Search｜Photos & Images & Videos｜KYODO NEWS IMAGES INC

Imperial conferment of decorations

Taku Yamamoto (front), a former House of Representatives lawmaker, heads to a conferment ceremony to receive the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Nov. 11, 2025. The honoree, whose real surname is Takaichi, is the husband of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

E

Imperial conferment of decorations

Taku Yamamoto (3rd from L), a former House of Representatives lawmaker, is conferred the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun from Japan's Emperor Naruhito during a ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Nov. 11, 2025. The honoree, whose real surname is Takaichi, is the husband of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (2nd from L). (Pool photo)

E

Inauguration of Japan PM Takaichi's Cabinet

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (front, R) is formally inaugurated in a ceremony with Emperor Naruhito (front, L) at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo after being elected as the nation's first female prime minister by parliament on Oct. 21, 2025. Former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (back, L) attended the ceremony.

E

Inauguration of Japan PM Takaichi's Cabinet

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (front, R) is formally inaugurated in a ceremony with Emperor Naruhito (2nd from L) at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo after being elected as the nation's first female prime minister by parliament on Oct. 21, 2025. Former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (back, L) attended the ceremony.

E

Imperial conferment of decorations

TOKYO, Japan, May 14 Kyodo - Recipients of Japanese grand cordons pose for photos following a ceremony of conferment at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on May 9, 2025. Former Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan (9th from L) and former speaker of the House of Representatives Tadamori Oshima (10th from L) received the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers, while International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (2nd from L) was among the recipients of the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun. (Kyodo)

E

Imperial conferment of decorations

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (L) confers the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers to former Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on May 9, 2025. (Pool photo)

E

Imperial conferment of decorations

Former Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan (R) heads to a ceremony to receive the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on May 9, 2025.

E

Inauguration of Japan PM Ishiba's Cabinet

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (R, front) is formally inaugurated in a ceremony with Emperor Naruhito (L) at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo after being elected as the head of the government by parliament on Oct. 1, 2024. Seen second from left is former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. (Pool photo)

E

Lineup of Japan PM Ishiba's Cabinet

Former defense minister Gen Nakatani, who is set to take the post once again in the Cabinet of new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, arrives at the premier's office in Tokyo on Oct. 1, 2024, before his attestation in a ceremony at the Imperial Palace.

E

Ex-Indian premier receives decoration

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko (R) send off former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Nov. 5, 2014, after having lunch together. Singh received the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers from Emperor Akihito. (Pool photo)

E

Ex-Indian premier receives decoration

TOKYO, Japan - Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh walks with his wife in the grounds of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Nov. 5, 2014, after receiving the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers from Emperor Akihito. The couple also had lunch with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko following the award ceremony.

E

Japan Cabinet reshuffle

TOKYO, Japan - Newly appointed ministers of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's Cabinet leave the prime minister's office in Tokyo for the Imperial Palace to attend the attestation ceremony on Oct. 1, 2012. Noda reshuffled his Cabinet the same day, appointing outspoken former foreign ministers Seiji Maehara and Makiko Tanaka as national policy minister and education minister, respectively, aiming to bolster public support for his year-old government ahead of the next general election.

E

Recipients of spring decorations

TOKYO, Japan - The recipients of annual spring decorations from the Japanese government for their contributions to society pose for photos at a garden of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on June 24, 2011. Former Japanese Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu received this spring's highest award, the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers.

E

Ex-PM Kaifu decorated

TOKYO, Japan - Former Japanese Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu (R front) chats with Masatoshi Wakabayashi, former agriculture minister, during a photo session for the recipients of annual spring decorations from the Japanese government at a garden of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on June 24, 2011. Kaifu, 80, who was Japan's prime minister from February 1990 to November 1991, received this spring's highest award, the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers.

