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Japan, Samoa premiers hold talks

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (R) and his Samoan counterpart, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, shake hands at the premier's office in Tokyo on July 17, 2024, as they hold bilateral talks on the sidelines of the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting.

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Japan foreign minister in Samoa

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa (L) poses with Samoan head of state Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aletoa Sualauvi II during a meeting in Samoa's capital Apia on Feb. 10, 2024.

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CHINA-BEIJING-ZHAO LEJI-SAMOAN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER-MEETING(CN)

(231122) -- BEIJING, Nov. 22, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, meets with Papali'i Li'o Taeu Masipa'u, speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Independent State of Samoa, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 22, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

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CHINA-BEIJING-ZHAO LEJI-SAMOAN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER-MEETING(CN)

(231122) -- BEIJING, Nov. 22, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, meets with Papali'i Li'o Taeu Masipa'u, speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Independent State of Samoa, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 22, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

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Rugby World Cup: Japan vs. Samoa

Jone Naikabula (R) of Japan tackles a Samoan player during the second half of a Rugby World Cup Pool D match at Stadium de Toulouse in Toulouse, France, on Sept. 28, 2023.

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Rugby World Cup: Japan vs. Samoa

Ryoto Nakamura (C) of Japan tackles a Samoan player during the second half of a Rugby World Cup Pool D match at Stadium de Toulouse in Toulouse, France, on Sept. 28, 2023.

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Rugby World Cup: Japan vs. Samoa

Keita Inagaki (back) of Japan gets ready to tackle a Samoan player during the first half of a Rugby World Cup Pool D match at Stadium de Toulouse in Toulouse, France, on Sept. 28, 2023.

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Rugby World Cup: Japan vs. Samoa

Shota Horie of Japan attempts to break a tackle by Samoan players during the first half of a Rugby World Cup Pool D match at Stadium de Toulouse in Toulouse, France, on Sept. 28, 2023.

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Rugby World Cup: Japan vs. Samoa

Kanji Shimokawa (R) and Warner Dearns of Japan tackle a Samoan player during the second half of a Rugby World Cup Pool D match at Stadium de Toulouse in Toulouse, France, on Sept. 28, 2023.

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Rugby World Cup: Japan vs. Samoa

Japan players watch the Samoan team perform the Siva Tau war dance ahead of a Rugby World Cup Pool D match at Stadium de Toulouse in Toulouse, France, on Sept. 28, 2023.

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Samoa shifts to west of dateline

APIA, Samoa - An employee at a post office in Apia, the Samoan capital, on Dec. 28, 2011, shows stamps commemorating the South Pacific island nation's shift from east of the international dateline to west of it on Dec. 31, 2011.

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Japan, Pacific island leaders meet

TOKYO, Japan - Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegao (L) and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda meet at Noda's office in Tokyo on May 22, 2012. They plan to attend a two-day summit of Japan and the Pacific Islands Forum in Okinawa Prefecture from May 25.

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Samoan food

APIA, Samoa - A worker holds oka, a local dish, at a restaurant in Apia, Samoa, in December 2011.

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Samoa shifts to west of dateline

APIA, Samoa - Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi speaks in the Samoan capital of Apia on Dec. 29, 2011, before the South Pacific island nation shifted from east to west of the international dateline on Dec. 31 by skipping Dec. 30.

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Samoa shifts to west of dateline

APIA, Samoa - Photo taken on Dec. 29, 2011, shows a signboard in the Samoan capital of Apia showing the South Pacific island nation shifting from east to west of the international dateline on Dec. 31 by skipping Dec. 30.

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Samoa changed auto lanes

APIA, Samoa - Photo taken on Jan. 6, 2012, shows a road in the Samoan capital of Apia. The South Pacific island nation changed auto lanes in 2009 from right to left of roads.

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Japan issues tsunami advisory after quake in Samoa

TOKYO, Japan - Japan Meteorological Agency official Yasuo Sekita speaks during a news conference in Tokyo on Sept. 30, 2009, issuing a tsunami advisory along the country's Pacific coasts and southern islands after a strong quake jolted the Samoan Islands.

