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Imperial conferment of decorations

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (L) confers the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers to former House of Councillors President Hidehisa Otsuji during a ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Nov. 11, 2025. (Pool photo)

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Imperial conferment of decorations

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (L) confers the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers to former Supreme Court chief justice Saburo Tokura during a ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Nov. 11, 2025. (Pool photo)

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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)

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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)

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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.

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CHINA-HENAN-LANKAO-TRADITIONAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT(CN)

(240514) -- LANKAO, May 14, 2024 (Xinhua) -- This photo shows a scene at a traditional Chinese musical instrument workshop in Lankao County of Kaifeng City, central China's Henan Province, April 17, 2024. In recent years, Lankao County has vigorously developed the traditional musical instrument industry in an effort to fully utilize paulownia trees, which are bountiful in the county. Lankao County is now home to more than 200 traditional musical instrument enterprises, providing guzheng, guqin, pipa, and other traditional Chinese musical instruments. (Xinhua/Hao Yuan)

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CHINA-HENAN-LANKAO-TRADITIONAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT(CN)

(240514) -- LANKAO, May 14, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Instrument maker Xu Yachong processes a guqin, a plucked seven-string traditional Chinese musical instrument, in Lankao County of Kaifeng City, central China's Henan Province, April 17, 2024. In recent years, Lankao County has vigorously developed the traditional musical instrument industry in an effort to fully utilize paulownia trees, which are bountiful in the county. Lankao County is now home to more than 200 traditional musical instrument enterprises, providing guzheng, guqin, pipa, and other traditional Chinese musical instruments. (Xinhua/Hao Yuan)

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CHINA-HENAN-LANKAO-TRADITIONAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT(CN)

(240514) -- LANKAO, May 14, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Instrument maker Xu Bing sells guqin, a plucked seven-string traditional Chinese musical instrument, via livestreaming in Lankao County of Kaifeng City, central China's Henan Province, May 13, 2024. In recent years, Lankao County has vigorously developed the traditional musical instrument industry in an effort to fully utilize paulownia trees, which are bountiful in the county. Lankao County is now home to more than 200 traditional musical instrument enterprises, providing guzheng, guqin, pipa, and other traditional Chinese musical instruments. (Xinhua/Shao Zedong)

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CHINA-HENAN-LANKAO-TRADITIONAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT(CN)

(240514) -- LANKAO, May 14, 2024 (Xinhua) -- A staff member sells guzheng, also known as Chinese zither, via livestreaming in Lankao County of Kaifeng City, central China's Henan Province, May 13, 2024. In recent years, Lankao County has vigorously developed the traditional musical instrument industry in an effort to fully utilize paulownia trees, which are bountiful in the county. Lankao County is now home to more than 200 traditional musical instrument enterprises, providing guzheng, guqin, pipa, and other traditional Chinese musical instruments. (Xinhua/Shao Zedong)

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CHINA-HENAN-LANKAO-TRADITIONAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT(CN)

(240514) -- LANKAO, May 14, 2024 (Xinhua) -- A staff member sells guzheng, also known as Chinese zither, via livestreaming in Lankao County of Kaifeng City, central China's Henan Province, May 13, 2024. In recent years, Lankao County has vigorously developed the traditional musical instrument industry in an effort to fully utilize paulownia trees, which are bountiful in the county. Lankao County is now home to more than 200 traditional musical instrument enterprises, providing guzheng, guqin, pipa, and other traditional Chinese musical instruments. (Xinhua/Hao Yuan)

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CHINA-HENAN-LANKAO-TRADITIONAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT(CN)

(240514) -- LANKAO, May 14, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Instrument maker Xu Bing plays guqin, a plucked seven-string traditional Chinese musical instrument, at home in Lankao County of Kaifeng City, central China's Henan Province, May 13, 2024. In recent years, Lankao County has vigorously developed the traditional musical instrument industry in an effort to fully utilize paulownia trees, which are bountiful in the county. Lankao County is now home to more than 200 traditional musical instrument enterprises, providing guzheng, guqin, pipa, and other traditional Chinese musical instruments. (Xinhua/Hao Yuan)

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CHINA-HENAN-LANKAO-PAULOWNIA-MUSICAL INSTRUMENT (CN)