E

Ex-PM Kaifu decorated

TOKYO, Japan - Former Japanese Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu (R) receives the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers from Emperor Akihito (L) at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on June 24, 2011. Prime Minister Naoto Kan (C, back) also took part in the ceremony. (Pool Photo)

E

Hatoyama at attestation ceremony at Imperial Palace

TOKYO, Japan - With former Prime Minister Taro Aso (C) watching, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (2nd from R) receives his appointment as premier from Emperor Akihito (L) at an attestation ceremony held at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Sept. 16, 2009. (Pool photo by Kyodo News)

E

Emperor hands out gov't spring decorations at Imperial Palace

TOKYO, Japan - Emperor Akihito (L) hands out the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, the highest honor in this spring's decorations awarded by the Japanese government, to former Japanese Trade Union Confederation President Etsuya Washio (2nd from R) as Prime Minister Taro Aso (C) looks on at the Imperial Palace on May 8. Washio was among seven recipients who were given the highest award this spring. About 4,000 people were awarded spring decorations for their contributions to the nation and public in various fields such as politics, business, and arts and culture. (Pool photo)

E

Over 4,000 people, including 57 foreigners, receive decorations

TOKYO, Japan - Emperor Akihito (L) awards the Grand Cordon of the Order of Paulownia Flowers, the highest honor in this fall's commemoration, to Shoichiro Toyoda, former president and chairman of Toyota Motor Corp., at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Nov. 6 with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda looking on. (Pool photo)

E

Ex-Vietnamese Premier Khai decorated

TOKYO, Japan - Former Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai (2nd from R) received the Grand Corddon of the Order of the Rising Sun from Emperor Akihito in the Matsu-no-Ma (Pine Room) of the Imperial Palace on Nov. 7. (Pool photo)

E

Kamei attested as farm minister

TOKYO, Japan - Former Transport Minister Yoshiyuki Kamei (R), nominated minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi (C), receives a letter of attestation from Emperor Akihito at the Imperial Palace on April 1. Kamei replaced Tadamori Oshima, who resigned over his former aide's alleged misuse of a supporter's money (Pool photo)

E

18 receive spring awards at Imperial Palace ceremony

TOKYO, Japan - Emperor Akihito (L) confers a decoration on former Toyota Motor Corp. Chairman Shoichiro Toyoda at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on May 8. Toyoda was among the 18 people awarded prizes. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is standing between them.

E

Premier Mori's new cabinet members attested

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori (R, front) chats with former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto (L, front), who was appointed head of the Okinawa Development Agency in a cabinet shuffle Dec. 5, after the attestation by Emperor Akihito at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. In the background are other newly appointed ministers.

E

Ex-Vietnamese Premier Khai decorated

TOKYO, Japan - Former Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai (2nd from R) received the Grand Corddon of the Order of the Rising Sun from Emperor Akihito in the Matsu-no-Ma (Pine Room) of the Imperial Palace on Nov. 7. (Pool photo) (Kyodo)

E

Emperor hands out gov't spring decorations at Imperial Palace

TOKYO, Japan - Emperor Akihito (L) hands out the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, the highest honor in this spring's decorations awarded by the Japanese government, to former Japanese Trade Union Confederation President Etsuya Washio (2nd from R) as Prime Minister Taro Aso (C) looks on at the Imperial Palace on May 8. Washio was among seven recipients who were given the highest award this spring. About 4,000 people were awarded spring decorations for their contributions to the nation and public in various fields such as politics, business, and arts and culture. (Pool photo) (Kyodo)

E

Starts a New Era in Japan and China - Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping Visits Japan

Premier Deng Xiaoping Fu of the Chinese government visited Japan. A reconciliation ceremony was held at the Imperial Palace. The plane carrying Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping arrives at Haneda Airport on October 22, Deng Xiaoping descends the ramp, the welcome ceremony at the State Guest House, children from Gakushuin Elementary School wave Japanese flags, the exchange of treaty ratification certificates in the hall of the Prime Minister's Office, the reconciliation ceremony at the Imperial Palace, the welcome banquet, Deng Xiaoping's visit to Kakuei Tanaka's residence Deng Xiaoping visits Kakuei Tanaka's residence, Deng Xiaoping inspects the Nissan Motor factory, and the meeting with the Emperor of Japan. Please contact us for details.

