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

Space event at Osaka expo

Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki (C) attends an event at the World Exposition in Osaka on July 10, 2025, connecting the expo venue with the International Space Station.

E

Japan imperial couple at museum

Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako are guided by Naoko Yamazaki(L) , a former Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut, at the Gifu Kakamigahara Air and Space Museum in Kakamigahara, Gifu Prefecture, on Oct. 15, 2024.

E

(SP)CHINA-HANGZHOU-ASIAN GAMES-HANDBALL (CN)

(231005) -- HANGZHOU, Oct. 5, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Japan's Sahara Naoko (up) competes during the women's handball gold medal match between Japan and South Korea at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

E

(SP)CHINA-HANGZHOU-ASIAN GAMES-HANDBALL (CN)

(231005) -- HANGZHOU, Oct. 5, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Japan's Sahara Naoko reacts during the women's handball gold medal match between Japan and South Korea at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

E

(2)Scenes from Phuket

PHUKET, Thailand - Shigeki Kakinoki (L) stands mum behind as his wife Ruriko bursts into tears after confirming the body of her daughter Naoko at a hospital in the Tthai resort island of Phuket on Dec. 29.

E

4 Japanese confirmed among quake dead, more likely

PHUKET, Thailand - Shigeki Kakinoki arrives at Phuket International Airport on the Thai resort island of Phuket on Dec. 28 to confirm the whereabouts of her daughter Naoko, who are believed to be among four Japanese confirmed dead in the wake of the powerful tsunamis that devastated vast seaside areas in Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

E

Farmers harvest pumpkins grown from seeds back from space

CHIBA, Japan - Mamoru Hayashi, leader of a citizens' group in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture, poses on Oct. 17, 2014, with pumpkins grown from seeds brought to and back from space by Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, a native of the Tokyo suburb. The group hopes to market them under the "space pumpkin" brand and make them a local specialty.

E

Marathon gold medalist Takahashi starts Aomori-Tokyo relay

AOMORI, Japan - Sydney Olympics women's marathon gold medalist Naoko Takahashi (R) speaks before the start on July 24, 2014, of a more than 1,000-kilometer relay race from Aomori, northeastern Japan, to Tokyo. The race with some 900 participants is being held to support coastal areas recovering from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

E

Olympic champ Takahashi in relay for rebuilding disaster-hit areas

AOMORI, Japan - Olympic marathon champion Naoko Takahashi (R) takes part in a relay event from the northern Japanese city of Aomori to Tokyo to promote the reconstruction of areas hit by the March 11, 2011, disasters. Around 900 people will run or cycle on the 1,238-kilometer course, divided into 165 zones.

E

Olympic champ Takahashi in relay for rebuilding disaster-hit areas

AOMORI, Japan - Olympic marathon champion Naoko Takahashi (R) takes part in a relay event from the northern Japanese city of Aomori to Tokyo to promote the reconstruction of areas hit by the March 11, 2011, disasters. Around 900 people will run or cycle on the 1,238-kilometer course, divided into 165 zones.

E

Otsuka Pharma to send 'time capsule' to moon

TOKYO, Japan - Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki (L, back row) and retired swimmer Aya Terakawa (R, back row) on May 15, 2014, attend Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co.窶冱 event held in Tokyo to announce a plan to send a "time capsule" containing powder of Pocari Sweat, the company's beverage product, and messages of children from around the world to the moon. The company aims to launch the capsule in October 2015 in cooperation with a U.S. spaceship developer.

E

AUM trial

TOKYO, Japan - A bus believed to be carrying Naoko Kikuchi arrives at the Tokyo District Court on May 8, 2014. The trial of Kikuchi, one of the three former AUM Shinrikyo cult members arrested in 2012 after being on the run for 17 years, began that day at the court.

E

Suntory researcher aiming to create deep-blue rose

SHIMAMOTO, Japan - Photo taken Dec. 25, 2013 shows Naoko Okitsu, a researcher at the Suntory Global Innovation Center in Shimamoto, Osaka Prefecture, who is aiming to develop the world's first deep-blue rose.

E

Yamaguchi defends title

TOKYO, Japan - WBA super flyweight champion Naoko Yamaguchi of Japan (R) unleashes a punch against seventh-ranked Italian challenger Loredana Piazza in the second round of their bout at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on April 10, 2013. Yamaguchi defeated Piazza in the seventh round, successfully defending her crown for the second time.

E

Yamaguchi defends title

TOKYO, Japan - WBA super flyweight champion Naoko Yamaguchi of Japan (R) strikes seventh-ranked Italian challenger Loredana Piazza in the third round of their bout at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on April 10, 2013. Yamaguchi defeated Piazza in the seventh round, successfully defending her crown for the second time.

E

Japan official to head World Bank green fund

TOKYO, Japan - Undated file photo shows Naoko Ishii, deputy vice minister of finance of Japan. Ishii will assume the post of chief executive officer of the Global Environmental Facility, which is linked to the World Bank, sources close to the matter said on June 7, 2012.

E

Ex-AUM member Kikuchi's hideout in Sagamihara

TOKYO, Japan - Journalists and onlookers on June 4, 2012 crowd the area surrounding a house (C) in which former AUM Shinrikyo cult member Naoko Kikuchi had been hiding in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture. Kikuchi, who had been wanted for years for alleged involvement in the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack, was captured the day before in Sagamihara, southwest of Tokyo.

E

Ex-AUM cult member Kikuchi arrested

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Police officers walk around a house in which former AUM Shinrikyo cult member Naoko Kikuchi had been hiding, in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, on June 4, 2012. Kikuchi, who had been wanted for years for alleged involvement in the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack, was arrested the previous day in Tokyo after being captured in Sagamihara, southwest of Tokyo.

E

Seeds derived from those taken to space station go to disaster area

MORIOKA, Japan - An official (L) of the city government of Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture, delivers pumpkin seeds to the Iwate Prefecture education board at the Iwate prefectural hall in Morioka on April 25, 2012, accompanied by a message from former astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, a Matsudo native. The seeds, which are derived from pumpkin seeds taken to the International Space Station by Yamazaki aboard the space shuttle Discovery, were delivered with the aim of instilling hope in children affected by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

E

Gold medalist Takahashi dating ex-trainer

GIFU, Japan - Naoko Takahashi, the 2000 Sydney Olympics gold medalist in women's marathon, meets reporters at the Gifu prefectural government office on March 16, 2012, on media reports the same day about her being in a relationship with her former trainer Ko Nishimura. Takahashi, 39, confirmed the reports.

E

Gold medalist Takahashi dating ex-trainer

GIFU, Japan - Naoko Takahashi, the 2000 Sydney Olympics gold medalist in women's marathon, meets reporters at the Gifu prefectural government office on March 16, 2012, on media reports the same day about her being in a relationship with her former trainer Ko Nishimura. Takahashi, 39, confirmed the reports.

E

Japan to field female bureaucrat to head green fund

TOKYO, Japan - Undated file photo shows Naoko Ishii, deputy vice minister of finance of Japan. The Japanese government said Nov. 15, 2011, it will field Ishii as a candidate to head the Global Environmental Facility, a green fund linked to the World Bank and other international development bodies. If elected as chief executive officer of the GEF by its governing body in June 2012, Ishii would become the Japanese ministry's first female official to lead an international institution.

E

Astronaut Yamazaki eyes being outer space educator

TOKYO, Japan - Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki speaks during a press conference at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency in Tokyo on Aug. 31, 2011. Yamazaki said she wants to work as a freelance outer space educator after resigning from the space agency that day.

E

Kan at upper house

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Naoko Kan speaks at a plenary session of the House of Councillors in Tokyo on Aug. 22, 2011. The upper house deliberated a bill the same day to allow the government to issue deficit-covering bonds in fiscal 2011.

E

Kan at upper house

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Naoko Kan (front) speaks at a plenary session of the House of Councillors in Tokyo on Aug. 22, 2011, with Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda (R back) and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Michihiko Kano (L back) seen in the background. The upper house deliberated a bill the same day to allow the government to issue deficit-covering bonds in fiscal 2011.

E

Clinton in Japan

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Prime Minister Naoko Kan welcomes U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (L) ahead of their meeting in Tokyo on April 17, 2011.

E

Gold medalist Takahashi at evacuation center

RIKUZENTAKATA, Japan - Naoko Takahashi, the 2000 Sydney Olympic gold medalist in the women's marathon, helps to cook lunch at an evacuation center in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, on April 14, 2011, for people affected by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.

E

Nishioka to sign deal with Twins

NARITA, Japan - Lotte Marines shortstop Tsuyoshi Nishioka (C) leaves for the United States from Narita airport on Dec. 16, 2010, for a checkup before signing a deal with the Minnesota Twins. Walking ahead of him was his wife Naoko, a fashion model.

E

Astronaut Yamazaki at gov't cost-cutting screening

TOKYO, Japan - Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki attends a screening to review state projects and their costs by the government's cost-cutting unit in Tokyo on Nov. 18, 2010. Yamazaki told reporters following her participation that she hopes the government will understand potential of space development.

E

Astronaut to research at alma mater

TOKYO, Japan - Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, who stayed aboard the International Space Station in April 2010, speaks at a press conference at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency in Tokyo on Nov. 9, 2010. Yamazaki said she will temporarily suspend her work at the space agency as she will engage in space exploration research at her alma mater the University of Tokyo.

E

Emperor's garden party

TOKYO, Japan - Emperor Akihito (L) chats with guests at his garden party in rainy weather at Akasaka Imperial Garden in Tokyo on Oct. 28, 2010, including astronauts Naoko Yamazaki (woman in kimono at center R) and Soichi Noguchi (R).

E

Astronaut to advise gov't

TOKYO, Japan - Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki (L) receives a document assigning her as an adviser to the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry on science policy from education minister Tatsuo Kawabata (R) in Tokyo on Aug. 24, 2010.

E

Astronaut Yamazaki given special science award

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki addresses a ceremony after being given a special award of L'Oreal UNESCO program for women in science in Tokyo on Aug. 23, 2010. Yamazaki, who stayed in the International Space Station in April, said she was grateful to her husband, parents and other supporters.

E

Space shuttle crew in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan - All seven crew members of the space shuttle Discovery mission carried out in the spring of 2010 meet the press at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo on June 28, 2010. The astronauts including commander Alan Poindexter (C) and Japanese mission specialist Naoko Yamazaki (3rd from R) transported supplies and equipment from Earth to the International Space Station aboard the shuttle.

E

Morning glory seeds

TOKYO, Japan - Children receive seeds of Japanese morning glory flowers brought back from space to Earth by astronaut Naoko Yamazaki from artist Katsuhiko Hibino (L) in an event in Tokyo on June 7, 2010. Hibino organized the event to plant the seeds.

E

Japanese astronaut Yamazaki back in Japan

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki (C), who traveled to the International Space Station aboard NASA's space shuttle Discovery in April 2010, shakes hands with Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Tatsuo Kawabata during a courtesy call at the ministry in Tokyo on May 17, 2010. Yamazaki is on a temporary visit to Japan after her 15-day space mission.

E

Japanese astronaut Yamazaki back in Japan

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, who traveled to the International Space Station aboard NASA's space shuttle Discovery in April 2010, speaks during a news conference in Tokyo on May 17, 2010. Yamazaki is on a temporary visit to Japan after her 15-day space mission.

E

Olympic medalist Takahashi takes up farming

DATE, Japan - Olympic marathon gold medalist Naoko Takahashi plants broccoli seeds at a farm in Date, Hokkaido, on May 11, 2010. Takahashi will visit the farm once or twice a month under a sponsorship contract with an agricultural group, which will provide the vegetables to hotel guests.

E

Japanese astronaut Yamazaki at welcome ceremony

HOUSTON, United States - Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, who was aboard NASA's space shuttle Discovery, smiles during a welcome ceremony at Houston's Ellington Field in Texas on April 21, 2010, a day after returning from a 15-day mission with six other crew members.

E

Japanese astronaut Yamazaki at welcome ceremony

HOUSTON, United States - Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki (L), who was aboard NASA's space shuttle Discovery, waves as she heads to a welcome ceremony with her daughter Yuki (R) and husband Taichi (back) at Houston's Ellington Field in Texas on April 21, 2010, a day after returning from a 15-day mission with six other crew members.

E

Discovery astronauts attend welcome ceremony

HOUSTON, United States - The crew members of NASA's space shuttle Discovery, including Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki (2nd from R), attend a welcome ceremony at Houston's Ellington Field in Texas on April 21, 2010, a day after returning from their 15-day mission.

E

Japanese astronaut Yamazaki at welcome ceremony

HOUSTON, United States - Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki (L), who was aboard NASA's space shuttle Discovery, celebrates with her daughter Yuki (2nd from L) and husband Taichi (R) during a welcome ceremony at Houston's Ellington Field in Texas on April 21, 2010, a day after returning from a 15-day mission with six other crew members.

E

Japanese astronaut Yamazaki at welcome ceremony

HOUSTON, United States - Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, who was aboard NASA's space shuttle Discovery, speaks during a welcome ceremony at Houston's Ellington Field in Texas on April 21, 2010, a day after returning from a 15-day mission with six other crew members.

E

Japanese astronaut Yamazaki at welcome ceremony

HOUSTON, United States - Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, who was aboard NASA's space shuttle Discovery, waves to the crowd during a welcome ceremony at Houston's Ellington Field in Texas on April 21, 2010, a day after returning from a 15-day mission with six other crew members.

E

Discovery astronauts attend welcome ceremony

HOUSTON, United States - The crew members of NASA's space shuttle Discovery, including Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki (2nd from R), celebrate during a welcome ceremony at Houston's Ellington Field in Texas on April 21, 2010. The seven-member crew returned to Earth the previous day from a 15-day mission to the International Space Station.

E

Japanese astronauts play musical instruments together

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese astronauts Soichi Noguci (L in back) and Naoko Yamazaki (R in back) at the International Space Station talk to Moeka Kusuda, a six-grader at an elementary school, at the prime minister's office in Tokyo during a video chat event on April 12, 2010. Two Cabinet ministers and six schoolchildren took part in the event during which Noguchi and Yamazaki played musical instruments together.

E

Japanese astronaut installs module on space station

TOKYO, Japan - This photo taken from NASA TV shows Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi getting out of the multi-purpose logistics module Leonardo into the International Space Station. U.S. space shuttle Discovery mission specialists Stephanie Wilson and Naoko Yamazaki used the ISS robotic arm to lift Leonardo from the shuttle and attach it to the ISS on April 7, 2010.

E

Japanese astronaut installs module on space station

TOKYO, Japan - This photo taken from NASA TV shows a robotic arm of the International Space Station picking up a logistics module, named Leonardo, from the U.S. space shuttle Discovery. Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, one of the seven shuttle crew members, operated the arm and connected the module to the ISS on April 7, 2010.

E

Japanese astronaut installs module on space station

TOKYO, Japan - This photo taken from NASA TV shows a robotic arm of the International Space Station connecting a logistics module, named Leonardo, to the International Space Station. Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, one of the seven crew members of the U.S. space shuttle Discovery, operated the arm to pick up the module from the shuttle and connect it to the ISS on April 7, 2010.

E

Japanese astronaut installs module on space station

TOKYO, Japan - This photo taken from NASA TV shows a robotic arm of the International Space Station picking up a logistics module, named Leonardo, from the U.S. space shuttle Discovery. Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, one of the seven shuttle crew members, operated the arm and connected the module to the ISS on April 7, 2010.