[Breaking News]4 workers die after being hit by express train north of Tokyo

KANUMA, Japan, Aug. 20 Kyodo - Video taken on Aug. 20, 2026, from a Kyodo News helicopter shows a Spacia X express train bound for Tokyo parked at Tobu Nikko Line Shin-Kanuma Station in Kanuma in Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo, after hitting four workers who were on the tracks to remove weeds. The four were taken to a hospital and confirmed dead. None of the crew or passengers was injured. (Kyodo)

4 workers die after being hit by express train north of Tokyo

4 workers die after being hit by express train north of Tokyo

Photo taken on Aug. 20, 2026, from a Kyodo News helicopter shows a Spacia X express train bound for Tokyo parked at Tobu Nikko Line Shin-Kanuma Station in Kanuma in Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo, after hitting four workers who were on the tracks to remove weeds. The four were taken to a hospital and confirmed dead. None of the crew or passengers was injured.

4 workers die after being hit by express train north of Tokyo

4 workers die after being hit by express train north of Tokyo

Photo taken on Aug. 20, 2026, from a Kyodo News helicopter shows a Spacia X express train bound for Tokyo parked at Tobu Nikko Line Shin-Kanuma Station in Kanuma in Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo, after hitting four workers who were on the tracks to remove weeds. The four were taken to a hospital and confirmed dead. None of the crew or passengers was injured.

4 workers die after being hit by express train north of Tokyo

4 workers die after being hit by express train north of Tokyo

Photo taken on Aug. 20, 2026, from a Kyodo News helicopter shows a Spacia X express train bound for Tokyo parked at Tobu Nikko Line Shin-Kanuma Station in Kanuma in Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo, after hitting four workers who were on the tracks to remove weeds. The four were taken to a hospital and confirmed dead. None of the crew or passengers was injured.

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

(Clockwise from bottom L) Japan's Shin Ohashi, Shoon Mitsunaga, Hidekazu Takehara and Tatsuya Murasa pose with their bronze medal for the men's 4x100-meter medley relay at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, California, on Aug. 15, 2026.

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

(Clockwise from bottom L) Japan's Shin Ohashi, Shoon Mitsunaga, Hidekazu Takehara and Tatsuya Murasa pose with their bronze medal for the men's 4x100-meter medley relay at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, California, on Aug. 15, 2026.

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

(Clockwise from bottom L) Japan's Shin Ohashi, Shoon Mitsunaga, Hidekazu Takehara and Tatsuya Murasa pose with their bronze medal for the men's 4x100-meter medley relay at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, California, on Aug. 15, 2026.

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

(From L) Japan's Tatsuya Murasa, Shoon Mitsunaga, Shin Ohashi and Hidekazu Takehara pose with their bronze medal for the men's 4x100-meter medley relay at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, California, on Aug. 15, 2026.

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

(Clockwise from L) Japan's Shoon Mitsunaga, Shin Ohashi, Hidekazu Takehara and Tatsuya Murasa are pictured after the men's 4x100-meter medley relay timed final at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, California, on Aug. 15, 2026.

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

(From L, front) Japan's Shoon Mitsunaga, Shin Ohashi, Shuichi Takehara and Tatsuya Murasa are pictured after the men's 4x100-meter medley relay timed final at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, California, on Aug. 15, 2026.

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

Gold medalist Zac Stubblety-Cook (C) of Australia, silver medalist Josh Matheny (L) of the United States and bronze medalist Shin Ohashi of Japan pose for a photo on the podium during the medal ceremony for the men's 200-meter breaststroke at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, California, on Aug. 15, 2026.

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

Shin Ohashi of Japan is pictured on the podium after winning the men's 200-meter breaststroke bronze at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, California, on Aug. 15, 2026.

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

Japan's Shin Ohashi holds up his bronze medal during the medal ceremony for the men's 200-meter breaststroke at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, California, on Aug. 15, 2026.

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

Shin Ohashi of Japan reacts after finishing third in the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, California, on Aug. 15, 2026.

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

Shin Ohashi of Japan acknowledges the crowd after winning the men's 200-meter breaststroke bronze at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, California, on Aug. 15, 2026.

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

Shin Ohashi of Japan competes in the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, California, on Aug. 15, 2026.

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

Shin Ohashi of Japan competes in the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, California, on Aug. 15, 2026.

New high-speed train shipped to Taiwan from Japan

New high-speed train shipped to Taiwan from Japan

The lead car of the new-generation N700ST train is unloaded at a port in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan, on Aug. 15, 2026, for commercial service, possibly starting July 2027. In 2023, Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. ordered 12 N700STs, built based on the N700S model used on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line connecting Tokyo and Shin-Osaka stations, from Japan's Hitachi Ltd. and Toshiba Corp.