E

Recipients of Grand Cordon of Order of Rising Sun at photo session

Recipients of Japan's Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun attend a photo session at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on May 8, 2015. They are (from L) Iwao Uruma, former chief of the National Police Agency, Tsuyoshi Takagi, former head of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation, Tadamasa Kodaira, former chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, Tadashi Okamura, former head of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, former Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Michael Somare, Kosuke Hori, former home affairs minister, former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara, Etsuhiko Shoyama, former president of Hitachi Ltd., Hiromasa Yonekura, former chairman of Keidanren, Nancy Pelosi, former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Yoshihito Karasawa, former president of the Japan Medical Association, and Toshitsugu Saito, former chief of the Defense Agency. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Over 4,000 people, including 57 foreigners, receive decorations

TOKYO, Japan - Emperor Akihito (L) awards the Grand Cordon of the Order of Paulownia Flowers, the highest honor in this fall's commemoration, to Shoichiro Toyoda, former president and chairman of Toyota Motor Corp., at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Nov. 6 with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda looking on. (Pool photo)(Kyodo)

E

Ex-PM Kaifu decorated

TOKYO, Japan - Former Japanese Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu (R) receives the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers from Emperor Akihito (L) at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on June 24, 2011. Prime Minister Naoto Kan (C, back) also took part in the ceremony. (Pool Photo)(Kyodo)

E

Ex-PM Kaifu decorated

TOKYO, Japan - Former Japanese Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu (R front) chats with Masatoshi Wakabayashi, former agriculture minister, during a photo session for the recipients of annual spring decorations from the Japanese government at a garden of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on June 24, 2011. Kaifu, 80, who was Japan's prime minister from February 1990 to November 1991, received this spring's highest award, the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers. (Kyodo)

E

Recipients of spring decorations

TOKYO, Japan - The recipients of annual spring decorations from the Japanese government for their contributions to society pose for photos at a garden of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on June 24, 2011. Former Japanese Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu received this spring's highest award, the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers. (Kyodo)

E

Ex-Indian premier receives decoration

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko (R) send off former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Nov. 5, 2014, after having lunch together. Singh received the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers from Emperor Akihito. (Pool photo)(Kyodo)

E

Conferment ceremony of Japanese decoration

Former Nigerian Prime Minister Ibrahim Mayaki (R) receives the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun from Japanese Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Nov. 7, 2019. (Pool photo) (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Conferment ceremony of Japanese decoration

Former Slovenian Prime Minister Alojz Peterle (R) receives the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun from Japanese Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Nov. 7, 2019. (Pool photo) (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Japanese emperor's enthronement ceremony

Former Japanese prime ministers (from R) Yoshiro Mori, Junichiro Koizumi, Yasuo Fukuda and Taro Aso raise banzai cheers at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Oct. 22, 2019, after Emperor Naruhito proclaimed his enthronement before roughly 2,000 guests from Japan and overseas at the palace. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Mahathir receives Japanese decoration

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad (R) shakes hands with Takashi Imai, former chairman of the Japan Business Federation, known as Keidanren, after receiving the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Nov. 6, 2018. They were attending a photo session for recipients of Japanese decorations. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Recipients of Japanese decorations

Recipients of Japanese grand cordons, including Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad (5th from R), former House of Councillors President Juro Saito (4th from R) and Peter Piot (R), a former executive director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), attend a photo session after a ceremony of conferment at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Nov. 6, 2018. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Former Prime Minister Hata dies at 82

Former Japanese Prime Minister Tsutomu Hata (R) is pictured in this file photo receiving the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers from Emperor Akihito (L) at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo in May 2013. Hata, a 14-time House of Representatives member who retired from politics in 2012, died Aug. 28, 2017, at age 82. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Hatoyama at attestation ceremony at Imperial Palace

TOKYO, Japan - With former Prime Minister Taro Aso (C) watching, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (2nd from R) receives his appointment as premier from Emperor Akihito (L) at an attestation ceremony held at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Sept. 16, 2009. (Pool photo by Kyodo News) (Kyodo)

E

Kamei attested as farm minister

TOKYO, Japan - Former Transport Minister Yoshiyuki Kamei (R), nominated minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi (C), receives a letter of attestation from Emperor Akihito at the Imperial Palace on April 1. Kamei replaced Tadamori Oshima, who resigned over his former aide's alleged misuse of a supporter's money (Pool photo) (Kyodo)

E

18 receive spring awards at Imperial Palace ceremony

TOKYO, Japan - Emperor Akihito (L) confers a decoration on former Toyota Motor Corp. Chairman Shoichiro Toyoda at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on May 8. Toyoda was among the 18 people awarded prizes. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is standing between them.

E

Premier Mori's new cabinet members attested

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori (R, front) chats with former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto (L, front), who was appointed head of the Okinawa Development Agency in a cabinet shuffle Dec. 5, after the attestation by Emperor Akihito at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. In the background are other newly appointed ministers.