Tornados hit Tochigi Pref.

Tornados hit Tochigi Pref.

TOCHIGI, Japan - A man in Yaita, Tochigi Prefecture, removes a roof torn off after tornados hit the prefecture on Sept. 4, 2013.

Nippon Paper grabs 2nd straight ice hockey title

Nippon Paper grabs 2nd straight ice hockey title

TOCHIGI, Japan - The Nippon Paper Cranes' Mike Madill (C) leaps after scoring a goal in the third period of a national ice hockey championship game against the Tohoku Free Blades at Nikko Kirifuri Ice Arena in Tochigi Prefecture on Feb. 13, 2011. The Cranes captured their second straight title with a 6-2 victory.

4 laid-off workers at Isuzu Motors sue to reinstate jobs

4 laid-off workers at Isuzu Motors sue to reinstate jobs

UTSUNOMIYA, Japan - Kazunori Nakatani (C) and other former workers dismissed from a factory of Isuzu Motors Ltd. speak at a press conference in Tochigi, Tochigi Prefecture, on Jan. 6 after filing with the Utsunomiya District Court for the reinstatement of their contracts, which were terminated before their terms expired by three temp staff agencies.

Saitama man departs Japan to cross Pacific on hot-air balloon

Saitama man departs Japan to cross Pacific on hot-air balloon

TOCHIGI, Japan - Photo taken Jan. 31 shows a hot-air balloon in which Michio Kanda, 58, an official of the government of Kawajima, Saitama Prefecture, starts crossing the Pacific solo from Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo, the same day.

One of world's largest hot-air balloons unveiled in Japan

One of world's largest hot-air balloons unveiled in Japan

TOCHIGI, Japan - A hot-air balloon made by Japanese balloonist Michio Kanda, which he calls one of the world's largest hot-air balloons, is unveiled Jan. 12 at a riverbed in Tochigi Prefecture. Kanda, a world-record holder in flight duration and distance in several categories of hot-air balloon, will try next month to become the first Japanese ever to complete a trans-Pacific flight with the balloon.