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Whirlpools in western Japan

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows a sightseeing boat approaching whirlpools at Naruto Strait off Naruto in Tokushima Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 15, 2026, the opening day of this year's whirlpools watching.

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Whirlpools in western Japan

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows a sightseeing boat approaching whirlpools at Naruto Strait off Naruto in Tokushima Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 15, 2026, the opening day of this year's whirlpools watching.

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Mountain burning event in central Japan

Spectators watch as "kaya" thatch plants are burnt during a traditional burning event on 580-meter-tall Mt. Omuro in Ito in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, on Feb. 15, 2026. The practice, dating back over 700 years, is said to herald the arrival of spring.

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Mountain burning event in central Japan

Spectators watch as "kaya" thatch plants are burnt during a traditional burning event on 580-meter-tall Mt. Omuro in Ito in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, on Feb. 15, 2026. The practice, dating back over 700 years, is said to herald the arrival of spring.

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Boat-racing festival for good haul

Youths participate in a boat-racing event in Kushimoto in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 14, 2026, as part of Minato shrine's annual festival to pray for a good haul and business success.

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Fire festival in western Japan

A man wearing an ogre costume takes part in the annual "Dadaoshi" fire festival, dating back 1,000 years, at Hase temple in Sakurai in Nara Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 14, 2026.

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Boat-racing festival for good haul

Youth participate in a boat-racing event in Kushimoto in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 14, 2026, as part of Minato shrine's annual festival to pray for a good haul and business success.

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Fire festival in western Japan

A man wearing an ogre costume takes part in the annual "Dadaoshi" fire festival, dating back 1,000 years, at Hase temple in Sakurai in Nara Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 14, 2026.

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Japan: Nagasaki Lantern Festival 2026 Illuminates City With 15,000 Lanterns

The 2026 Nagasaki Lantern Festival kicked off on February 6, illuminating the city with over 15,000 colorful lanterns to celebrate the Lunar New Year. This major winter tradition, which originated in Nagasaki's Chinatown, features 18 days of vibrant cultural events across central Nagasaki through February 23.

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Japan: Nagasaki Lantern Festival 2026 Illuminates City With 15,000 Lanterns 2

The 2026 Nagasaki Lantern Festival kicked off on February 6, illuminating the city with over 15,000 colorful lanterns to celebrate the Lunar New Year. This major winter tradition, which originated in Nagasaki's Chinatown, features 18 days of vibrant cultural events across central Nagasaki through February 23.

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Japan: Early-Blooming Kawazu Cherry Blossoms Reached Best Viewing Period 3

The early-blooming Kawazu-zakura cherry blossoms with deep pink petals reached their best viewing period, after starting to bloom in late January, about a week earlier than usual.

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Japan: Early-Blooming Kawazu Cherry Blossoms Reached Best Viewing Period 2

The early-blooming Kawazu-zakura cherry blossoms with deep pink petals reached their best viewing period, after starting to bloom in late January, about a week earlier than usual.

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Japan: Early-Blooming Kawazu Cherry Blossoms Reached Best Viewing Period

The early-blooming Kawazu-zakura cherry blossoms with deep pink petals reached their best viewing period, after starting to bloom in late January, about a week earlier than usual.

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Japan: Skier Powers Through Waist-Deep Snow at Ski Resort in Hyogo

A skier filmed themselves skiing straight through waist-deep snow at Manba Ski Resort in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, on February 8, 2026. The footage shows the skier pushing through deep powder as heavy snowfall blanketed the slopes.

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Japan: Water Shoots 10 Meters Into Air After Pipe Accident

Water erupted from an underground water pipe at an intersection in Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture on Thursday morning, February 12, shooting up to around 10 meters and flooding nearby roads, which were closed to traffic. The prefectural authorities said the incident may have been caused by a contractor’s mistake during air valve replacement work.

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Japan: Stunning ‘Snow Monsters’ on Mount Zao Delight Visitors

Frost-covered trees known as "Snow Monsters" appeared on Mount Zao in Yamagata Prefecture, forming a rare natural spectacle that occurs only under specific conditions, including temperatures below -10°C and wind speeds exceeding 10 meters per second.

