Football: 2026 World Cup

Football: 2026 World Cup

Shakira (C) sings the official 2026 World Cup song "Dai Dai" during the tournament's opening ceremony at Mexico City Stadium in the Mexican capital on June 11, 2026.

Football: 2026 World Cup

Football: 2026 World Cup

Shakira (C) sings the official 2026 World Cup song "Dai Dai" during the tournament's opening ceremony at Mexico City Stadium in the Mexican capital on June 11, 2026.

Emperor ahead of trip to Netherlands, Belgium

Emperor ahead of trip to Netherlands, Belgium

Japan's Emperor Naruhito attends a press conference at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on June 11, 2026, ahead of his official visit to the Netherlands and Belgium. Empress Masako will accompany him during the trip from June 13 through June 25. (Pool photo)

Emperor ahead of trip to Netherlands, Belgium

Emperor ahead of trip to Netherlands, Belgium

Japan's Emperor Naruhito attends a press conference at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on June 11, 2026, ahead of his official visit to the Netherlands and Belgium. Empress Masako will accompany him during the trip from June 13 through June 25. (Pool photo)

Emperor ahead of trip to Netherlands, Belgium

Emperor ahead of trip to Netherlands, Belgium

Japan's Emperor Naruhito attends a press conference at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on June 11, 2026, ahead of his official visit to the Netherlands and Belgium. Empress Masako will accompany him during the trip from June 13 through June 25. (Pool photo)

Emperor ahead of trip to Netherlands, Belgium

Emperor ahead of trip to Netherlands, Belgium

Japan's Emperor Naruhito attends a press conference at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on June 11, 2026, ahead of his official visit to the Netherlands and Belgium. Empress Masako will accompany him during the trip from June 13 through June 25. (Pool photo)

Emperor ahead of trip to Netherlands, Belgium

Emperor ahead of trip to Netherlands, Belgium

Japan's Emperor Naruhito attends a press conference at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on June 11, 2026, ahead of his official visit to the Netherlands and Belgium. Empress Masako will accompany him during the trip from June 13 through June 25. (Pool photo)

Emperor ahead of trip to Netherlands, Belgium

Emperor ahead of trip to Netherlands, Belgium

Japan's Emperor Naruhito attends a press conference at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on June 11, 2026, ahead of his official visit to the Netherlands and Belgium. Empress Masako will accompany him during the trip from June 13 through June 25. (Pool photo)

Emperor ahead of trip to Netherlands, Belgium

Emperor ahead of trip to Netherlands, Belgium

Japan's Emperor Naruhito attends a press conference at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on June 11, 2026, ahead of his official visit to the Netherlands and Belgium. Empress Masako will accompany him during the trip from June 13 through June 25. (Pool photo)

Emperor ahead of trip to Netherlands, Belgium

Emperor ahead of trip to Netherlands, Belgium

Japan's Emperor Naruhito attends a press conference at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on June 11, 2026, ahead of his official visit to the Netherlands and Belgium. Empress Masako will accompany him during the trip from June 13 through June 25. (Pool photo)

Emperor ahead of trip to Netherlands, Belgium

Emperor ahead of trip to Netherlands, Belgium

Japan's Emperor Naruhito attends a press conference at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on June 11, 2026, ahead of his official visit to the Netherlands and Belgium. Empress Masako will accompany him during the trip from June 13 through June 25. (Pool photo)

Emperor ahead of trip to Netherlands, Belgium

Emperor ahead of trip to Netherlands, Belgium

Japan's Emperor Naruhito attends a press conference at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on June 11, 2026, ahead of his official visit to the Netherlands and Belgium. Empress Masako will accompany him during the trip from June 13 through June 25. (Pool photo)

Emperor ahead of trip to Netherlands, Belgium

Emperor ahead of trip to Netherlands, Belgium

Japan's Emperor Naruhito attends a press conference at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on June 11, 2026, ahead of his official visit to the Netherlands and Belgium. Empress Masako will accompany him during the trip from June 13 through June 25. (Pool photo)

Former Japanese lower house speaker Kono dies

Former Japanese lower house speaker Kono dies

File photo taken in August 1993 at the prime minister's office in Tokyo shows Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono issuing an official statement acknowledging the Japanese military's responsibility for the forced labor of Korean "comfort women" in Japan's wartime military brothels, and announcing the government's landmark apology for the issue. Kono, former speaker of the House of Representatives, died on June 8, 2026, aged 89.