(231010) -- KAIFENG, Oct. 10, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Guqin maker Xu Yachong tunes the Guqin at Lankao County of Kaifeng City, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 9, 2023. Lankao County is rich in paulownia trees, an ideal raw material for musical instrument manufacturing. But in the last century, frequent floods and sandstorms left the area with poor soil and crop failures. In the1960s, local Party chief Jiao Yulu initiated the locals to plant paulownia trees to help improve soil and conserve water. In the 1980s, when the trees were thriving, locals found it the fine material to make furniture, as well as traditional Chinese music instruments. Up to date, there are over 200 musical instrument manufacturing workshops with products sold home and abroad in Lankao. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

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CHINA-HENAN-LANKAO-PAULOWNIA-MUSICAL INSTRUMENT (CN)

(231010) -- KAIFENG, Oct. 10, 2023 (Xinhua) -- This aerial photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows the paulownia trees at Lankao County of Kaifeng City, central China's Henan Province. Lankao County is rich in paulownia trees, an ideal raw material for musical instrument manufacturing. But in the last century, frequent floods and sandstorms left the area with poor soil and crop failures. In the1960s, local Party chief Jiao Yulu initiated the locals to plant paulownia trees to help improve soil and conserve water. In the 1980s, when the trees were thriving, locals found it the fine material to make furniture, as well as traditional Chinese music instruments. Up to date, there are over 200 musical instrument manufacturing workshops with products sold home and abroad in Lankao. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

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CHINA-HENAN-LANKAO-PAULOWNIA-MUSICAL INSTRUMENT (CN)

(231010) -- KAIFENG, Oct. 10, 2023 (Xinhua) -- A staff member tunes a musical instrument at a musical instrument factory in Lankao County of Kaifeng City, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 9, 2023. Lankao County is rich in paulownia trees, an ideal raw material for musical instrument manufacturing. But in the last century, frequent floods and sandstorms left the area with poor soil and crop failures. In the1960s, local Party chief Jiao Yulu initiated the locals to plant paulownia trees to help improve soil and conserve water. In the 1980s, when the trees were thriving, locals found it the fine material to make furniture, as well as traditional Chinese music instruments. Up to date, there are over 200 musical instrument manufacturing workshops with products sold home and abroad in Lankao. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

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CHINA-HENAN-LANKAO-PAULOWNIA-MUSICAL INSTRUMENT (CN)

(231010) -- KAIFENG, Oct. 10, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Guqin maker Xu Yachong plays the Guqin at Lankao County of Kaifeng City, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 9, 2023. Lankao County is rich in paulownia trees, an ideal raw material for musical instrument manufacturing. But in the last century, frequent floods and sandstorms left the area with poor soil and crop failures. In the1960s, local Party chief Jiao Yulu initiated the locals to plant paulownia trees to help improve soil and conserve water. In the 1980s, when the trees were thriving, locals found it the fine material to make furniture, as well as traditional Chinese music instruments. Up to date, there are over 200 musical instrument manufacturing workshops with products sold home and abroad in Lankao. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

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CHINA-HENAN-LANKAO-PAULOWNIA-MUSICAL INSTRUMENT (CN)

(231010) -- KAIFENG, Oct. 10, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Guqin maker Xu Bing plays the Guqin at Lankao County of Kaifeng City, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 9, 2023. Lankao County is rich in paulownia trees, an ideal raw material for musical instrument manufacturing. But in the last century, frequent floods and sandstorms left the area with poor soil and crop failures. In the1960s, local Party chief Jiao Yulu initiated the locals to plant paulownia trees to help improve soil and conserve water. In the 1980s, when the trees were thriving, locals found it the fine material to make furniture, as well as traditional Chinese music instruments. Up to date, there are over 200 musical instrument manufacturing workshops with products sold home and abroad in Lankao. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

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CHINA-HENAN-LANKAO-PAULOWNIA-MUSICAL INSTRUMENT (CN)

