Matsui becomes tourism ambassador for hometown

Matsui becomes tourism ambassador for hometown

KANAZAWA, Japan - Teijiro Sakai (L), mayor of the city of Nomi in Ishikawa Prefecture, appoints former major leaguer and hometown hero Hideki Matsui (R) the city's tourism ambassador during a ceremony in the city on Jan. 7, 2014. Matsui, 39, a recipient of the People's Honor Award given by the Japanese government, played for the New York Yankees and several other major league teams following his move from the Japanese professional baseball team Yomiuri Giants.

City marks 10th anniversary of Mt. Unzen eruption

City marks 10th anniversary of Mt. Unzen eruption

SHIMABARA, Japan - Participants in a ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of the 1991 eruption of Mt. Unzen pray for 43 victims of the eruption in front of the altar set up in a hall in Shimabara, Nagasaki Prefecture, on June 3. At the start of the 10 a.m. ceremony, Mayor Teijiro Yoshioka and 350 others prayed for one minute in silence to commemorate the disaster.

Memorial service for victims in 1991 Mt. Unzen eruption

Memorial service for victims in 1991 Mt. Unzen eruption

SHIMABARA, Japan - Teijiro Yoshioka (R), mayor of Shimabara at the foot of Mt. Unzen in Nagasaki Prefecture, on June 3 prays for the souls of the 43 people killed in a deadly pyroclastic flow belched from the 1,359-meter volcano on June 3, 1991.

City marks 10th anniversary of Mt. Unzen eruption

City marks 10th anniversary of Mt. Unzen eruption

SHIMABARA, Japan - Participants in a ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of the 1991 eruption of Mt. Unzen pray for 43 victims of the eruption in front of the altar set up in a hall in Shimabara, Nagasaki Prefecture, on June 3. At the start of the 10 a.m. ceremony, Mayor Teijiro Yoshioka and 350 others prayed for one minute in silence to commemorate the disaster.