Search｜Photos & Images & Videos｜KYODO NEWS IMAGES INC

Basketball: Utsunomiya clinches B-League title

Utsunomiya Brex players celebrate after winning the 2024-2025 B-League basketball title with a 73-71 victory over the Ryukyu Golden Kings in Game 3 of the best-of-three league finals at Yokohama Arena in Yokohama near Tokyo on May 27, 2025.

E

Basketball: Utsunomiya clinches B-League title

Utsunomiya Brex players celebrate after winning the 2024-2025 B-League basketball title with a 73-71 victory over the Ryukyu Golden Kings in Game 3 of the best-of-three league finals at Yokohama Arena in Yokoyama near Tokyo on May 27, 2025.

E

Golf: Daikin Orchid Ladies

Chisato Iwai of Japan hits off the 17th tee during the final round of the season-opening Daikin Orchid Ladies at Ryukyu Golf Club in the Okinawa Prefecture city of Nanjo, southern Japan, on March 9, 2025.

E

Golf: Daikin Orchid Ladies

Chisato Iwai of Japan meets the press after winning the season-opening Daikin Orchid Ladies at Ryukyu Golf Club in the Okinawa Prefecture city of Nanjo, southern Japan, on March 9, 2025.

E

Golf: Daikin Orchid Ladies

Chisato Iwai of Japan acknowledges the crowd after winning the season-opening Daikin Orchid Ladies at Ryukyu Golf Club in the Okinawa Prefecture city of Nanjo, southern Japan, on March 9, 2025.

E

Golf: Daikin Orchid Ladies

Chisato Iwai of Japan acknowledges the crowd after winning the season-opening Daikin Orchid Ladies at Ryukyu Golf Club in the Okinawa Prefecture city of Nanjo, southern Japan, on March 9, 2025.

E

Golf: Daikin Orchid Ladies

Chisato Iwai of Japan reacts after winning the season-opening Daikin Orchid Ladies at Ryukyu Golf Club in the Okinawa Prefecture city of Nanjo, southern Japan, on March 9, 2025.

E

Golf: Daikin Orchid Ladies

Chisato Iwai of Japan poses with the victor's trophy after winning the season-opening Daikin Orchid Ladies at Ryukyu Golf Club in the Okinawa Prefecture city of Nanjo, southern Japan, on March 9, 2025.

E

Okinawa Gov. Tamaki in Beijing

Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki of Japan (front, L) pays a visit to the site of former graves of people from the Ryukyu Kingdom, which existed between the 14th to 19th century before it was annexed and dissolved by Japan to form Okinawa Prefecture, on July 4, 2023, in the suburbs of Beijing.

E

Basketball: B-League

Shota Onodera (L) of the Ryukyu Golden Kings makes a shot during the first quarter of Game 1 of the B-League basketball finals against the Chiba Jets on May 27, 2023, at Yokohama Arena near Tokyo.

E

Basketball: B-League

Ryuichi Kishimoto (L) of the Ryukyu Golden Kings dribbles the ball during the first quarter of Game 1 of the B-League basketball finals against the Chiba Jets on May 27, 2023, at Yokohama Arena near Tokyo.

E

Basketball: B-League

Ryuichi Kishimoto (R) of the Ryukyu Golden Kings takes a shot during the first quarter of Game 2 of the B-League basketball finals against the Chiba Jets on May 28, 2023, at Yokohama Arena near Tokyo.

E

Basketball: B-League

Players of the Ryukyu Golden Kings celebrate after claiming their first B-League championship with victory over the Chiba Jets on May 28, 2023, at Yokohama Arena near Tokyo.

E

Basketball: B-League

Players of the Ryukyu Golden Kings celebrate after claiming their first B-League championship with victory over the Chiba Jets on May 28, 2023, at Yokohama Arena near Tokyo.

E

Basketball: B-League

Players of the Ryukyu Golden Kings celebrate after claiming their first B-League championship with victory over the Chiba Jets on May 28, 2023, at Yokohama Arena near Tokyo.

E

Leader of Okinawa independence drive holds banner

TOKYO, Japan - Chosuke Yara (C), a leader of the Kariyushi Club formerly called the Ryukyu Independence Party, and his supporters hold a banner calling for Okinawa's independence from Japan in Naha in the southernmost Japanese prefecture as seen in this file photo taken on Oct. 13, 2014. (Photo by Toshiki Makino)

E

Daikin Orchid Ladies golf

NANJO, Japan - Thailand's O. Sattaya holds the victor's trophy after winning the Daikin Orchid Ladies golf competition, the first Japanese event of the new JLPGA season, at Ryukyu Golf Club in Okinawa, southwestern Japan, on March 9, 2014.

E

Hanshin rookies get taste of Ryukyu Karate during spring camp

YOMITAN, Japan - Hanshin Tigers rookies Shoya Yamamoto (L) and Ryutaro Umeno (C back) experience a session of Ryukyu Karate on Feb. 6, 2014, their first day off during the professional baseball club's spring training camp in the village of Yomitan, Okinawa Prefecture.

E

China ships near Senkakus

ISHIGAKI, Japan - Photo from a Kyodo News airplane shows (from front) the Chinese maritime surveillance vessels Haijian 49 and 50 and the Japan Coast Guard patrol ship Ryukyu in Japanese territorial waters about 12 kilometers north-northeast of Uotsuri Island of the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea at 1:51 p.m. on April 23, 2013. China claims the Japan-administered islands.

E

Morita wins Daikin Orchid Ladies

NANJO, Japan - Japan's Rikako Morita holds the victor's trophy after defeating compatriot Sakura Yokomine in a playoff to win her third career title at the season-opening Daikin Orchid Ladies at Ryukyu Golf Club in Okinawa Prefecture on March 10, 2013.

E

1950 Chinese diplomatic draft sees Senkakus as part of Ryukyus

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken in June 2011 shows (from front) Minamikojima, Kitakojima and Uotsuri islands, part of the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, which China and Taiwan also claim. A Chinese diplomatic draft in 1950 on a peace treaty with Japan indicated Chinese recognition of the Senkaku Islands as part of the Ryukyu Islands, sources familiar with the document said Dec. 28, 2012.

E

Ryukyu scops owl on Amami

AMAMI, Japan - Photo taken in March 2012 shows a Ryukyu scops owl on Amami-Oshima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture.

E

Saito wins JLPGA season opener

NANJO, Japan - Japan's Airi Saito smiles after sinking her par putt at the second hole in a playoff at Ryukyu Golf Club in Okinawa Prefecture on March 4, 2012, winning her first career title at the Japan LPGA season-opening Daikin Orchid Ladies.

E

Saito wins JLPGA season opener

NANJO, Japan - Japan's Airi Saito (C) poses for photos with her parents at Ryukyu Golf Club in Okinawa Prefecture on March 4, 2012, after winning her first career title at the Japan LPGA season-opening Daikin Orchid Ladies.

E

Saito wins JLPGA season opener

NANJO, Japan - Japan's Airi Saito holds the victor's trophy at Ryukyu Golf Club in Okinawa Prefecture on March 4, 2012, after winning her first career title at the Japan LPGA season-opening Daikin Orchid Ladies.

E

Statue of Okinawa fisherman unveiled in Taiwan

KEELUNG, Taiwan - People associated with Okinawa Prefecture pose in front of a statue of an Okinawa fisherman, called the statue of Ryukyu Uminchu, at a park in Heping Island, Keelung City, Taiwan, on Dec. 1, 2011, during the unveiling ceremony of the statue. During the Japanese colonial rule of Taiwan before World War II, a number of fishermen had emigrated from Okinawa Prefecture and lived there.

E

Phoenix win bj-league title

TOKYO, Japan - Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix forward Jeffrey Parmer (R) advances to the basket during the bj-league final against the Ryukyu Golden Kings at Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo on May 22, 2011. The Phoenix beat the Golden Kings 82-68. Parmer was named MVP.

E

S. Korea's Park wins Japanese season opener

NANJO, Japan - South Korea's Park In Bee wins the Daikin Orchid Ladies at Ryukyu Golf Club in Okinawa Prefecture on March 6, 2011, opening the 2011 Japan LPGA season with a victory.

E

Declassified diplomatic documents

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken on Dec. 22, 2010, at the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Diplomatic Record Office in Tokyo shows diplomatic documents declassified the same day. Some of the documents relate to a Japan-U.S. campaign to sway in 1968 the first public election for the head of the Ryukyu government, or Okinawa, then under U.S. rule.

E

Dance on eve of Battle of Okinawa anniversary

ITOMAN, Japan - A woman in traditional Ryukyu attire dances in Itoman, Okinawa Prefecture, on June 22, 2010, the eve of the 65th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa in which more than 200,000 people were killed in the closing days of World War II.

E

Rookie Ahn wins JLPGA season opener

NANJO, Japan - South Korean rookie Ahn Sun Ju shows off the winner's trophy after her victory in the season-opening Daikin Orchid Ladies in Nanjo, Okinawa Prefecture, on March 7, 2010. Ahn made a triumphant debut on the Japan LPGA Tour, coasting to a five-shot victory at Ryukyu Golf Club.

E

Miyazato ties for 6th at Daikin Orchid Ladies

NANJO, Japan - Ai Miyazato plays a putt in the second round of the season-opening Daikin Orchid Ladies in Ryukyu Golf Club in Nanjo, Okinawa Prefecture, on March 6, 2010. Miyazato, fresh off winning the first two events of the U.S. LPGA Tour, shot a 71 for a 3-under 141 total, two strokes behind the leaders in a tie for sixth.

E

S. Korea wins Kyoraku Cup against Japan

NANJO, Japan - South Korea's Lee Ji Hee is tossed into the air after the team took advantage of its massive opening-day lead to win the Kyoraku Cup team event by a score of 29-19 against Japan on Dec. 5, 2009, at Ryukyu Golf club in Okinawa Prefecture.

E

Theater promotes rare Ryukyu dancing

NAHA, Japan - Noriko Taira (L) of the ''Ryukyu Dancing Theater Udoi'' in Nanjo, Okinawa Prefecture, talks about dancing costumes on Aug. 16, 2009.

E

Theater promotes rare Ryukyu dancing

NAHA, Japan - Members of the ''Ryukyu Dancing Theater Udoi'' in Nanjo, Okinawa Prefecture, perform on Oct. 13, 2009, along with high school students on a school excursion.

E

Ryukyu dance dedicated to victims of Battle of Okinawa

ITOMAN, Japan - A woman dances for victims of the Battle of Okinawa at the peace memorial hall in Itoman, Okinawa Prefecture, on June 22, the eve of the 64th anniversary of the end of the battle.

E

Mitsuka holds strong to win season-opening Daikin Orchid Ladies

NAHA, Japan - Yuko Mitsuka poses with the winner's trophy after winning the season-opening Daikin Orchid Ladies golf tournament at Ryukyu Golf Club in Okinawa Prefecture on March 8.

E

Song gets 1st career win in Japan at season opener

NAHA, Japan - Water is hurled onto Song Bo Bae in congratulations after she wins her first career title on the Japan LPGA tour on March 9. Son won the season-opening Daikin Orchid Ladies golf tournament at Ryukyu Golf Club in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture.

E

Ryukyu butterfly wintering in group in Amami-Oshima Island

AMAMI, Japan - A group of Ryukyu butterflies, called ideopsis similis, is observed wintering on a vine on Amami-Oshima Island in Japan's southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima on Jan. 21.

E

Nishizuka wins season-opening Daikin Orchid Ladies

NAHA, Japan - Mikiyo Nishizuka holds up her trophy after winning the season-opening Daikin Orchid Ladies golf tournament at Ryukyu Golf Club in Okinawa Prefecture on March 5.

E

Fujino edges out Hattori to win Daikin Orchid Ladies

TAMAGUSUKU, Japan - Orie Fujino smiles with the trophy after edging out overnight leader Michiko Hattori to capture the Daikin Orchid Ladies at Ryukyu Golf Club in Okinawa on March 6.

E

(4) Japan, Pacific leaders vow SARS vigil

NAGO, Japan - Leaders from South Pacific Island nations chat with each other during a photo session at the end of their two-day summit with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture on May 17. The couple standing beside them wear traditional Ryukyu (Okinawa) court costume.

E

Fudo wins Daikin Orchid Ladies tournament

TAMAGUSUKU, Japan - Yuri Fudo of Japan holds up her trophy after winning the season-opening Daikin Orchid Ladies golf tournament by beating Aki Nakano on the fourth playoff hold at Ryukyu Golf Club course in Okinawa Prefecture on March 9. It was the 26-year-old Fudo's 16th tour victory.

E

(3)Tens of thousands rally across Japan to protest war on Iraq

NAHA, Japan - Students of Ryukyu University join other Okinawa people in a rally held in Naha on March to oppose a war on Iraq. The protresters adopted an appeal for action to prevent a U.S.-led strike on Iraq in unity with people in other parts of the world.

E

Ku storms into 2nd-round lead at Daikin Orchid Ladies

TAMAGUSUKU, Japan - South Korean veteran Ku Ok Hee beams with her score card showing a record 11 birdies at the end of the second round of the season-opening Daikin Orchid Ladies at the Ryukyu Golf Club in Okinawa Prefecture on March 8. Ku set a Japanese tour record with a sizzling 10-under 62 to take a one-stroke lead over Taiwan's Wei Yun-jye.

E

Japanese ship leaves for antihijacking drills in Philippines

NAHA, Japan - The Japan Coast Guard patrol ship Ryukyu leaves Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, on Feb. 27 for the Philippines to participate in drills with the Philippine coastal police as part of measures to prevent hijackings by pirates in Asian waters.

E

(2)Historic plaques restored at Naha castle

NAHA, Japan - A reenactment of a ceremony in which a Chinese mission (wearing hats at the back of the procession) was sent to the Ryukyu Kingdom is performed Sept. 1 at Shuri Castle in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture. The performance was shown to coincide with the unveiling of two historic lacquer plaques which have been restored at the castle.

E

(1)Historic plaques restored at Naha castle

NAHA, Japan - Visitors view one of two restored historic lacquer plaques that were unveiled to the public Sept. 1 at Shuri Castle in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture. The plaques conveyed congratulatory greetings by China's Qing Dynasty rulers to King Sho Kei (1700-1751) of the Ryukyu Kingdom, which ruled the Ryukyu Islands, now known as Okinawa Prefecture.

E

Fujii hangs on for victory in Daikin Orchid golf

NAHA, Japan - Kasumi Fujii holds up the winners' trophy at the Ryukyu Golf Club in Okinawa Prefecture on March 10 after winning the season-opening Daikin Orchid Ladies golf tournament for her second career victory on the Japan LPGA tour.

E

Gov't to remember WWII victims of battles off Kyushu

NAHA, Japan - A ship carrying about 470 bereaved family members of the victims of U.S. naval attacks during World War II near islands between Okinawa and Kagoshima prefectures leave Naha port Nov. 29, 2001. They will take part in a series of government-sponsored memorial services to mourn for people who were on some 130 ships sunk by U.S. submarines around the Ryukyu Islands.