(231010) -- KAIFENG, Oct. 10, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Guqin maker Xu Bing plays the Guqin at Lankao County of Kaifeng City, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 9, 2023. Lankao County is rich in paulownia trees, an ideal raw material for musical instrument manufacturing. But in the last century, frequent floods and sandstorms left the area with poor soil and crop failures. In the1960s, local Party chief Jiao Yulu initiated the locals to plant paulownia trees to help improve soil and conserve water. In the 1980s, when the trees were thriving, locals found it the fine material to make furniture, as well as traditional Chinese music instruments. Up to date, there are over 200 musical instrument manufacturing workshops with products sold home and abroad in Lankao. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

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CHINA-HENAN-LANKAO-PAULOWNIA-MUSICAL INSTRUMENT (CN)

(231010) -- KAIFENG, Oct. 10, 2023 (Xinhua) -- A staff member tunes a musical instrument at Lankao County of Kaifeng City, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 9, 2023. Lankao County is rich in paulownia trees, an ideal raw material for musical instrument manufacturing. But in the last century, frequent floods and sandstorms left the area with poor soil and crop failures. In the1960s, local Party chief Jiao Yulu initiated the locals to plant paulownia trees to help improve soil and conserve water. In the 1980s, when the trees were thriving, locals found it the fine material to make furniture, as well as traditional Chinese music instruments. Up to date, there are over 200 musical instrument manufacturing workshops with products sold home and abroad in Lankao. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

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CHINA-HENAN-LANKAO-PAULOWNIA-MUSICAL INSTRUMENT (CN)

(231010) -- KAIFENG, Oct. 10, 2023 (Xinhua) -- A deliveryman loads instruments at Lankao County of Kaifeng City, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 9, 2023. Lankao County is rich in paulownia trees, an ideal raw material for musical instrument manufacturing. But in the last century, frequent floods and sandstorms left the area with poor soil and crop failures. In the1960s, local Party chief Jiao Yulu initiated the locals to plant paulownia trees to help improve soil and conserve water. In the 1980s, when the trees were thriving, locals found it the fine material to make furniture, as well as traditional Chinese music instruments. Up to date, there are over 200 musical instrument manufacturing workshops with products sold home and abroad in Lankao. (Xinhua/Li Jianan)

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CHINA-HENAN-LANKAO-PAULOWNIA-MUSICAL INSTRUMENT (CN)

(231010) -- KAIFENG, Oct. 10, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Guqin maker Xu Bing makes Guqin at Lankao County of Kaifeng City, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 9, 2023. Lankao County is rich in paulownia trees, an ideal raw material for musical instrument manufacturing. But in the last century, frequent floods and sandstorms left the area with poor soil and crop failures. In the1960s, local Party chief Jiao Yulu initiated the locals to plant paulownia trees to help improve soil and conserve water. In the 1980s, when the trees were thriving, locals found it the fine material to make furniture, as well as traditional Chinese music instruments. Up to date, there are over 200 musical instrument manufacturing workshops with products sold home and abroad in Lankao. (Xinhua/Li Jianan)

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CHINA-HENAN-LANKAO-PAULOWNIA-MUSICAL INSTRUMENT (CN)

(231010) -- KAIFENG, Oct. 10, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Guqin maker Xu Bing makes Guqin at Lankao County of Kaifeng City, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 9, 2023. Lankao County is rich in paulownia trees, an ideal raw material for musical instrument manufacturing. But in the last century, frequent floods and sandstorms left the area with poor soil and crop failures. In the1960s, local Party chief Jiao Yulu initiated the locals to plant paulownia trees to help improve soil and conserve water. In the 1980s, when the trees were thriving, locals found it the fine material to make furniture, as well as traditional Chinese music instruments. Up to date, there are over 200 musical instrument manufacturing workshops with products sold home and abroad in Lankao. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

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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)

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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.

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Lifelike dolls of disaster victim pets

SENDAI, Japan - Photo taken in Kitakata, Fukushima Prefecture, on April 7, 2012, shows dolls made of Paulownia wood powder replicating pet cats and dogs that lost their lives in connection with the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster or the ensuing nuclear crisis.

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Lifelike dolls of disaster victim pets

SENDAI, Japan - Kumi Endo, representative of craft shop Kinomoto, creates a replica cat with Paulownia wood powder in Kitakawa, Fukushima Prefecture, on April 7, 2012. Dolls of cats and dogs that lost their lives in connection with the disaster of March 2011 and ensuing nuclear crisis are made at the shop.

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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.

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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.

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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)

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Ogi at autumn decoration ceremony

TOKYO, Japan - Former House of Councillors President Chikage Ogi arrives at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Nov. 5, 2010, to attend an award ceremony for autumn decorations. Ogi became the first woman to receive the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers, one of the highest awards.

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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)

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17 receive awards from Emperor Akihito

TOKYO, Japan - Former House of Representatives Speaker Soichiro Ito arrives at the Imperial Palace to receive the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, Paulownia Flowers, the highest decoration bestowed in this spring's ceremony. Emperor Akihito gave the spring awards to the top 17 recipients, including Ito.

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Imperial conferment of decorations

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (L) confers the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers to former House of Representatives speaker Bunmei Ibuki at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on May 10, 2022. (Pool photo)

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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)

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A woman in her night clothes

A woman is lying half-naked, cooling herself with a fan. The woman behind her is smoking a long kiseru pipe. There is a paulownia chest behind them and a lamp by the head of the woman lying down.==Date:unknown, Place:unknown, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number90‐17‐0]

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A wife holding an abacus and her mother-in-law sewing

A living room in a merchant's house. The mother-in-law wearing reading glasses is engaged in needle work while her daughter-in-law is using an abacus to keep accounts. A household kamidana shrine is visible on top of the paulownia chest-of-drawers in the back.==Date:unknown, Place:unknown, Photo:R. Stillfried, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number78‐95‐0]

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A wife holding an abacus and her mother-in-law sewing

A living room in a merchant's house. The mother-in-law wearing reading glasses is engaged in needle work while her daughter-in-law is using an abacus to keep accounts. A household kamidana shrine is visible on top of the paulownia chest-of-drawers in the back.==Date:unknown, Place:unknown, Photo:R. Stillfried, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number76‐38‐0]

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Cherry trees at Yasukuni Shrine,Kudan

Children enjoy the cherry blossoms while babysitting. Several hundred plum and cherry trees were planted at Yasukuni Shinto Shrine, and today there are said to be about 1,000 cherry trees there. The arrival of the cherry blossom season is predicted on the basis of the cherry trees at this shrine. The main hall enshrines a holy mirror made of ebony by Goto Kosuke and embellished with imaginary birds, dragons, chrysanthemum flowers and paulownia leaves. The window panes were made in Germany.==Date:unknown, Place:Tokyo, Photo:Tamamura Kozaburo, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number48‐58‐0]

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Ogi at autumn decoration ceremony

TOKYO, Japan - Former House of Councillors President Chikage Ogi arrives at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Nov. 5, 2010, to attend an award ceremony for autumn decorations. Ogi became the first woman to receive the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers, one of the highest awards. (Kyodo)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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Lifelike dolls of disaster victim pets

SENDAI, Japan - Photo taken in Kitakata, Fukushima Prefecture, on April 7, 2012, shows dolls made of Paulownia wood powder replicating pet cats and dogs that lost their lives in connection with the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster or the ensuing nuclear crisis. (Kyodo)

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Lifelike dolls of disaster victim pets

SENDAI, Japan - Kumi Endo, representative of craft shop Kinomoto, creates a replica cat with Paulownia wood powder in Kitakawa, Fukushima Prefecture, on April 7, 2012. Dolls of cats and dogs that lost their lives in connection with the disaster of March 2011 and ensuing nuclear crisis are made at the shop. (Kyodo)

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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)

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Conferment ceremony of Japanese decoration

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (L) confers the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers to former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Itsuro Terada at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on May 23, 2019. (Pool photo)(Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Conferment ceremony of Japanese decoration

Takashi Imai (R), a former chairman of the Japan Business Federation, known as Keidanren, receives the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers from Japanese Emperor Akihito at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Nov. 6, 2018. (Pool photo)(Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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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

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Mahathir receives top award in Japan

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad (front R) receives the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers from Japanese Emperor Akihito at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Nov. 6, 2018. (Pool photo)(Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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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

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17 receive awards from Emperor Akihito

TOKYO, Japan - Former House of Representatives Speaker Soichiro Ito arrives at the Imperial Palace to receive the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, Paulownia Flowers, the highest decoration bestowed in this spring's ceremony. Emperor Akihito gave the spring awards to the top 17 recipients, including Ito.