Economy minister Akazawa visits Kagoshima oil reserve facility

Economy minister Akazawa visits Kagoshima oil reserve facility

Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa (2nd from L) talks with an official of Eneos Corp. during his visit to the oil distributor's Kiire crude oil reserve terminal in the city of Kagoshima, Kagoshima Prefecture, on May 31, 2026.

US: Shoppers Camp Out for Audemars Piguet x Swatch “Royal Pop” Drop in New York

Dozens of people are camped out outside of the Times Square Swatch store ahead of the May 16 in-store-only release of the Audemars Piguet x Swatch "Royal Pop." Lines started to form on Sunday, six days ahead of the watch’s official release.

Top currency official meets press after intervention

Top currency official meets press after intervention

Japanese Vice Finance Minister for International Affairs Atsushi Mimura meets the press in Tokyo on May 1, 2026, a day after Japanese authorities intervened in the currency market to arrest the yen's further fall after it weakened to around 160 to the dollar.

Hidankyo senior official in New York

Hidankyo senior official in New York

Jiro Hamasumi (3rd from L), secretary general of Hidankyo, Japan's leading organization of atomic bomb survivors and winner of the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize, holds talks with Do Hung Viet (2nd from R), permanent representative of Vietnam to the United Nations and president of the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, at the U.N. headquarters in New York on April 30, 2026.

Minamata marks 70th anniv. of mercury-poisoning disease

Minamata marks 70th anniv. of mercury-poisoning disease

Japanese Environment Minister Hirotaka Ishihara delivers a speech at a memorial service for the victims of Minamata disease in Minamata, Kumamoto prefecture, southwestern Japan, on May 1, 2026, the 70th anniversary of Japan's official recognition of the mercury-poisoning disease caused by industrial pollution.

Minamata marks 70th anniv. of mercury-poisoning disease

Minamata marks 70th anniv. of mercury-poisoning disease

Japanese Environment Minister Hirotaka Ishihara (2nd from R) meets with members of a Minamata disease suffers group in Minamata, Kumamoto Prefecture in southwestern Japan, on May 1, 2026, the 70th anniversary of Japan's official recognition of the mercury-poisoning disease caused by industrial pollution. (Pool photo)

Japan PM Takaichi heads for Vietnam, Australia

Japan PM Takaichi heads for Vietnam, Australia

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to reporters at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo on May 1, 2026, ahead of a five-day trip to Vietnam and Australia for bilateral summit talks.

International Horticultural Expo 2027

International Horticultural Expo 2027

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi poses at her office in Tokyo on April 28, 2026, with Tunku Tunku, the official mascot of the International Horticultural Expo 2027, to be held in Yokohama from March 2027 to September 2027.

M6.2 quake hits Japan's Hokkaido

M6.2 quake hits Japan's Hokkaido

A Japan Meteorological Agency official holds a press conference in Tokyo on April 27, 2026, after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 struck Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido earlier in the day.

M6.2 quake hits Japan's Hokkaido

M6.2 quake hits Japan's Hokkaido

A Japan Meteorological Agency official holds a press conference in Tokyo on April 27, 2026, after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 struck Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido earlier in the day.

M6.2 quake hits Japan's Hokkaido

M6.2 quake hits Japan's Hokkaido

A Japan Meteorological Agency official holds a press conference in Tokyo on April 27, 2026, after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 struck Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido earlier in the day.

M7.7 quake jolts northeastern, northern Japan

M7.7 quake jolts northeastern, northern Japan

A Japan Meteorological Agency official holds a news conference at the agency's headquarters in Tokyo on April 20, 2026, after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake jolted northeastern and northern Japan.

M7.7 quake jolts northeastern, northern Japan

M7.7 quake jolts northeastern, northern Japan

A Japan Meteorological Agency official holds a news conference at the agency's headquarters in Tokyo on April 20, 2026, after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake jolted northeastern and northern Japan.

M7.7 quake jolts northeastern, northern Japan

M7.7 quake jolts northeastern, northern Japan

A Japan Meteorological Agency official holds a news conference at the agency's headquarters in Tokyo on April 20, 2026, after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake jolted northeastern and northern Japan.

