4 Kanto cities to support each other in disasters

4 Kanto cities to support each other in disasters

MITO, Japan - Utsunomiya Mayor Eiichi Sato, Mito Mayor Yasushi Takahashi, Maebashi Mayor Ryu Yamamoto and Takasaki Mayor Kenji Tomioka (from L) pose for photos at the city hall in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, on Aug. 21, 2014, after signing an agreement on mutual support in times of disaster.

South Sudanese Olympic athletes in Japan

South Sudanese Olympic athletes in Japan

Ryu Yamamoto (R), mayor of the eastern Japan city of Maebashi, and South Sudanese athletes pose for a photo at the city office in Gunma Prefecture on Feb. 24, 2021. The athletes have been training in Maebashi for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics since they came to Japan in November 2019 to escape difficult training conditions in the war-torn African country.

4 Kanto cities to support each other in disasters

4 Kanto cities to support each other in disasters

MITO, Japan - Utsunomiya Mayor Eiichi Sato, Mito Mayor Yasushi Takahashi, Maebashi Mayor Ryu Yamamoto and Takasaki Mayor Kenji Tomioka (from L) pose for photos at the city hall in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, on Aug. 21, 2014, after signing an agreement on mutual support in times of disaster. (Kyodo)

South Sudanese Olympic athletes in Japan

South Sudanese Olympic athletes in Japan

Maebashi Mayor Ryu Yamamoto (3rd from R) and five South Sudanese athletes pose for a photo on March 26, 2020, with the country's national flag in the eastern Japan city -- where they have held a camp for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics as training is difficult in the civil war-torn South Sudan. The city in Gunma Prefecture said the same day it will continue to support the athletes, at least until July 2020, although the Tokyo Games have been postponed for about one year due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Ruling parties push TPP through committee

Ruling parties push TPP through committee

Ryu Shionoya (far R), chairman of a special lower house committee on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, leaves after the panel voted to approve the TPP and related bills in Tokyo on Nov. 4, 2016, following protests by opposition lawmakers seeking the resignation of farm minister Yuji Yamamoto over recent remarks joking about forcing through the trade pact. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Ruling parties push TPP through committee

Ruling parties push TPP through committee

Ryu Shionoya (lower R), chairman of a special lower house committee on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, faces protests in Tokyo on Nov. 4, 2016, from opposition lawmakers seeking the resignation of farm minister Yuji Yamamoto over recent remarks joking about forcing through the trade pact. The panel voted to approve the pact and related bills. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo