Mayor joins blitz to shore up sagging commerce

Mayor joins blitz to shore up sagging commerce

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Retail workers smile on a shopping street in Atsugi west of Tokyo on Nov. 25, 2014, after receiving thermal underwear from lightly clothed Mayor Tsuneyoshi Kobayashi (3rd from R) in a campaign designed to shore up declining local business by taking advantage of the city's name that also means "heavily dressed" in Japanese.

Local gov'ts call for greater use of renewable energy

Local gov'ts call for greater use of renewable energy

TOKYO, Japan - Gunma Governor Masaki Osawa (L) presents a list of requests, including one for the greater use of renewable energy sources, from the National Governors' Association to Tsuneyoshi Tatsuoka, vice minister of economy, trade and industry, at the latter's office in Tokyo on Aug. 21, 2014.

Member sisters of Japan's national soccer team awarded by hometown

Member sisters of Japan's national soccer team awarded by hometown

Yuki Ogimi (L) and her younger sister Asano Nagasato (R), members of the Japanese women's national soccer team, pose after receiving special awards from the Atsugi municipal government on July 19, 2015, for their role in helping the team end as a runner-up in the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada this year. Atsugi Mayor Tsuneyoshi Kobayashi is flanked by the sisters born in the Kanagawa prefectural city west of Tokyo. ==Kyodo

Mayor joins blitz to shore up sagging commerce

Mayor joins blitz to shore up sagging commerce

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Retail workers smile on a shopping street in Atsugi west of Tokyo on Nov. 25, 2014, after receiving thermal underwear from lightly clothed Mayor Tsuneyoshi Kobayashi (3rd from R) in a campaign designed to shore up declining local business by taking advantage of the city's name that also means "heavily dressed" in Japanese. (Kyodo)

Local gov'ts call for greater use of renewable energy

Local gov'ts call for greater use of renewable energy

TOKYO, Japan - Gunma Governor Masaki Osawa (L) presents a list of requests, including one for the greater use of renewable energy sources, from the National Governors' Association to Tsuneyoshi Tatsuoka, vice minister of economy, trade and industry, at the latter's office in Tokyo on Aug. 21, 2014. (Kyodo)