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25th anniv. of U.S. sub's collision with school boat

Students of Uwajima Fisheries High School offer flowers during a memorial service at the school in Uwajima in Ehime Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 10, 2026, marking the 25th anniversary of a fatal accident in which the U.S. Navy submarine Greeneville collided with the institution's training boat Ehime Maru off Hawaii. Among the 35 people aboard the Japanese training vessel, four students, two teachers and three crew members were killed.

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General election in Japan

Katsuya Okada of the Centrist Reform Alliance meets supporters on Feb. 9, 2026, in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, central Japan, after the former foreign minister lost his seat in a general election.

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General election in Japan

Katsuya Okada of the Centrist Reform Alliance meets supporters on Feb. 9, 2026, in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, central Japan, after the former foreign minister lost his seat in a general election.

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General election in Japan

Katsuya Okada of the Centrist Reform Alliance speaks to supporters on Feb. 9, 2026, in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, central Japan, after the former foreign minister lost his seat in a general election.

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Japan: Anna and Elsa Bring ‘Frozen’ Magic to Tokyo Disneyland Amid Snowfall

A cold air mass brought widespread snow to much of Japan on Sunday, February 8. At Tokyo Disneyland in Chiba Prefecture, Anna and Elsa from "Frozen" delighted guests by appearing amid snowfall, effectively turning the park into a real-life "Frozen Kingdom."

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Japan: Tokyo Sees Significant Snow Accumulation Amid Widespread Winter Storm 7

A cold air mass brought widespread snow to much of Japan starting Saturday, February 7, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency to issue warnings and advisories nationwide as heavy snow continued along the Sea of Japan coast. As of Sunday, over 3 cm of snow accumulation was reported in Tokyo, covering streets throughout the capital. This video shows the Tokyo Disney Resort area around Maihama Station.

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Taiwanese diver dies amid search at 1942 mine accident site in Japan

Firefighters (front) head to rescue a Taiwanese diver who suffered a seizure while taking part in a search for remains at the site of a 1942 undersea coal mine disaster in Ube in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 7, 2026. The diver was later confirmed dead.

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Taiwanese diver dies amid search at 1942 mine accident site in Japan

Firefighters head to rescue a Taiwanese diver who suffered a seizure while taking part in a search for remains at the site of a 1942 undersea coal mine disaster in Ube in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 7, 2026. The diver was later confirmed dead.

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Fire festival in western Japan

A traditional fire festival dating back about 1,400 years is held at Kamikura shrine in Shingu in the western Japan prefecture of Wakayama on Feb. 6, 2026.

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Fire festival in western Japan

A traditional fire festival dating back about 1,400 years is held at Kamikura shrine in Shingu in the western Japan prefecture of Wakayama on Feb. 6, 2026.

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Fire festival in western Japan

A traditional fire festival dating back about 1,400 years is held at Kamikura shrine in Shingu in the western Japan prefecture of Wakayama on Feb. 6, 2026.

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Traditional bean-throwing event

NACHIKATSUURA, Japan, Jan. 27 Kyodo - A traditional bean-throwing event is held at the World Heritage-listed Fudarakusan-ji temple in Nachikatsuura in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Jan. 27, 2026, for Setsubun celebration in February. (Kyodo)

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Japan: Self Defense Force Requested for Spreading Wildfire in Western Saitama

A wildfire that was initially contained after breaking out in Chichibu, western Saitama, on Wednesday, February 4, expanded to 40 hectares after reigniting Thursday night. The prefectural government was prompted to request the dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces on Friday to combat the spreading blaze.

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TEPCO says to restart reactor on Feb. 9

Takeyuki Inagaki, head of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power complex of Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc., speaks at a press conference in Kariwa, Niigata Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, on Feb. 6, 2026.

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Campaigning for general election in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi waves her hand during a stump speech in Kawagoe in Saitama Prefecture, eastern Japan, on Feb. 3, 2026, ahead of the Feb. 8 general election.

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Campaigning for general election in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi smiles during a stump speech in Higashimatsuyama in Saitama Prefecture, eastern Japan, on Feb. 3, 2026, ahead of the Feb. 8 general election.

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Campaigning for general election in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi smiles during a stump speech in Higashimatsuyama in Saitama Prefecture, eastern Japan, on Feb. 3, 2026, ahead of the Feb. 8 general election.

