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Ex-Japan lower house speaker Kono in Beijing

Former Japanese House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono (L) holds talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on June 3, 2025.

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Ex-Japan lower house speaker Kono in Beijing

Former Japanese House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono (L) shakes hands with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on June 3, 2025.

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Ex-Japan lower house speaker Kono in Beijing

Former Japanese House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono (L) and Chinese Premier Li Qiang are pictured before a photo session at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on June 3, 2025.

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Ex-Japan lower house speaker Kono in Beijing

Former Japanese House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono (front, 2nd from L) and Chinese Premier Li Qiang (front, 3rd from L) take part in a photo session at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on June 3, 2025.

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Ex-Japan lower house speaker Kono in Beijing

Former Japanese House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono (front, 2nd from L) and Chinese Premier Li Qiang (front, 3rd from L) take part in a photo session at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on June 3, 2025.

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Ex-Japan lower house speaker Kono in Beijing

Former Japanese House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono (L) shakes hands with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on June 3, 2025.

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Ex-Japan lower house speaker Kono in Beijing

Former Japanese House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono (L) and Chinese Premier Li Qiang are pictured before a photo session at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on June 3, 2025.

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CHINA-BEIJING-HE LIFENG-JAPAN-MEETING (CN)

(240702) -- BEIJING, July 2, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Yohei Kono, president of the Japan Association for the Promotion of International Trade (JAPIT) and a delegation from the Japanese business community headed by Kono, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 1, 2024. Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM/Li Xiang)

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CHINA-BEIJING-HE LIFENG-JAPAN-MEETING (CN)

(240702) -- BEIJING, July 2, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Yohei Kono, president of the Japan Association for the Promotion of International Trade (JAPIT) and a delegation from the Japanese business community headed by Kono, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 1, 2024. Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM/Li Xiang)

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Japanese ex-lawmaker Kono in China

Japanese former House of Representatives speaker Yohei Kono (front, L) and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng (front, R) walk to the venue of their meeting in Beijing on July 1, 2024.

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Japanese ex-lawmaker Kono in China

Japanese former House of Representatives speaker Yohei Kono (L) and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng (R) hold talks in Beijing on July 1, 2024.

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CHINA-BEIJING-WANG YI-JAPIT PRESIDENT-MEETING (CN)

(230706) -- BEIJING, July 6, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, meets with Yohei Kono, president of the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade (JAPIT), in Beijing, capital of China, July 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

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CHINA-BEIJING-LI QIANG-JAPIT-MEETING (CN)

(230705) -- BEIJING, July 5, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with a delegation led by Yohei Kono, president of the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade (JAPIT), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

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Japan delegation meets China Premier Li

Yohei Kono (C), leader of a delegation from the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade, and Okinawa Gov. and delegation member Denny Tamaki (L) meet with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on July 5, 2023.

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Japan delegation meets China Premier Li

Yohei Kono (L), leader of a delegation from the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade, meets with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on July 5, 2023.

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Japan delegation meets China Premier Li

Yohei Kono (L), leader of a delegation from the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade, and Chinese Premier Li Qiang shake hands at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on July 5, 2023.

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Japan delegation meets China Premier Li

Yohei Kono (L), leader of a delegation from the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade, meets with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on July 5, 2023.

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Japan delegation meets China Premier Li

Yohei Kono, leader of a delegation from the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade, attends a meeting between Chinese Premier Li Qiang and the group at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on July 5, 2023.

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Ex-Japan spokesman in S. Korea

SEOUL, South Korea - Japan's former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono (L) and South Korean President-elect Park Geun Hye shake hands before their talks in Seoul on Feb. 14, 2013. Japan may be reviewing Kono's 1993 statement that acknowledged the Japanese military's involvement in the forced recruitment of women into sexual servitude.

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(6)Funeral for Princess Takamatsu held in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan - (From L to R) Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono and House of Councillors President Chikage Ogi attend the funeral for Princess Takamatsu, an aunt of Emperor Akihito who died at age 92 earlier this month, held at the Toshimagaoka Cemetery in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward on Dec. 26.

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DPJ lawmaker Kamata submits resignation letter to speaker

TOKYO, Japan - Opposition Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker Sayuri Kamata (R) submitted a letter of resignation Dec. 24 to House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono following the Supreme Court's dismissal of her campaigners' appeal of their convictions for breaking the election law.

