Cherry pit-spitting contest held in Osaka

Cherry pit-spitting contest held in Osaka

OSAKA, Japan - Comedian Kenji Tamura (2nd from L) and other people compete in a cherry pit-spitting contest in Osaka, western Japan, on May 10, 2014. On the extreme right is Mayor Hiroki Sato of Sagae, a Yamagata Prefecture, northeastern Japan, city known for rich cherry output.

Upper house election in Japan

Upper house election in Japan

SAGAE, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who leads the Liberal Democratic Party, "high fives" a member of the audience at a stump speech in Sagae, Yamagata Prefecture, on July 20, 2013, the final day of campaigning before the upper house election the following day.

Upper house election in Japan

Upper house election in Japan

SAGAE, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who leads the Liberal Democratic Party, raises his fist during a stump speech in Sagae, Yamagata Prefecture, on July 20, 2013, the final day of campaigning before the upper house election the following day.

Classic music used to ferment miso, natto

Classic music used to ferment miso, natto

YAMAGATA, Japan - Masahiro Sato, president of Sagae Natto company in Sagae, Yamagata Prefecture, says his firm plays Mozart's symphonies in its 'natto' fermentation room.

Heavy rain in northeastern Japan

Heavy rain in northeastern Japan

A drain overflows due to heavy rain in Sagae in Yamagata Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on July 28, 2020.

Heavy rain in northeastern Japan

Heavy rain in northeastern Japan

A street in a residential area in Sagae in Yamagata Prefecture, northeastern Japan, is flooded due to heavy rain on July 28, 2020.

Heavy rain in northeastern Japan

Heavy rain in northeastern Japan

Cars drive on a flooded road in Sagae in Yamagata Prefecture, northeastern Japan, as heavy rain hits the area on July 28, 2020.