Chinese chef Zhou

Chinese chef Zhou

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken in December 1994 shows Zhou Fude, a Chinese chef who had became a popular fixture of Japanese TV shows. Zhou, who was known to the public by his Japanese name Shu Tomitoku, has died of aspiration pneumonia at a Yokohama hospital, his family said on April 13, 2014. He was 71.

War-displaced Japanese leave for Beijing after search for kin

War-displaced Japanese leave for Beijing after search for kin

NARITA, Japan - Four war-displaced Japanese from China leave for Beijing on Nov. 20 after a one-week search for their relatives resulted in only one of them having being identified. The group consists of a woman, 58-year-old Gu Tiefeng (2nd from R), and three men -- Han Tonglai (2nd from L), 63, Zhang Wanchang (far L), 58, and Ma Fude (far R), 58. Their ages, except that of Han, are estimates as they have no birth certificates. Only Han's relationship to Japanese kin was confirmed among three group members who had interviews with possible relatives. The other two and Ma had blood tests, and are now awaiting the results, which will take months before a final conclusion is drawn.

Famed brush maker opens shop at Hiroshima Station, eyes souvenir sales

Famed brush maker opens shop at Hiroshima Station, eyes souvenir sales

Photo taken on July 15, 2015, shows a shopping corner featuring "Kumano-fude" brushes for writing, drawing and make-up opened recently at the shinkansen exit of JR Hiroshima Station in western Japan. Of the traditional craftwork produced by Fudenosato Kobo in Kumano, Hiroshima Prefecture, high-quality Kumano-fude make-up brushes are particularly popular both in Japan and overseas. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo