest fireworks festivals in Japan.

Fireworks festival in Niigata

Fireworks festival in Niigata

Fireworks light up the night sky in Nagaoka in Niigata Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, on Aug. 2, 2026, during one of the three largest fireworks festivals in Japan.

Fireworks festival in Niigata

Fireworks festival in Niigata

Fireworks light up the night sky in Nagaoka in Niigata Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, on Aug. 2, 2026, during one of the three largest fireworks festivals in Japan.

Fireworks festival in Niigata

Fireworks festival in Niigata

Fireworks light up the night sky in Nagaoka in Niigata Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, on Aug. 2, 2026, during one of the three largest fireworks festivals in Japan.

Golf: Yonex Ladies

Golf: Yonex Ladies

Rin Yoshida poses with the victor's trophy after winning the Yonex Ladies golf tournament at the Yonex Country Club in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, Japan, on June 7, 2026.

Golf: Yonex Ladies

Golf: Yonex Ladies

Rin Yoshida poses with the victor's trophy after winning the Yonex Ladies golf tournament at the Yonex Country Club in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, Japan, on June 7, 2026.

Golf: Yonex Ladies

Golf: Yonex Ladies

Rin Yoshida poses with the victor's trophy after winning the Yonex Ladies golf tournament at the Yonex Country Club in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, Japan, on June 7, 2026.

Golf: Yonex Ladies

Golf: Yonex Ladies

Rin Yoshida reacts after making a winning putt on the 18th hole during the final round of the Yonex Ladies golf tournament at the Yonex Country Club in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, Japan, on June 7, 2026.

Golf: Yonex Ladies

Golf: Yonex Ladies

Rin Yoshida plays a shot during the final round of the Yonex Ladies golf tournament at the Yonex Country Club in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, Japan, on June 7, 2026.

Exterior, logo, and sign of Daishi Hokuetsu Bank

Exterior, logo, and sign of Daishi Hokuetsu Bank

Exterior, logo, and sign of Daishi Hokuetsu Bank=May 19,2026,Niigata

Exterior, logo, and signboard of Taiyo Life Insurance (Niigata Branch)

Exterior, logo, and signboard of Taiyo Life Insurance (Niigata Branch)

Exterior, logo, and signboard of Taiyo Life Insurance (Niigata Branch)=May 19,2026,Niigata

Daishi Hokuetsu Bank sign

Daishi Hokuetsu Bank sign

Daishi Hokuetsu Bank sign=May 19,2026,Niigata

Logo and sign for the Bandai City Bus Center Building

Logo and sign for the Bandai City Bus Center Building

Logo and sign for the Bandai City Bus Center Building=May 19,2026,Niigata

Exterior, logo, and signage of APA Hotel & Resort Niigata Ekimae Odori

Exterior, logo, and signage of APA Hotel & Resort Niigata Ekimae Odori

Exterior, logo, and signage of APA Hotel & Resort Niigata Ekimae Odori=May 19,2026,Niigata

Nissei Real Estate signboard and logo

Nissei Real Estate signboard and logo

Nissei Real Estate signboard and logo=May 19,2026,Niigata

Daishi Hokuetsu Bank sign and logo

Daishi Hokuetsu Bank sign and logo

Daishi Hokuetsu Bank sign and logo=May 19,2026,Niigata

Niigata Nippo sign and logo

Niigata Nippo sign and logo

Niigata Nippo sign and logo=May 19,2026,Niigata

Exterior, logo, and sign of Toki Messe

Exterior, logo, and sign of Toki Messe

Exterior, logo, and sign of Toki Messe=May 19,2026,Niigata

APA Hotel signboard and logo

APA Hotel signboard and logo

APA Hotel signboard and logo=May 19,2026,Niigata

Exterior, logo, and sign of Niigata Station

Exterior, logo, and sign of Niigata Station

Exterior, logo, and sign of Niigata Station=May 19,2026,Niigata

Exterior, logo, and sign of Toki Messe

Exterior, logo, and sign of Toki Messe

Exterior, logo, and sign of Toki Messe=May 19,2026,Niigata

Exterior, logo, and sign of Toki Messe

Exterior, logo, and sign of Toki Messe

Exterior, logo, and sign of Toki Messe=May 19,2026,Niigata

MetLife Life Insurance sign and logo

MetLife Life Insurance sign and logo

MetLife Life Insurance sign and logo=May 19,2026,Niigata

APA Hotel signboard and logo

APA Hotel signboard and logo

APA Hotel signboard and logo=May 19,2026,Niigata