New high-speed train shipped to Taiwan from Japan

New high-speed train shipped to Taiwan from Japan

The lead car of the new-generation N700ST train is unloaded at a port in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan, on Aug. 15, 2026, for commercial service, possibly starting July 2027. In 2023, Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. ordered 12 N700STs, built based on the N700S model used on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line connecting Tokyo and Shin-Osaka stations, from Japan's Hitachi Ltd. and Toshiba Corp.

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

Shin Ohashi of Japan swims en route to claiming silver in the men's 100-meter breaststroke final at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, California, on Aug. 13, 2026.

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

Shin Ohashi of Japan swims en route to claiming silver in the men's 100-meter breaststroke final at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, California, on Aug. 13, 2026.

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

Silver medalist Shin Ohashi of Japan acknowledges the crowd during the men's 100-meter breaststroke medal ceremony at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, California, on Aug. 13, 2026.

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

Swimming: Pan Pacific swimming

Gold medalist Van Mathias of the United States (C), silver medalist Shin Ohashi (L) of Japan and bronze medalist Samuel Williamson of Australia pose for a photo during the medal ceremony for the men's 100-meter breaststroke at the Pan Pacific swimming championships in Irvine, California, on Aug. 13, 2026.

Night shinkansen launched

Night shinkansen launched

Photo taken on the night of Aug. 8, 2026, shows a special shinkansen bullet train introduced on a test basis for overnight operations, parked at JR Gifu Hashima Station in Hashima in Gifu Prefecture, central Japan, after it departed from Tokyo at 10 p.m. The Tokaido Lumiere Express stops at the station in Gifu for about six hours before continuing in the early hours of the following day to its final destination, Shin-Osaka Station.

Golf: Women's Scottish Open

Golf: Women's Scottish Open

Jenny Shin of South Korea poses for photos after winning the Women's Scottish Open golf tournament on July 26, 2026, at Dundonald Links in Gailes, Scotland.

Golf: Women's Scottish Open

Golf: Women's Scottish Open

Jenny Shin of South Korea poses for photos after winning the Women's Scottish Open golf tournament on July 26, 2026, at Dundonald Links in Gailes, Scotland.

[Breaking News]Private room for shinkansen bullet trains

TOKYO, Japan, July 9 Kyodo - Video taken in Tokyo shows a private room unveiled to the media on July 8, 2026, that will become available on Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen bullet trains from October. Use of the room, including the travel fare, will cost at least 42,000 yen ($260) for journeys between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka stations. (Kyodo)

Private room for shinkansen bullet trains

Private room for shinkansen bullet trains

Photo taken in Tokyo shows a private room unveiled to the media on July 8, 2026, that will become available on Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen bullet trains from October. Use of the room, including the travel fare, will cost at least 42,000 yen ($260) for journeys between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka stations.

Private room for shinkansen bullet trains

Private room for shinkansen bullet trains

Photo taken in Tokyo shows a private room unveiled to the media on July 8, 2026, that will become available on Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen bullet trains from October. Use of the room, including the travel fare, will cost at least 42,000 yen ($260) for journeys between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka stations.

Private room for shinkansen bullet trains

Private room for shinkansen bullet trains

Photo taken in Tokyo shows a private room unveiled to the media on July 8, 2026, that will become available on Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen bullet trains from October. Use of the room, including the travel fare, will cost at least 42,000 yen ($260) for journeys between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka stations.

Private room for shinkansen bullet trains

Private room for shinkansen bullet trains

Photo taken in Tokyo shows a private room unveiled to the media on July 8, 2026, that will become available on Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen bullet trains from October. Use of the room, including the travel fare, will cost at least 42,000 yen ($260) for journeys between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka stations.

Private room for shinkansen bullet trains

Private room for shinkansen bullet trains

Photo taken in Tokyo shows a private room unveiled to the media on July 8, 2026, that will become available on Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen bullet trains from October. Use of the room, including the travel fare, will cost at least 42,000 yen ($260) for journeys between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka stations.

Image of the 20th Umeda Tanabata Festival

Image of the 20th Umeda Tanabata Festival

A rendering of the “20th Umeda Tanabata Festival,” to be held at Shin-Umeda City (Kita Ward, Osaka City).=June 30,2026,Osaka

Shinkansen bullet train services suspended after incident

Shinkansen bullet train services suspended after incident

JR Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka, western Japan, is crowded with passengers on June 19, 2026, after services on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line bullet trains were suspended following an incident in which a person entered the tracks at Hamamatsu Station in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, and was fatally hit.

Shinkansen bullet train services suspended after incident

Shinkansen bullet train services suspended after incident

Passengers look at an information board at JR Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka, western Japan, on June 19, 2026, after services on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line bullet trains were suspended following an incident in which a person entered the tracks at Hamamatsu Station in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, and was fatally hit.

