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.

China: Worker Quickly Tackles Burning Truck Tire at Water Station in Guizhou

On May 7, 2026, a truck tire caught fire as the vehicle approached a water filling station in Anshun, Guizhou, China. A female worker at the station quickly grabbed a hose. Her quick reaction helped prevent the fire from spreading to the rest of the vehicle and avoided a potentially more dangerous accident.

US: Smoke Fills LIRR Train as Fire Shuts Down Penn Station Service

Smoke filled a Long Island Rail Road train car after an electrical fire broke out on a feeder cable inside the East River Tunnel near Penn Station on Thursday, May 14, forcing the MTA to suspend LIRR service and divert trains.

Private space station project

Private space station project

Former Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata meets the press in Tokyo on May 14, 2026, on U.S. firm Axiom Space's plan to develop a private space station to replace the outmoded International Space Station. Axiom Space CEO Jonathan Cirtain said at the press event that Wakata will head the Japan unit of Axiom, to be set up in July.

Private space station project

Private space station project

Axiom Space CEO Jonathan Cirtain meets the press in Tokyo on May 14, 2026, on the U.S. company's plan to develop a private space station to replace the outmoded International Space Station. Cirtain said former Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, who also attended the media event, will head the Japan unit of Axiom, to be set up in July.

Private space station project

Private space station project

Former Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata (L) shakes hands with Jonathan Cirtain, CEO of Axiom Space, in Tokyo on May 14, 2026, as they meet the media over the U.S. company's plan to develop a private space station to replace the outmoded International Space Station. Cirtain said Wakata will head the Japan unit of Axiom, to be set up in July. ==Kyodo

Soaring Gas Prices: A Scene at the Gas Station

Soaring Gas Prices: A Scene at the Gas Station

Soaring Gas Prices: A Scene at the Gas Station=May 2,2026,Japan

Soaring Gas Prices: A Scene at the Gas Station

Soaring Gas Prices: A Scene at the Gas Station

Soaring Gas Prices: A Scene at the Gas Station=May 2,2026,Japan

Japan: Three Hospitalized After Suspected Spray Incident on JR Tokaido Line in Kawasaki 2

Three people, including a child, were taken to hospital after emergency report of something being sprayed inside a JR Tokaido Line train traveling through Kawasaki City on Sunday, May 10. No toxic substances were found, though some passengers reported smelling something resembling pepper.

Japan: Three Hospitalized After Suspected Spray Incident on JR Tokaido Line in Kawasaki

Three people, including a child, were taken to hospital after emergency report of something being sprayed inside a JR Tokaido Line train traveling through Kawasaki City on Sunday, May 10. No toxic substances were found, though some passengers reported smelling something resembling pepper.

U.S. Iwakuni base opens on U.S.-Japan friendship day

U.S. Iwakuni base opens on U.S.-Japan friendship day

U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, opens to the general public on May 3, 2026, during a U.S.-Japan friendship day event.

U.S. Iwakuni base opens on U.S.-Japan friendship day

U.S. Iwakuni base opens on U.S.-Japan friendship day

U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, opens to the general public on May 3, 2026, during a U.S.-Japan friendship day event.

U.S. Iwakuni base opens on U.S.-Japan friendship day

U.S. Iwakuni base opens on U.S.-Japan friendship day

U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, opens to the general public on May 3, 2026, during a U.S.-Japan friendship day event.

U.S. Iwakuni base opens on U.S.-Japan friendship day

U.S. Iwakuni base opens on U.S.-Japan friendship day

U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, opens to the general public on May 3, 2026, during a U.S.-Japan friendship day event.

U.S. Iwakuni base opens on U.S.-Japan friendship day

U.S. Iwakuni base opens on U.S.-Japan friendship day

U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, opens to the general public on May 3, 2026, during a U.S.-Japan friendship day event.

Cherry blossom train in Ukraine

Cherry blossom train in Ukraine

Photo taken on April 28, 2026, shows a state-run Ukrainian Railways train decorated with illustrations of cherry blossom petals at Kyiv Central Station. The train began operations the same day under the support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Japanese Embassy in Kyiv, running between the Ukrainian capital and Uzhhorod, a western Ukrainian city known for its cherry blossom festival.

Cherry blossom train in Ukraine

Cherry blossom train in Ukraine

Photo taken on April 28, 2026, shows a state-run Ukrainian Railways train decorated with illustrations of cherry blossom petals at Kyiv Central Station. The train began operations the same day under the support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Japanese Embassy in Kyiv, running between the Ukrainian capital and Uzhhorod, a western Ukrainian city known for its cherry blossom festival.