JFA to part ways with women's national coach Nielsen

JFA to part ways with women's national coach Nielsen

Norio Sasaki, a Japan Football Association senior official in charge of the women's national team, holds a press conference in Tokyo on April 2, 2026, after the JFA decided not to renew Nils Nielsen's contract as the team's head coach, less than two weeks after he guided them to the Women's Asian Cup title.

Japan-France summit

Japan-France summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) and French President Emmanuel Macron strike a pose from popular Japanese manga "Dragon Ball" at the end of their joint press appearance after their first official in-person summit at the State Guest House in Tokyo on April 1, 2026.

Japan-France summit

Japan-France summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) and French President Emmanuel Macron are pictured at the end of a joint press appearance following their first official in-person summit at the State Guest House in Tokyo on April 1, 2026.

Japan-France summit

Japan-France summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (2nd from L) and French President Emmanuel Macron (L) listen to the Japanese national anthem after their first official in-person summit at the State Guest House in Tokyo on April 1, 2026.

Japan-France summit

Japan-France summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a joint press appearance with French President Emmanuel Macron following their first official in-person summit at the State Guest House in Tokyo on April 1, 2026.

Japan-France summit

Japan-France summit

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a joint press appearance with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi following their first official in-person summit at the State Guest House in Tokyo on April 1, 2026.

Japan-France summit

Japan-France summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) and French President Emmanuel Macron make a joint press appearance following their first official in-person summit at the State Guest House in Tokyo on April 1, 2026.

Japan-France summit

Japan-France summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) and French President Emmanuel Macron hold up signed joint statements following their first official in-person summit at the State Guest House in Tokyo on April 1, 2026.

Japan-France summit

Japan-France summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) and French President Emmanuel Macron exchange signed joint statements following their first official in-person summit at the State Guest House in Tokyo on April 1, 2026.

Japan-France summit

Japan-France summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi holds her first official in-person summit with French President Emmanuel Macron at the State Guest House in Tokyo on April 1, 2026. (Pool photo)

Japan-France summit

Japan-France summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (front) and French President Emmanuel Macron are pictured before the start of their first official in-person summit at the State Guest House in Tokyo on April 1, 2026.

Japan-France summit

Japan-France summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) and French President Emmanuel Macron (2nd from L) hold their first official in-person summit at the State Guest House in Tokyo on April 1, 2026. (Pool photo)

Japan-France summit

Japan-France summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) and French President Emmanuel Macron (3rd from L) hold their first official in-person summit at the State Guest House in Tokyo on April 1, 2026. (Pool photo)

Japan-France summit

Japan-France summit

French President Emmanuel Macron holds his first official in-person summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the State Guest House in Tokyo on April 1, 2026. (Pool photo)

Figure skating: World championships in Prague

Figure skating: World championships in Prague

Shun Sato of Japan trains during an official practice session in Prague on March 24, 2026, ahead of the world figure skating championships beginning the following day.

Figure skating: World championships in Prague

Figure skating: World championships in Prague

Mone Chiba of Japan trains during an official practice session in Prague on March 24, 2026, ahead of the world figure skating championships beginning the following day.

Figure skating: World championships in Prague

Figure skating: World championships in Prague

Shun Sato of Japan trains during an official practice session in Prague on March 24, 2026, ahead of the world figure skating championships beginning the following day.

Figure skating: World championships in Prague

Figure skating: World championships in Prague

Mone Chiba of Japan trains during an official practice session in Prague on March 24, 2026, ahead of the world figure skating championships beginning the following day.

Figure skating: World championships in Prague

Figure skating: World championships in Prague

Shun Sato of Japan trains during an official practice session in Prague on March 24, 2026, ahead of the world figure skating championships beginning the following day.

Figure skating: World championships in Prague

Figure skating: World championships in Prague

Ami Nakai of Japan trains during an official practice session in Prague on March 24, 2026, ahead of the world figure skating championships beginning the following day.

Figure skating: World championships in Prague

Figure skating: World championships in Prague

Ami Nakai of Japan trains during an official practice session in Prague on March 24, 2026, ahead of the world figure skating championships beginning the following day.

Figure skating: World championships in Prague

Figure skating: World championships in Prague

Mone Chiba of Japan trains during an official practice session in Prague on March 24, 2026, ahead of the world figure skating championships beginning the following day.