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Politicians pay tribute to the late JCP leader Kenji Miyamoto

TOKYO, Japan - Representatives of major political parties in Japan pay tribute to the late Japanese Communist Party leader Kenji Miyamoto at a memorial service held in Tokyo on Aug. 6. From L to R: JCP chairman Kazuo Shii, House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono, former JCP Chairman Tetsuzo Fuwa, Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa (two persons away from Fuwa), Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama and New Komeito deputy leader Chikara Sakaguchi.

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Yohei Kono

Yohei Kono, former Speaker of the House of Representatives (photo taken on June 9, 2015)

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Ex-Japanese lawmaker meets China's 4th-ranked politician

BEIJING, China - Yohei Kono (L), a former senior member of Japan's main ruling party known for his apology in the 1990s to women who worked against their will in wartime military brothels, holds talks with China's fourth-ranking Communist Party member Yu Zhengsheng at Beijing's Great Hall of the People on Dec. 19, 2014. (Pool photo by Kyodo News)

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Ex-Japanese lawmaker meets China's 4th-ranked politician

BEIJING, China - Yohei Kono (L), a former senior member of Japan's main ruling party known for his apology in the 1990s to women who worked against their will in wartime military brothels, shakes hands with China's fourth-ranking Communist Party member Yu Zhengsheng ahead of their talks at Beijing's Great Hall of the People on Dec. 19, 2014. (Pool photo by Kyodo News)

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Japan delegate in China

BEIJING, China - Japan's former House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono (L) and Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang meet in Beijing on April 15, 2014. (Pool photo by Kyodo News)

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Japan delegate in China

BEIJING, China - Japan's former House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono (L) and Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang shake hands before their meeting in Beijing on April 15, 2014. (Pool photo by Kyodo News)

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Ex-lower house speaker Kono gives interview

TOKYO, Japan - Former House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono speaks during an interview with Kyodo News in Tokyo on Dec. 25, 2012.

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Japan new Cabinet

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's new Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga holds a press conference in Tokyo on Dec. 27, 2012. Suga indicated the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is eager to review a 1993 statement on the issue of "comfort women" by Yohei Kono, Suga's predecessor as top government spokesman.

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Japan new Cabinet

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's new Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga holds a press conference in Tokyo on Dec. 27, 2012. Suga indicated the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is eager to review a 1993 statement on the issue of "comfort women" by Yohei Kono, Suga's predecessor as top government spokesman.

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Japan-China territorial dispute

BEIJING, China - Yohei Kono (far R), former Japanese House of Representatives speaker, Satsuki Eda (2nd from R), a senior lawmaker of the Democratic Party of Japan, and other Japanese delegates attend a press conference at a Beijing hotel on the night of Sept. 27, 2012, after holding talks with top Communist Party of China official Jia Qinglin. Jia, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, who ranks fourth in Beijing's leadership, urged the Japanese delegation led by Kono to recognize the existence of a territorial dispute with China over a group of Japanese-administered, Chinese-claimed islands in the East China Sea, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

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Japan-China territorial dispute

BEIJING, China - Yohei Kono, former Japanese House of Representatives speaker, attends a press conference at a Beijing hotel on the night of Sept. 27, 2012, after holding talks with top Communist Party of China official Jia Qinglin. Jia, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, who ranks fourth in Beijing's leadership, urged a Japanese delegation led by Kono to recognize the existence of a territorial dispute with China over a group of Japanese-administered, Chinese-claimed islands in the East China Sea, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

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Japan-China territorial dispute

BEIJING, China - Yohei Kono (L), former Japanese House of Representatives speaker, holds a meeting with top Communist Party of China official Jia Qinglin (R) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Sept. 27, 2012. Jia, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, who ranks fourth in Beijing's leadership, urged a Japanese delegation led by Kono to recognize the existence of a territorial dispute with China over a group of Japanese-administered, Chinese-claimed islands in the East China Sea, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. (Pool photo)

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Japan-China territorial dispute

BEIJING, China - Yohei Kono (L), former Japanese House of Representatives speaker, heads for a meeting with top Communist Party of China official Jia Qinglin at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Sept. 27, 2012. Jia, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, who ranks fourth in Beijing's leadership, urged a Japanese delegation led by Kono to recognize the existence of a territorial dispute with China over a group of Japanese-administered, Chinese-claimed islands in the East China Sea, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. (Pool photo)