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Surfers given tsunami warning after quake in Samoa

TOKYO, Japan - A firefighter gives a warning to surfers at a beach near Enoshima in Kanagawa Prefecture on Sept. 30, 2009, after a tsunami advisory was issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency along the country's Pacific coasts and southern islands after a strong quake jolted the Samoan Islands.

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Japan to host South Pacific islands summit next year

TOKYO, Japan - Japan is ready to host a summit of Japan and Pacific Islands Forum states next year, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi (R) indicated at a meeting with visiting Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi (L) at his office in Tokyo on Feb. 28.

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(1)Musashimaru's retirement ceremony held in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan - The Samoan-born former yokozuna (grand champion) Musashimaru sheds tears during his retirement ceremony at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Oct. 2. Musashimaru marked 12 Emperor's Cup victories as the most successful foreign sumo wrestler.

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(2)Musashimaru retires after failed comeback

FUKUOKA, Japan - Yokozuna Musashimaru (L)is about to leave the sumo ring after falling to his fourth loss at the hands of Tosanoumi (R) on the seventh day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament at Fukuoka Kokusai Center on Nov. 15. After the bout, the Samoan-born grand champion decided to retire from sumo.

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(1)Musashimaru retires after failed comeback

FUKUOKA, Japan - Yokozuna Musashimaru (R) saw his hopes of a successful comeback take another hit as he fell to his fourth loss at the hands of Tosanoumi on the seventh day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament at Fukuoka Kokusai Center on Nov. 15. After the bout, the Samoan-born grand champion announced his retirement from sumo.

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Do-or-die for Musashimaru at Kyushu sumo

FUKUOKA, Japan - Yokozuna Musashimaru practices at his stable in Munakata, Fukuoka Prefecture, on Nov. 7 in preparation for the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament opening on Nov. 9. After missing all or most of the last six tournaments due to a chronic wrist injury, the 32-year-old Samoan-born grand champion could need a miracle to regain the power he once wielded.

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Prince Akishino, Princess Kiko visit Samoan market

APIA, Samoa - Prince Akishino (2nd from L) and his wife Princess Kiko (R) visit a market in Samoa on Oct. 4, the last day of their official 11-day tour of Fiji, Tonga and Samoa that began Sept. 27.

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(1)Musashimaru to sit out autumn sumo tourney

TOKYO, Japan - Yokozuna Musashimaru speaks at a news conference Sept. 4 that he will skip the upcoming Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament due to a nagging left wrist injury. It will be the 32-year-old Samoan-born grand champion's sixth straight ''kyujo,'' or sitting on the fence, and his ninth overall tournament absence.

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Musashimaru out of summer sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Samoan-born grand champion Musashimaru (file photo) will miss the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament starting May 11 after failing to fully recover from a wrist injury, Musashigawa, the master of the yokozuna's sumo stable, confirmed on May 6. Musashimaru, 32, has been out of action since November, when he damaged ligaments in his wrist. He underwent surgery later.

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(1)Musashimaru wins aumumn sumo tourney

TOKYO, Japan - Samoan-born grand champion Musashimaru (R) pushes fellow yokozuna Takanohana out of the ring to claim his 12th Emperor's Cup with a 13-2 record in the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on Sept. 22.

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Musashimaru 1 win away from 11th title at summer sumo

TOKYO, Japan - The Samoan-born yokozuna Musashimaru (L) forces sekiwake Asashoryu out of the ring in the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on May 23. Musashimaru remained the only undefeated wrestler with 12 wins and moved to within one win of notching his 11th Emperor's Cup.

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Kaio rains on Musashimaru's parade at Kyushu sumo

FUKUOKA, Japan - Yokozuna Musashimaru is sent off the ring by ozeki Kaio in the final match of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament at Fukuoka Kokusai Center on Nov. 25, 2001, 24 hours after clinching his ninth Emperor's Cup the previous day. The Samoan-born giant was hoping to put the icing on the cake with a 14th win, but Kaio turned up to gatecrash the party.

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Musashimaru suffers 1st defeat at Kyushu sumo

FUKUOKA, Japan - Yokozuna Musashimaru (background) is pushed out of the ring by veteran No. 6 maegashira Daizen on Nov. 20 at the 15-day Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament at Fukuoka Kokusai Center. The Samoan-born grand champion failed to make it a perfect ten wins in a row, falling back into a 3-way tie for the lead after his first defeat.

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Musashimaru backs out Kotonowaka at Kyushu sumo

FUKUOKA, Japan - Yokozuna Musashimaru (R) backs fourth-ranked maegashira Kotonowaka out of the ring at Fukuoka Kokusai Center on Nov. 17 for his seventh straight win of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament. The Samoan-born grand champion shares the lead in the 15-day tourney with sekiwake Tochiazuma and No. 10 maegashira Hayateumi.

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Kaio downs Musashimaru to secure 3rd Emperor's Cup

NAGOYA, Japan - Ozeki Kaio (R) beats yokozuna Musashimaru (L) with a strong right-arm throw to win the Emperor's Cup on July 21, the penultimate day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament. In the day's final bout between the two leading wrestlers at the 15-day tourney, Kaio dumped the Samoan-born grand champion at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium to secure his first Cup since the spring meet in March and his third career title. Kaio notched an unbeatable 13-1 record over three wrestlers -- Musashimaru, ozeki Chiyotaikai and No.7 maegashira Tamanoshima -- who were 11-3 with only one day left.

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Takanohana to sit out Nagoya tourney

NAGOYA, Japan - Yokozuna Takanohana speaks at a news conference in Nagoya on July 5. He announced that he will sit out the upcoming Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, saying he needed time to recover fully from a knee injury suffered in the summer tourney in May. Takanohana's withdrawal leaves Samoan-born grand champion Musashimaru as the only yokozuna in the tourney which gets under way at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium on July 8.

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Two yokozuna still on top at New Year sumo

TOKYO, Japan - There was no change at the top of the leaderboard Jan. 17 as Musashimaru and Takanohana both preserved their unbeaten 11-0 records to stay two wins clear of ozeki Kaio heading into the home stretch of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament. In the photo, Musashimaru elbows out struggling sekiwake Kotomitsuki (2-9) to gain revenge against the Sadogatake stable wrestler, who ousted the Samoan-born giant on his way to a runner-up 13-2 record at last year's Kyushu tourney.

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Musashimaru wins his first Emperors Cup of the year

TOKYO, Japan - Yokozuna Musashimaru holds the Emperors Cup at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Sept. 17 after the Samoan-born grand champion finished the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament with a 14-1 record. The championship was the eighth of Musashimaru's career and first title of the year.

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Musashimaru, Miyabiyama tangle in pre-tourney tuneup

TOKYO, Japan - Yokozuna Musahimaru (R) and ozeki Miyabiyama (L) tangle in a pre-tournament training session before the Yokozuna Deliberation Council on Aug. 24 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. The Samoan-born grand champion and his Musashigawa stable mate were getting ready for the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament opening in Tokyo on Sept. 3.

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Premier Mori punts at ceremonial kickoff

MIYAZAKI, Japan - Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori (R) punts the ball at a ceremonial kickoff prior to a goodwill rugby match in the southwestern Japanese city of Miyazaki on April 23 between Japanese and South Pacific Islands players. The 62-year-old premier, wearing the Japanese national team uniform, made the kickoff from the center line at Miyazaki prefectural stadium, packed with some 11,000 spectators. The ball flew past the 10-meter line and was caught by a Samoan player. Mori was a rugby player in his younger days, influenced by his father, who once played for Waseda University in Tokyo. The younger Mori also joined the club, but quit because of a health problem.

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Japan hit by Samoan juggernaut in World Cup opener

WREXHAM, Wales - Members of Japan's rugby team are pictured after being belted 9-43 by Samoa in their Group D opener at the World Cup, at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground in Wales on Oct. 3.

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Musashimaru performs first 'dohyo-iri' ritual

Newly promoted yokozuna Musashimaru performs the dohyo-iri ring purification ritual on the first day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium. The Samoan-born grand champion performs the unryu style of ritual with the right arm representing offense and the left arm symbolic of defense.

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Musashimaru practices ritual

Newly promoted yokozuna Musashimaru (L), coached by his stable master Musashigawa (R), practices the 'unryu' style of ring purification ritual May 28. The Samoan-born grand champion will perform the foot-stomping, hand-clapping ritual at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo on May 29.

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FIJI-SUVA-CHINA-PACIFIC ISLAND COUNTRIES-FMS-MEETING

(220530) -- SUVA, May 30, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi co-hosts the second China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting with Fijian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Voreqe Bainimarama in Suva, Fiji, May 30, 2022. The meeting was also attended by Kiribati President and Foreign Minister Taneti Maamau, Samoan Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, Niue's Premier and Foreign Minister Dalton Tagelagi, Papua New Guinea's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Soroi Eoe, Vanuatu's Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade Marc Ati, Micronesian Secretary of Foreign Affairs Kandhi A. Elieisar, Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele, and Tongan Foreign Minister Fekitamoeloa Utoikamanu, as well as Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Secretary-General Henry Puna online and offline. (Xinhua)

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SAMOA-APIA-PM-CHINA-WANG YI-MEETING

(220528) -- APIA, May 28, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Samoan Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa holds talks with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Apia, capital of Samoa, May 28, 2022. (Xinhua)

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CHINA-BEIJING-WANG YANG-SAMOAN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER-MEETING (CN)

(220419) -- BEIJING, April 19, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Wang Yang, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, meets with Papali'i Li'o Taeu Masipa'u, speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Independent State of Samoa, via video link in Beijing, capital of China, April 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

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CHINA-BEIJING-WANG YANG-SAMOAN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER-MEETING (CN)

(220419) -- BEIJING, April 19, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Wang Yang, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, meets with Papali'i Li'o Taeu Masipa'u, speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Independent State of Samoa, via video link in Beijing, capital of China, April 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

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CHINA-BEIJING-WANG YANG-SAMOAN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER-MEETING (CN)

(220419) -- BEIJING, April 19, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Wang Yang, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, meets with Papali'i Li'o Taeu Masipa'u, speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Independent State of Samoa, via video link in Beijing, capital of China, April 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

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Musashimaru backs out Kotonowaka at Kyushu sumo

FUKUOKA, Japan - Yokozuna Musashimaru (R) backs fourth-ranked maegashira Kotonowaka out of the ring at Fukuoka Kokusai Center on Nov. 17 for his seventh straight win of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament. The Samoan-born grand champion shares the lead in the 15-day tourney with sekiwake Tochiazuma and No. 10 maegashira Hayateumi.

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(1)Musashimaru's retirement ceremony held in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan - The Samoan-born former yokozuna (grand champion) Musashimaru sheds tears during his retirement ceremony at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Oct. 2. Musashimaru marked 12 Emperor's Cup victories as the most successful foreign sumo wrestler. (Kyodo)

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Japan to host South Pacific islands summit next year

TOKYO, Japan - Japan is ready to host a summit of Japan and Pacific Islands Forum states next year, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi (R) indicated at a meeting with visiting Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi (L) at his office in Tokyo on Feb. 28. (Kyodo)

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Kaio rains on Musashimaru's parade at Kyushu sumo

FUKUOKA, Japan - Yokozuna Musashimaru is sent off the ring by ozeki Kaio in the final match of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament at Fukuoka Kokusai Center on Nov. 25, 2001, 24 hours after clinching his ninth Emperor's Cup the previous day. The Samoan-born giant was hoping to put the icing on the cake with a 14th win, but Kaio turned up to gatecrash the party.

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Musashimaru out of summer sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Samoan-born grand champion Musashimaru (file photo) will miss the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament starting May 11 after failing to fully recover from a wrist injury, Musashigawa, the master of the yokozuna's sumo stable, confirmed on May 6. Musashimaru, 32, has been out of action since November, when he damaged ligaments in his wrist. He underwent surgery later. (Kyodo)