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Campaigning for general election in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi makes a stump speech in Kuki in Saitama Prefecture, eastern Japan, on Feb. 3, 2026, ahead of the Feb. 8 general election.

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General election in Japan

A police officer patrols with a dog in Saga Prefecture, southwestern Japan, as Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is scheduled to make a stump speech there on Feb. 5, 2026, ahead of the Feb. 8 general election.

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[Breaking News]Judo: Paris Olympic champ Tsunoda retires

URAYASU, Japan, Jan. 30 Kyodo - Paris Olympic women's 48-kilogram judo champion Natsumi Tsunoda receives a bouquet as she announces her retirement from competition at a press conference in Urayasu in Chiba Prefecture, eastern Japan, on Jan. 30, 2026. (Kyodo)

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[Breaking News]Campaigning for general election in Japan

HIROSAKI, Japan, Jan. 28 Kyodo - Centrist Reform Alliance co-leader Yoshihiko Noda waves his hand in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning began across Japan the same day for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8. (Kyodo)

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General election in Japan

A bus serving as a polling station is parked near temporary housing for people affected by the January 2024 earthquake in Suzu in Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, on Feb. 3, 2025, for early voting for the Feb. 8 general election.

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General election in Japan

A bus serving as a polling station is parked near temporary housing for people affected by the January 2024 earthquake in Suzu in Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, on Feb. 3, 2025, for early voting for the Feb. 8 general election.

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Japan: Heavy Snow Paralyzes Aomori as Record Accumulation Piles Up

A series of strong cold air masses brought heavy snowfall to northern Japan from January 21 through February 2. According to authorities, a total of 30 people have died across the region since January 20 due to snow-related incidents. In Aomori City, numerous vehicles were left stranded by the snow, causing traffic congestion in many areas. Snow accumulation reached 178 centimeters on February 2—about 2.6 times the seasonal average—prompting the closure of all public elementary and junior high schools in the city.

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Japan: Two Dead as Heavy Snow Triggers Building Collapses in Niigata 2

Across Niigata Prefecture, multiple structures collapsed following heavy snowfall from February 2 to 3, killing two people in Kashiwazaki and Joetsu. As of February 3, snow accumulation in Nagaoka had reached about 1.4 meters, roughly 2.6 times the seasonal average. This video shows a house in Tokamachi believed to have collapsed under the weight of snow.

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General election in Japan

A candidate waves to people gathering to listen to a stump speech in snowy Aomori Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Feb. 2, 2026, ahead of the House of Representatives election on Feb 8.

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Japan: Heavy Snow Triggers Building Collapses in Niigata

Across Niigata Prefecture, multiple structures collapsed due to heavy snowfall between Monday, February 2 and Tuesday, February 3, leaving two people in critical condition. This video shows a house in the Hanazono area of Nagaoka City that is believed to have collapsed under the weight of snow. As of February 3, snow accumulation in Nagaoka had reached about 1.4 meters, roughly 2.6 times the seasonal average.

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U.S. military parachute drill

A member of the U.S. Air Force conducts a parachute drill at Kadena air base in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan, on Feb. 3, 2026.

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U.S. military parachute drill

A member of the U.S. Air Force conducts a parachute drill at Kadena air base in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan, on Feb. 3, 2026.

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China: CCTV Captures Shop Owner Fleeing During 5.5 Quake

A 5.5-magnitude earthquake violently shook Gansu, northwestern China, on January 26, 2026. Surveillance footage shows a shop owner fleeing as shelves rattle and goods crash to the floor inside a small store in Diebu County. Authorities reported no immediate casualties, and emergency teams were deployed.

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General election in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi makes a stump speech in Ichinomiya in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on Feb. 1, 2026, ahead of the Feb. 8 general election.

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General election in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi makes a stump speech in Ichinomiya in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on Feb. 1, 2026, ahead of the Feb. 8 general election.

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General election in Japan

Voters gather for a stump speech by a politician in Gifu Prefecture, central Japan, on Feb. 1, 2026, ahead of the Feb. 8 general election.

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Flying vehicle test flight field

Photo taken on Jan. 30, 2026, shows a field to be used for test flight of a flying vehicle in Yamaguchi, western Japan, unveiled to the media by SkyDrive, based in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture. The scheduled demonstration flight on the day was canceled due to strong wind.