Takayama Spring Festival in central Japan

Takayama Spring Festival in central Japan

A float is paraded in Takayama in the central Japan prefecture of Gifu on April 14, 2026, the first day of the two-day annual Spring Takayama Festival that was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2016.

Takayama Spring Festival in central Japan

Takayama Spring Festival in central Japan

Floats are paraded in Takayama in the central Japan prefecture of Gifu on April 14, 2026, the first day of the two-day annual Spring Takayama Festival that was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2016.

Takayama Spring Festival in central Japan

Takayama Spring Festival in central Japan

Colorful floats cross a bridge in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, central Japan, on April 14, 2026, the first day of the two-day Takayama Spring Festival.

Takayama Spring Festival in central Japan

Takayama Spring Festival in central Japan

Colorful floats cross a bridge in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, central Japan, on April 14, 2026, the first day of the two-day Takayama Spring Festival.

Takayama Spring Festival in central Japan

Takayama Spring Festival in central Japan

A colorful float parades through streets in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, central Japan, on April 14, 2026, the first day of the two-day Takayama Spring Festival.

Chinese foreign minister arrives in Pyongyang

PYONGYANG, North Korea, April 9 Kyodo - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is greeted by his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui upon his arrival at Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang on April 9, 2026, for a two-day visit to North Korea. (Kyodo)

Chinese foreign minister arrives in Pyongyang

Chinese foreign minister arrives in Pyongyang

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (C, R) arrives at Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang on April 9, 2026, for a two-day visit to North Korea. Standing next to him on the red carpet is North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui.

Chinese foreign minister arrives in Pyongyang

Chinese foreign minister arrives in Pyongyang

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) arrives at Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang on April 9, 2026, for a two-day visit to North Korea. Walking next to him is North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui.

Chinese foreign minister arrives in Pyongyang

Chinese foreign minister arrives in Pyongyang

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) arrives at Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang on April 9, 2026, for a two-day visit to North Korea. Walking next to him is North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui.

Chinese foreign minister arrives in Pyongyang

Chinese foreign minister arrives in Pyongyang

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (2nd from R) is greeted by his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui upon his arrival at Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang on April 9, 2026, for a two-day visit to North Korea.

[Breaking News]BOJ policy-setting meeting

TOKYO, Japan, March 19 Kyodo - Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda holds a press conference at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on March 19, 2026, following a two-day policy setting meeting. (Kyodo)

BOJ policy-setting meeting

BOJ policy-setting meeting

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda is pictured after attending a press conference at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on March 19, 2026, following a two-day policy setting meeting.

BOJ policy-setting meeting

BOJ policy-setting meeting

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda holds a press conference at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on March 19, 2026, following a two-day policy setting meeting.

BOJ policy-setting meeting

BOJ policy-setting meeting

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda holds a press conference at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on March 19, 2026, following a two-day policy setting meeting.

BOJ policy-setting meeting

BOJ policy-setting meeting

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda holds a press conference at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on March 19, 2026, following a two-day policy setting meeting.

BOJ policy-setting meeting

BOJ policy-setting meeting

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda holds a press conference at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on March 19, 2026, following a two-day policy setting meeting.

BOJ policy-setting meeting

BOJ policy-setting meeting

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda holds a press conference at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on March 19, 2026, following a two-day policy setting meeting.

BOJ policy-setting meeting

BOJ policy-setting meeting

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda holds a press conference at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on March 19, 2026, following a two-day policy setting meeting.

BOJ policy-setting meeting

BOJ policy-setting meeting

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda holds a press conference at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on March 19, 2026, following a two-day policy setting meeting.

BOJ policy-setting meeting

BOJ policy-setting meeting

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda arrives at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on March 19, 2026, for the second day of its two-day policy-setting meeting. (Pool photo)

[Breaking News]BOJ policy-setting meeting

TOKYO, Japan, Jan. 23 Kyodo - Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda holds a press conference at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, following a two-day policy setting meeting. (Kyodo)

BOJ policy-setting meeting

BOJ policy-setting meeting

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda holds a press conference at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, following a two-day policy setting meeting.

BOJ policy-setting meeting

BOJ policy-setting meeting

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda holds a press conference at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, following a two-day policy setting meeting.

BOJ policy-setting meeting

BOJ policy-setting meeting

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda holds a press conference at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, following a two-day policy setting meeting.

BOJ policy-setting meeting

BOJ policy-setting meeting

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda holds a press conference at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, following a two-day policy setting meeting.

BOJ policy-setting meeting

BOJ policy-setting meeting

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda holds a press conference at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, following a two-day policy setting meeting.

BOJ policy-setting meeting

BOJ policy-setting meeting

The Bank of Japan holds the second day session of the central bank's two-day monetary policy meeting at the BOJ's headquarters in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, with Governor Kazuo Ueda seated in the center.

BOJ policy-setting meeting

BOJ policy-setting meeting

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda (C) attends the second day of the central bank's two-day policy-setting meeting at the BOJ's headquarters in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026.

BOJ policy-setting meeting

BOJ policy-setting meeting

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda (C) attends the second day of the central bank's two-day policy-setting meeting at the BOJ's headquarters in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026.

BOJ policy-setting meeting

BOJ policy-setting meeting

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda attends the second day of the central bank's two-day policy-setting meeting at the BOJ's headquarters in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026.

