2 Japan cities "marry" to combine specialties

2 Japan cities "marry" to combine specialties

MATSUE, Japan - The mayor of Izumo (C), Shimane Prefecture, western Japan, acts as a go-between in the "marriage" of two cities - Makurazaki, Kagoshima Prefecture, known for dried bonito flakes, and Wakkanai, Hokkaido, known for dried kelp - as "man-and-wife cities" on Feb. 19, 2014, in an effort to promote each other's specialties and revitalize local economic activity. A signing ceremony involving Izumo Mayor Hideto Nagaoka, Makurazaki Mayor Tadashi Kamisono (L) and Wakkanai Mayor Hiroshi Kudo (R) was held at the city hall in Izumo, home to Izumo Taisha, a Shinto shrine which many visit in hopes of making a good match.

Mizuho makes fresh start with merger of 3 core banks

Mizuho makes fresh start with merger of 3 core banks

TOKYO, Japan - Mizuho Holdings Inc., the world's largest banking group with assets of 160 trillion yen, made a fresh start April 1 as its three core banks merged into two -- Mizuho Bank and Mizuho Corporate Bank. Mizuho Holdings President Terunobu Maeda (R) and Mizuho Bank President Tadashi Kudo (L) cut the tape in a ceremony to inaugurate Mizuho Bank.

Mizuho chief-designate voices reluctance to get public capital

Mizuho chief-designate voices reluctance to get public capital

TOKYO, Japan - Terunobu Maeda (C), president-designate of Mizuho Holdings Inc., the world's largest banking group by assets, speaks at a news conference in Tokyo on Jan. 30. He expressed reluctance toward having public funds funneled into the bank's capital accounts. Maeda is flanked by Tadashi Kudo, who will assume the presidency of the bank, and Hiroshi Saito, who will become president of new Mizuho Corporate Bank.

Mizuho chief-designate voices reluctance to get public capital

Mizuho chief-designate voices reluctance to get public capital

TOKYO, Japan - Terunobu Maeda (C), president-designate of Mizuho Holdings Inc., the world's largest banking group by assets, speaks at a news conference in Tokyo on Jan. 30. He expressed reluctance toward having public funds funneled into the bank's capital accounts. Maeda is flanked by Tadashi Kudo, who will assume the presidency of the bank, and Hiroshi Saito, who will become president of new Mizuho Corporate Bank.

Mizuho makes fresh start with merger of 3 core banks

Mizuho makes fresh start with merger of 3 core banks

TOKYO, Japan - Mizuho Holdings Inc., the world's largest banking group with assets of 160 trillion yen, made a fresh start April 1 as its three core banks merged into two -- Mizuho Bank and Mizuho Corporate Bank. Mizuho Holdings President Terunobu Maeda (R) and Mizuho Bank President Tadashi Kudo (L) cut the tape in a ceremony to inaugurate Mizuho Bank.

Hakodate city gathers many signatures against Oma nuke plant

Hakodate city gathers many signatures against Oma nuke plant

Mayor Toshiki Kudo (L) of Hakodate in Hokkaido Prefecture and local community group leader Tadashi Shinya see in the northern Japanese city on March 20, 2015, a list of signatures from 146,184 people against Electric Power Development Co.'s construction of a nuclear power plant in Oma, Aomori Prefecture, across the Tsugaru Strait. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo