Gold prices surging in Japan

Gold prices surging in Japan

A board at the flagship store of Tanaka Precious Metal Technologies Co. in Tokyo's Ginza area shows retail prices of gold (upper L) topping 17,000 yen (about $120) per gram for the first time on April 22, 2025.

Gold prices surging in Japan

Gold prices surging in Japan

A board at the flagship store of Tanaka Precious Metal Technologies Co. in Tokyo's Ginza area shows retail prices of gold topping 17,000 yen (about $120) per gram for the first time on April 22, 2025.

17,000 people encircle Futemma base in 'human chain'

17,000 people encircle Futemma base in 'human chain'

GINOWAN, Japan - People join hands amid heavy rain to form a ''human chain'' encircling the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, on May 16, 2010. About 17,000 people took part in the demonstration to call for an early return of the base and opposing plans to relocate its functions within the prefecture.

17,000 people encircle Futemma base in 'human chain'

17,000 people encircle Futemma base in 'human chain'

GINOWAN, Japan - People form a ''human chain'' encircling the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Ginowan (back), Okinawa Prefecture, amid rain on May 16, 2010, About 17,000 people took part in the demonstration to call for an early return of the base and opposing plans to relocate its functions within the prefecture.

17,000 people encircle Futemma base in 'human chain'

17,000 people encircle Futemma base in 'human chain'

GINOWAN, Japan - People join hands amid heavy rain to form a ''human chain'' encircling the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, on May 16, 2010. About 17,000 people took part in the demonstration to call for an early return of the base and opposing plans to relocate its functions within the prefecture.

17,000 people encircle Futemma base in 'human chain'

17,000 people encircle Futemma base in 'human chain'

GINOWAN, Japan - People join hands amid heavy rain to form a ''human chain'' encircling the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, on May 16, 2010. About 17,000 people took part in the demonstration to call for an early return of the base and opposing plans to relocate its functions within the prefecture.

17,000 people encircle Futemma base in 'human chain'

17,000 people encircle Futemma base in 'human chain'

NAHA, Japan - Ginowan Mayor Yoichi Iha (R) and Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine (C) join a ''human chain'' encircling the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, on May 16, 2010. About 17,000 people took part in the demonstration to call for an early return of the base and opposing plans to relocate its functions within the prefecture.

17,000 people encircle Futemma base in 'human chain'

17,000 people encircle Futemma base in 'human chain'

GINOWAN, Japan - People join hands amid heavy rain to form a ''human chain'' encircling the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, on May 16, 2010. About 17,000 people took part in the demonstration to call for an early return of the base and opposing plans to relocate its functions within the prefecture.

17,000 people encircle Futemma base in 'human chain'

17,000 people encircle Futemma base in 'human chain'

GINOWAN, Japan - People form a ''human chain'' encircling the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, amid rain on May 16, 2010, About 17,000 people took part in the demonstration to call for an early return of the base and opposing plans to relocate its functions within the prefecture.

Brazil opens new consulate general in Hamamatsu

Brazil opens new consulate general in Hamamatsu

HAMAMATSU, Japan - Consul General Luiz Sergio Gama Figueira (C) and others cut the ribbon at an opening ceremony for Brazil's third consulate general in Japan in Shizuoka Prefecture, where around 51,000 Brazilians live, on Sept. 18, 2009. The new consulate, which is expected to begin full operations in mid-October, is located in Hamamatsu, which has a Brazilian population of about 17,000, the largest in a Japanese municipality.

Shipments of square watermelons begin in Kagawa Pref.

Shipments of square watermelons begin in Kagawa Pref.

TAKAMATSU, Japan - Workers at an agricultural cooperative in the city of Zentsuji, Kagawa Prefecture, prepare for the shipment of square watermelons on June 25. The cooperative will ship about 800 of the watermelons through mid-July with a price tag ranging from 17,000 to 25,000 yen.

Vote counting starts in Philippine elections

Vote counting starts in Philippine elections

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine election officials in the city of Makati begin tallying votes cast May 10 to elect the country's next president, vice president, 12 senators, more than 200 members of the House of Representatives and about 17,000 local officials.

17,000 residents checked for radiation in Tokaimura

17,000 residents checked for radiation in Tokaimura

TOKAIMURA, Japan - The last set of radiation checks is conducted on about 17,000 residents in the village of Tokaimura, about 120 kilometers northeast of Tokyo, and their possessions on Oct. 11, following Japan's Sept. 30 worst nuclear accident. The photo shows radiation checks of home-farming soil.