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Japan-China territorial dispute

BEIJING, China - Yohei Kono (L), former Japanese House of Representatives speaker, holds a meeting with top Communist Party of China official Jia Qinglin (R) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Sept. 27, 2012. Jia, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, who ranks fourth in Beijing's leadership, urged a Japanese delegation led by Kono to recognize the existence of a territorial dispute with China over a group of Japanese-administered, Chinese-claimed islands in the East China Sea, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. (Pool photo)

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China VP Xi, Japan delegation

BEIJING, China - China's Vice President Xi Jinping (C front row), Japan's former House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono (L front row) and others gather for group photos at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on April 24, 2012. (Pool photo)

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China VP Xi, Japan ex-speaker Kono

BEIJING, China - China's Vice President Xi Jinping (R) holds talks with Japan's former House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on April 24, 2012. (Pool photo)

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Kono retires after serving longest term as House speaker

TOKYO, Japan - House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono speaks during a news conference in the Diet building in Tokyo on July 21 after the lower house was dissolved for a general election on Aug. 30. Kono will not run in the election and will retire from politics.

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Japan's lower house dissolution

TOKYO, Japan - Members of the House of Representatives raise hands and shout ''banzai'' (long life), following a longtime practice, when Speaker Yohei Kono declares the lower house is dissolved at the chamber's plenary room in Tokyo on July 21.

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Japan's lower house dissolved for Aug. 30 general election

TOKYO, Japan - House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono reads out Emperor Akihito's dissolution rescript during a plenary session of the lower house on July 21. The general election will be held on Aug. 30 with official campaigning set to begin Aug. 18.

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Japan's lower house dissolution

TOKYO, Japan - A group of legislators from the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan react to House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono's declaration that the lower house is dissolved on July 21.

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Opposition parties submit no-confidence motion against Cabinet

TOKYO, Japan - Kenji Yamaoka (3rd from R), chairman of the Diet Affairs Committee of the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan, submits a no-confidence motion against the Cabinet to House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono at the Diet building in Tokyo on July 13.

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Okinawa marks 64th anniversary of WWII battle

ITOMAN, Japan - (From R to L) Prime Minister Taro Aso, House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono, and House of Councillors President Satsuki Eda offer silent prayers during a ceremony at Peace Memorial Park in Itoman, Okinawa Prefecture, June 23 to mark the 64th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa in which more than 200,000 people were killed during World War II.

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Emperor, empress receive New Year's greetings

TOKYO, Japan - Emperor Akihito (L) and Empress Michiko (2nd from L) receive New Year's greetings from House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono and House of Councillors President Satsuki Eda (both in front of the emperor) at the Imperial Palace on Jan. 1. (Pool photo)

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Lower house speaker Kono prays for Pearl Harbor war dead

HONOLULU, United States - Japan's House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono offers a silent prayer in front of a cenotaph in Oahu on Dec. 28 commemorating the nine people who perished in the 2001 sinking by a U.S. submarine of a Japanese high school fishing ship, the Ehime Maru, off the island.

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Lower house speaker Kono to retire from politics

HAKONE, Japan - House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono speaks about his intention to retire from politics at a news conference in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Sept. 18.

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Japan to host G-8 lower house speakers' meeting in Hiroshima

TOKYO, Japan - House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono tells a press conference in the Diet building on Nov. 1 that Japan will host a meeting of Group of Eight lower house speakers in Hiroshima in September 2008.

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Chinese premier meets Japanese Diet Speaker Yohei Kono

BEIJING, China - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) greets Japan's House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono during a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on July 18. Kono is visiting China through July 22 as head of the Japan Association for the Promotion of International Trade.

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House of Councillors celebrates 60th founding anniversary

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (C) and House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono (L) attend a celebration commemorating the 60th founding anniversary of the House of Councillors in the Diet building on May 18.

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Wen urges Japan to face up to history for better ties with China

TOKYO, Japan - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (fore) makes a speech in the House of Representatives chamber on April 12 as Speaker Yohei Kono (back left) and House of Councillors President Chikage Ogi listen. Wen urged Japan to take ''concrete action'' to face up to wartime history and outlined China's vision for building a strategic relationship with Japan through building mutual trust and working on common interests.