Hello Kitty shinkansen makes final run

Hello Kitty shinkansen makes final run

Fans gather at JR Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka to witness the final run of a Hello Kitty shinkansen bullet train decorated with ribbons and character illustrations inside and out on May 17, 2026. The 500-series Shinkansen operated by West Japan Railway Co. carried about 1 million passengers since debuting in June 2018 on the route between Shin-Osaka and JR Hakata Station in Fukuoka.

Hello Kitty shinkansen makes final run

Hello Kitty shinkansen makes final run

A Hello Kitty shinkansen bullet train decorated with ribbons and character illustrations inside and out arrives at JR Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka for its final run on May 17, 2026. The 500-series Shinkansen operated by West Japan Railway Co. carried about 1 million passengers since debuting in June 2018 on the route between Shin-Osaka and JR Hakata Station in Fukuoka.

Hello Kitty shinkansen makes final run

Hello Kitty shinkansen makes final run

Fans gather at JR Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka to witness the final run of a Hello Kitty shinkansen bullet train decorated with ribbons and character illustrations inside and out on May 17, 2026. The 500-series Shinkansen operated by West Japan Railway Co. carried about 1 million passengers since debuting in June 2018 on the route between Shin-Osaka and JR Hakata Station in Fukuoka.

Hello Kitty shinkansen makes final run

Hello Kitty shinkansen makes final run

A Hello Kitty shinkansen bullet train decorated with ribbons and character illustrations inside and out arrives at JR Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka for its final run on May 17, 2026. The 500-series Shinkansen operated by West Japan Railway Co. carried about 1 million passengers since debuting in June 2018 on the route between Shin-Osaka and JR Hakata Station in Fukuoka.

Japan: Magnitude 6.3 Earthquake Hits Miyagi, Shinkansen Service Suspended

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture at 8:22 p.m. on Friday, May 15, with no tsunami threat. The Tohoku Shinkansen was suspended between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori. This video was filmed inside a suspended Shinkansen after the earthquake.

Japan: Magnitude 6.3 Earthquake Hits Miyagi, Shinkansen Service Suspended 2

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture at 8:22 p.m. on Friday, May 15, with no tsunami threat. The Tohoku Shinkansen was suspended between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori. This video shows light shaking during the earthquake in Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture.

Figure skating: World championships in Prague

Figure skating: World championships in Prague

Shin Ji A of South Korea performs in the women's short program at the world figure skating championships in Prague on March 25, 2026.

Figure skating: World championships in Prague

Figure skating: World championships in Prague

Shin Ji A of South Korea performs in the women's short program at the world figure skating championships in Prague on March 25, 2026.

Figure skating: World championships in Prague

Figure skating: World championships in Prague

Shin Ji A of South Korea performs in the women's short program at the world figure skating championships in Prague on March 25, 2026.

Multivehicle accident inside expressway tunnel in central Japan

KAMEYAMA, Japan, March 20 Kyodo - A burned passenger car is taken out from a tunnel of the Shin-Meishin Expressway in Kameyama in Mie Prefecture, central Japan, on March 20, 2026, after an accident involving four vehicles -- a truck, trailer and two passenger cars -- occurred inside the tunnel in the early hours of March 20, leaving five people in the passenger cars killed. (Kyodo)

10th anniv. of Hokkaido Shinkansen

10th anniv. of Hokkaido Shinkansen

People gather at an event at Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station in Hokuto in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on March 21, 2026, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Hokkaido Shinkansen bullet train five days later.

10th anniv. of Hokkaido Shinkansen

10th anniv. of Hokkaido Shinkansen

An event is held at Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station in Hokuto in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on March 21, 2026, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Hokkaido Shinkansen bullet train five days later.

Multivehicle accident inside expressway tunnel in central Japan

Multivehicle accident inside expressway tunnel in central Japan

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows a burned truck (L) being taken out from a tunnel of the Shin-Meishin Expressway in Kameyama in Mie Prefecture, central Japan, on March 20, 2026, after an accident involving four vehicles -- the truck, a trailer and two passenger cars -- occurred inside the tunnel in the early hours of March 20, leaving five people in the passenger cars dead.

Multivehicle accident inside expressway tunnel in central Japan

Multivehicle accident inside expressway tunnel in central Japan

A burned truck (L) is taken out from a tunnel of the Shin-Meishin Expressway in Kameyama in Mie Prefecture, central Japan, on March 20, 2026, after an accident involving four vehicles -- the truck, a trailer and two passenger cars -- occurred inside the tunnel in the early hours of March 20, leaving five people in the passenger cars killed.

Multivehicle accident inside expressway tunnel in central Japan

Multivehicle accident inside expressway tunnel in central Japan

A burned truck is taken out from a tunnel of the Shin-Meishin Expressway in Kameyama in Mie Prefecture, central Japan, on March 20, 2026, after an accident involving four vehicles -- the truck, a trailer and two passenger cars -- occurred inside the tunnel in the early hours of March 20, leaving five people in the passenger cars killed.