Yoon sentenced to 7 years in jail

Yoon sentenced to 7 years in jail

A man watches a televised Seoul High Court ruling on former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at Seoul Station on April 29, 2026. The appeals court sentenced Yoon to seven years on charges including obstruction of justice related to his short-lived 2024 martial law declaration.

Indonesia: At Least 15 Killed and Over 80 Injured in Train Collision Near Jakarta 3

At least 15 people were killed and more than 80 injured after two trains collided at Bekasi Timur Station near Jakarta, Indonesia, late Monday night. A stationary commuter train was struck from behind by a long-distance train running on the same track.

Indonesia: At Least 15 Killed and Over 80 Injured in Train Collision Near Jakarta 2

At least 15 people were killed and more than 80 injured after two trains collided at Bekasi Timur Station near Jakarta, Indonesia, late Monday night. A stationary commuter train was struck from behind by a long-distance train running on the same track.

Indonesia: At Least 14 Killed and Over 80 Injured in Train Collision Near Jakarta

At least 14 people were killed and more than 80 injured after two trains collided at Bekasi Timur Station near Jakarta, Indonesia, late Monday night. A stationary commuter train was struck from behind by a long-distance train running on the same track.

Azaleas in full bloom near Fukushima plant

Azaleas in full bloom near Fukushima plant

Azaleas are seen in full bloom at JR Yonomori Station in Tomioka, a Fukushima Prefecture town near the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, on April 28, 2026. Plants at the JR Joban Line station started to bloom several years ago, even though the shrubs were cut down at the stump in the winter of 2017 when the area was decontaminated.

Azaleas in full bloom near Fukushima plant

Azaleas in full bloom near Fukushima plant

Azaleas are seen in full bloom at JR Yonomori Station in Tomioka, a Fukushima Prefecture town near the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, on April 28, 2026. Plants at the JR Joban Line station started to bloom several years ago, even though the shrubs were cut down at the stump in the winter of 2017 when the area was decontaminated.

Azaleas in full bloom near Fukushima plant

Azaleas in full bloom near Fukushima plant

Azaleas are seen in full bloom at JR Yonomori Station in Tomioka, a Fukushima Prefecture town near the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, on April 28, 2026. Plants at the JR Joban Line station started to bloom several years ago, even though the shrubs were cut down at the stump in the winter of 2017 when the area was decontaminated.

Japan: Wildfires Grow in Iwate’s Otsuchi as Evacuation Orders Widen 5

Two wildfires, which broke out on the afternoon of April 22 in forested areas of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, in northeast Japan, have scorched more than 1,600 hectares of land as of Friday, April 24, with at least eight structures — including a home — reported destroyed. Authorities have issued evacuation orders for more than 3,000 people as firefighting efforts continue. This video was shot at near Otsuchi Fire Station on April 26.

New sightseeing train in western Japan

New sightseeing train in western Japan

Photo taken on April 24, 2026, shows Nankai Electric Railway Co.'s new Gran Tenku sightseeing train at Namba Station in Osaka. The train connecting Osaka and Mt. Koya, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Wakayama Prefecture in western Japan, began operating the same day.

New sightseeing train in western Japan

New sightseeing train in western Japan

Photo taken on April 24, 2026, shows Nankai Electric Railway Co.'s new Gran Tenku sightseeing train at Namba Station in Osaka. The train connecting Osaka and Mt. Koya, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Wakayama Prefecture in western Japan, began operating the same day.

Japan: Wildfires Rage in Iwate, Displacing 2,000 Residents and Destroying Homes 3

Two wildfires broke out simultaneously in forested areas of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, in northern Japan on the afternoon of April 22, local authorities confirmed. According to town officials, the blazes have scorched more than 200 hectares of land, with at least seven structures — including residential homes — reported destroyed. In response, authorities issued evacuation orders for approximately 2,000 residents as firefighting efforts continue.

M7.7 quake jolts northeastern, northern Japan

M7.7 quake jolts northeastern, northern Japan

Passengers view information boards at JR Sendai Station in Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on April 20, 2026, after the Tohoku Shinkansen bullet train line was suspended following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in northeastern and northern Japan.

M7.7 quake jolts northeastern, northern Japan

M7.7 quake jolts northeastern, northern Japan

Passengers view an information board at JR Sendai Station in Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on April 20, 2026, after the Tohoku Shinkansen bullet train line was suspended following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in northeastern and northern Japan.

M7.7 quake jolts northeastern, northern Japan

M7.7 quake jolts northeastern, northern Japan

A ticket gate area at JR Sendai Station in Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, is crowded with passengers on April 20, 2026, after the Tohoku Shinkansen bullet train line was suspended following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in northeastern and northern Japan.

Japan: Passenger Captures Moment Bullet Train Grinds to Halt as Powerful Earthquake Hits 2

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck off the Sanriku Coast in the Tohoku region Monday afternoon, April 20, triggering a tsunami warning of up to three meters for Hokkaido, Aomori, and Iwate. The footage was shot on a Shinkansen bullet train bound for Tokyo between Ichinoseki Station and Kurikoma-Kogen Station.

Japan: Magnitude 7.4 Earthquake Hits Tohoku, Tsunami Warning Issued 4

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck off the Sanriku Coast in the Tohoku region Monday afternoon, April 20, triggering a tsunami warning of up to three meters for Hokkaido, Aomori, and Iwate.

Japan: Magnitude 7.4 Earthquake Hits Tohoku, Tsunami Warning Issued 3

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck off the Sanriku Coast in the Tohoku region Monday afternoon, April 20, triggering a tsunami warning of up to three meters for Hokkaido, Aomori, and Iwate.

Rally against constitutional amendment

Rally against constitutional amendment

Members of citizen groups rally in front of JR Shinjuku Station in Tokyo on April 16, 2026, in protest over the proposed revision to Article 9 of the Constitution, which renounces war and prohibits Japan from possessing military forces.

Rally against constitutional amendment

Rally against constitutional amendment

Members of citizen groups rally in front of JR Shinjuku Station in Tokyo on April 16, 2026, in protest over the proposed revision to Article 9 of the Constitution, which renounces war and prohibits Japan from possessing military forces.

Rally against constitutional amendment

Rally against constitutional amendment

Members of citizen groups rally in front of JR Shinjuku Station in Tokyo on April 16, 2026, in protest over the proposed revision to Article 9 of the Constitution, which renounces war and prohibits Japan from possessing military forces.

Hungary: Thousands Flood Streets After Magyar Ousts Orbán in Historic Election 2

Hungary's parliamentary election was held on Sunday, April 12, with opposition leader Péter Magyar's Tisza party claiming a landslide victory over Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party, ending Orbán's 16-year rule. In Budapest, thousands flooded the streets to celebrate the result that marks a significant shift for Hungary's relationship with the EU and Russia.

Peru presidential election

Peru presidential election

Peruvian presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori (C), leader of the right-wing Popular Force party and daughter of former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori, casts her vote at a polling station for the presidential election in Lima on April 12, 2026.

Peru presidential election

Peru presidential election

Peruvian presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori (C), leader of the right-wing Popular Force party and daughter of former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori, casts her vote at a polling station for the presidential election in Lima on April 12, 2026.

Peru presidential election

Peru presidential election

Peruvian presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori, leader of the right-wing Popular Force party and daughter of former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori, casts her vote at a polling station for the presidential election in Lima on April 12, 2026.

[Breaking News]Astronaut Yui meets press

TOKYO, Japan, April 9 Kyodo - Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui poses for a photo at the end of a press conference in Tokyo on April 9, 2026, held after returning to Earth in January following a five-month mission at the International Space Station. (Kyodo)

Astronaut Yui meets press

Astronaut Yui meets press

Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui poses for a photo at the end of a press conference in Tokyo on April 9, 2026, held after returning to Earth in January following a five-month mission at the International Space Station.

Astronaut Yui meets press

Astronaut Yui meets press

Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui poses for a photo at the end of a press conference in Tokyo on April 9, 2026, held after returning to Earth in January following a five-month mission at the International Space Station.

Astronaut Yui meets press

Astronaut Yui meets press

Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui speaks during a press conference in Tokyo on April 9, 2026, held after returning to Earth in January following a five-month mission at the International Space Station.

Astronaut Yui meets press

Astronaut Yui meets press

Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui speaks during a press conference in Tokyo on April 9, 2026, held after returning to Earth in January following a five-month mission at the International Space Station.

Astronaut Yui meets press

Astronaut Yui meets press

Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui speaks during a press conference in Tokyo on April 9, 2026, held after returning to Earth in January following a five-month mission at the International Space Station.