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Japan PM Ishiba receives chestnuts

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (4th from R) receives a basket of chestnuts from the eastern Japan city of Kasama in Ibaraki Prefecture, presented by Kasama city mayor Shinju Yamaguchi (5th from R) on Sept. 18, 2025, at the prime minister's office in Tokyo.

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Japanese puppet show at Louvre Museum

PARIS, France - The popular Japanese puppet show ''Sonezaki Shinju,'' the story of a suicide pact between two Osaka lovers in the 18th century, was staged at the Louvre Museum in Paris on March 4 as part of cultural events to mark the 150th anniversary of the treaty of amity and commerce between Japan and France. The show was performed by Yoshida Minosuke, the ''joruri bunraku'' puppet show master who was named Commander of the Order of Arts and Literature from the French government in March last year in recognition of his artistic and cultural achievements.

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Kabuki icon Sakata Tojuro plays Ohatsu for 1,400th time

Kabuki icon Sakata Tojuro (C), a living national treasure, bows to the audience after completing his 1,400th performance as heroine Ohatsu in "Sonezaki Shinju" (The Love Suicides at Sonezaki) at the Hakataza Theater in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on June 25, 2015. He was joined on stage by kabuki actor Nakamura Baigyoku (L) and the theater's president Hidemi Ashizuka. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japanese puppet show at Louvre Museum

PARIS, France - The popular Japanese puppet show ''Sonezaki Shinju,'' the story of a suicide pact between two Osaka lovers in the 18th century, was staged at the Louvre Museum in Paris on March 4 as part of cultural events to mark the 150th anniversary of the treaty of amity and commerce between Japan and France. The show was performed by Yoshida Minosuke, the ''joruri bunraku'' puppet show master who was named Commander of the Order of Arts and Literature from the French government in March last year in recognition of his artistic and cultural achievements. (Kyodo)

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(2)Joruri bunraku gains UNESCO recognition

TOKYO, Japan - Minosuke Yoshida operates a ''joruri bunraku'' puppet to perform the tragic drama ''Sonezaki Shinju'' in an undated photo released by Japan's Culture Agency. The U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Nov. 7 recognized Japan's traditional form of puppet theater as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. (Kyodo)

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Nakamura Ganjiro opens Russian tour at Gorky Theater

MOSCOW, Russia - The famous Japanese Kabuki actor, Nakamura Ganjiro, opened his Russian tour before a packed audience at Moscow's Gorky Theater on June 12. Ganjiro, 71, still one of the top kabuki actors in Japan and named a ''Living National Treasure'' by the Japanese government, gave an impressive performance in the title role as the heroine Ohatsu in ''Sonezaki Shinju'' (The Love Suicides at Sonezaki). (Kyodo)