BOJ policy-setting meeting

BOJ policy-setting meeting

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda arrives at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, for the second day of its two-day monetary policy meeting.

BOJ policy-setting meeting

BOJ policy-setting meeting

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda arrives at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, for the second day of its two-day monetary policy meeting.

BOJ policy-setting meeting

BOJ policy-setting meeting

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda arrives at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, for the second day of its two-day monetary policy meeting.

BOJ policy-setting meeting

BOJ policy-setting meeting

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda arrives at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on Jan. 22, 2026, for the first day of a two-day monetary policy meeting. (Pool photo)

Unified university entrance exams in Japan

Unified university entrance exams in Japan

Applicants are seated at the University of Tokyo in the Japanese capital on Jan. 17, 2026, as the two-day unified university entrance examinations are set to begin across Japan.

Unified university entrance exams in Japan

Unified university entrance exams in Japan

Applicants are seated at the University of Tokyo in the Japanese capital on Jan. 17, 2026, as the two-day unified university entrance examinations are set to begin across Japan. (Pool photo)

Unified university entrance exams in Japan

Unified university entrance exams in Japan

Applicants are seated at the University of Tokyo in the Japanese capital on Jan. 17, 2026, as the two-day unified university entrance examinations are set to begin across Japan. (Pool photo)

Unified university entrance exams in Japan

Unified university entrance exams in Japan

Applicants walk at a University of Tokyo campus in the Japanese capital on Jan. 17, 2026, as the two-day unified university entrance examinations are set to begin across Japan.

Tokyo-Hakone collegiate ekiden road relay

Tokyo-Hakone collegiate ekiden road relay

Aoyama Gakuin University anchor runner Sota Orita crosses the finish line in Tokyo's Otemachi business district on Jan. 3, 2026, securing the university's third consecutive year of victory in the two-day Tokyo-Hakone collegiate ekiden road relay.

Tokyo-Hakone collegiate ekiden road relay

Tokyo-Hakone collegiate ekiden road relay

Aoyama Gakuin University anchor runner Sota Orita crosses the finish line in Tokyo's Otemachi business district on Jan. 3, 2026, securing the university's third consecutive year of victory in the two-day Tokyo-Hakone collegiate ekiden road relay.

Tokyo-Hakone collegiate ekiden road relay

Tokyo-Hakone collegiate ekiden road relay

Aoyama Gakuin University anchor runner Sota Orita crosses the finish line in Tokyo's Otemachi business district on Jan. 3, 2026, securing the university's third consecutive year of victory in the two-day Tokyo-Hakone collegiate ekiden road relay.

Tokyo-Hakone collegiate ekiden road relay

Tokyo-Hakone collegiate ekiden road relay

Aoyama Gakuin University anchor runner Sota Orita crosses the finish line in Tokyo's Otemachi business district on Jan. 3, 2026, securing the university's third consecutive year of victory in the two-day Tokyo-Hakone collegiate ekiden road relay.

Tokyo-Hakone collegiate ekiden road relay

Tokyo-Hakone collegiate ekiden road relay

Aoyama Gakuin University anchor runner Sota Orita crosses the finish line in Tokyo's Otemachi business district on Jan. 3, 2026, securing the university's third consecutive year of victory in the two-day Tokyo-Hakone collegiate ekiden road relay.

Tokyo-Hakone ekiden road relay

Tokyo-Hakone ekiden road relay

The first runners of 21 teams start the Tokyo-Hakone collegiate ekiden in the capital's Otemachi business district on Jan. 2, 2026, the first day of the two-day road relay. (Pool photo)

Tokyo-Hakone ekiden road relay

Tokyo-Hakone ekiden road relay

The first runners of 21 teams start the Tokyo-Hakone collegiate ekiden in the capital's Otemachi business district on Jan. 2, 2026, the first day of the two-day road relay. (Pool photo)

Tokyo-Hakone ekiden road relay

Tokyo-Hakone ekiden road relay

The first runners of 21 teams start the Tokyo-Hakone collegiate ekiden in the capital's Otemachi business district on Jan. 2, 2026, the first day of the two-day road relay.

Tokyo-Hakone ekiden road relay

Tokyo-Hakone ekiden road relay

The first runners of 21 teams start the Tokyo-Hakone collegiate ekiden in the capital's Otemachi business district on Jan. 2, 2026, the first day of the two-day road relay.

BOJ raises key rate to 30-year-high of 0.75%

TOKYO, Japan, Dec. 19 Kyodo - Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda attends a press conference at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on Dec. 19, 2025, following the second day of a two-day policy-setting meeting at which the BOJ raised its key interest rate to a 30-year high of around 0.75 percent from 0.50 percent. (Kyodo)

BOJ raises key rate to 30-year-high of 0.75%

BOJ raises key rate to 30-year-high of 0.75%

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda attends a press conference at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on Dec. 19, 2025, following the second day of a two-day policy-setting meeting at which the BOJ raised its key interest rate to a 30-year high of around 0.75 percent from 0.50 percent.

BOJ raises key rate to 30-year-high of 0.75%

BOJ raises key rate to 30-year-high of 0.75%

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda attends a press conference at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on Dec. 19, 2025, following the second day of a two-day policy-setting meeting at which the BOJ raised its key interest rate to a 30-year high of around 0.75 percent from 0.50 percent.