[Breaking News]Landslide in central Japan

AZUMINO, Japan, Aug. 9 Kyodo - Video taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Aug. 9, 2026, shows the site of a landslide in Azumino in Nagano Prefecture, central Japan. The landslide occurred on the night of Aug. 8, cutting off the only road leading to a nearby hot spring mountain resort and leaving about 390 people there stranded. (Kyodo)

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Landslide in central Japan

Landslide in central Japan

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Aug. 9, 2026, shows the site of a landslide in Azumino in Nagano Prefecture, central Japan. The landslide occurred on the night of Aug. 8, cutting off the only road leading to a nearby hot spring mountain resort and leaving about 390 people there stranded.

Landslide in central Japan

Landslide in central Japan

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Aug. 9, 2026, shows the site of a landslide in Azumino in Nagano Prefecture, central Japan. The landslide occurred on the night of Aug. 8, cutting off the only road leading to a nearby hot spring mountain resort and leaving about 390 people there stranded.

Landslide in central Japan

Landslide in central Japan

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Aug. 9, 2026, shows the site of a landslide in Azumino in Nagano Prefecture, central Japan. The landslide occurred on the night of Aug. 8, cutting off the only road leading to a nearby hot spring mountain resort and leaving about 390 people there stranded.

Landslide in central Japan

Landslide in central Japan

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Aug. 9, 2026, shows the site of a landslide in Azumino in Nagano Prefecture, central Japan. The landslide occurred on the night of Aug. 8, cutting off the only road leading to a nearby hot spring mountain resort and leaving about 390 people there stranded.

Aftermath of strong earthquake in Kumamoto

Aftermath of strong earthquake in Kumamoto

Photo taken on Aug. 7, 2026, shows a makeshift hot spring facility set up at an evacuation center in Yatsushiro in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, following a powerful earthquake that struck the region on July 28.

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Scenic route reopens in World Heritage Shiretoko area

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[Breaking News]Lawmakers at Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine

TOKYO, Japan, April 22 Kyodo - A cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers visits the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on the occasion of its three-day spring festival on April 22, 2026. (Kyodo)

Yasukuni shrine

TOKYO, Japan, April 21 Kyodo - Video shows the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on April 21, 2026, the first day of the three-day spring festival. (Kyodo)

Japan Princess Aiko at concert

Japan Princess Aiko at concert

Japan's Princess Aiko attends a spring concert of ancient Japanese gagaku court music at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on April 25, 2026. (Pool photo)

Japan Princess Aiko at concert

Japan Princess Aiko at concert

Japan's Princess Aiko attends a spring concert of ancient Japanese gagaku court music at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on April 25, 2026. (Pool photo)

Japan Princess Aiko at concert

Japan Princess Aiko at concert

Japan's Princess Aiko attends a spring concert of ancient Japanese gagaku court music at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on April 25, 2026. (Pool photo)

Japan Princess Aiko at concert

Japan Princess Aiko at concert

Japan's Princess Aiko attends a spring concert of ancient Japanese gagaku court music at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on April 25, 2026. (Pool photo)

Japan Princess Aiko at concert

Japan Princess Aiko at concert

Japan's Princess Aiko attends a spring concert of ancient Japanese gagaku court music at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on April 25, 2026. (Pool photo)

Ancient Japanese court music concert

Ancient Japanese court music concert

A spring concert of ancient Japanese gagaku court music is performed at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on April 25, 2026. (Pool photo)

Lawmakers at Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine

Lawmakers at Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine

Ichiro Aisawa (C), who heads a cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers, speaks during a press conference after the group visited the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on April 22, 2026, during its three-day spring festival.

Lawmakers at Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine

Lawmakers at Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine

Minoru Kiuchi (R), Japanese economic and fiscal policy minister, meets the press after visiting the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on April 22, 2026, during its three-day spring festival.

Lawmakers at Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine

Lawmakers at Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine

A cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers visits the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on the occasion of its three-day spring festival on April 22, 2026.

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Japanese lawmaker visits Yasukuni shrine

Japanese lawmaker visits Yasukuni shrine

Fumitake Fujita, co-leader of the Japan Innovation Party, a ruling coalition partner of the Liberal Democratic Party, visits the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on April 21, 2026, the first day of the three-day spring festival.

Japanese lawmaker visits Yasukuni shrine

Japanese lawmaker visits Yasukuni shrine

Fumitake Fujita, co-leader of the Japan Innovation Party, a ruling coalition partner of the Liberal Democratic Party, visits the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on April 21, 2026, the first day of the three-day spring festival.

Japanese lawmaker visits Yasukuni shrine

Japanese lawmaker visits Yasukuni shrine

Fumitake Fujita, co-leader of the Japan Innovation Party, a ruling coalition partner of the Liberal Democratic Party, speaks to the press after visiting the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on April 21, 2026, the first day of the three-day spring festival.

Japan PM Takaichi's ritual offering to Yasukuni shrine

Japan PM Takaichi's ritual offering to Yasukuni shrine

Photo taken at the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on April 21, 2026, shows the "masakaki" ritual offering (L) sent by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for the Shinto shrine's three-day spring festival. Takaichi, who had routinely visited the shrine before taking office last October, appears to have sent the offering instead of visiting.

Japan PM Takaichi's ritual offering to Yasukuni shrine

Japan PM Takaichi's ritual offering to Yasukuni shrine

Photo taken at the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on April 21, 2026, shows the "masakaki" ritual offering (L) sent by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for the Shinto shrine's three-day spring festival. Takaichi, who had routinely visited the shrine before taking office last October, appears to have sent the offering instead of visiting.

Yasukuni shrine

Yasukuni shrine

Photo shows the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on April 21, 2026, the first day of the three-day spring festival.

Yasukuni shrine

Yasukuni shrine

Photo shows the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on April 21, 2026, the first day of the three-day spring festival.

Japanese imperial garden party

Japanese imperial garden party

(from L, back) Japanese Crown Princess Kiko, Princess Aiko and Princess Kako attend a spring imperial garden party at the Akasaka Imperial Gardens in Tokyo on April 17, 2026. Walking in front of them is Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

Japanese imperial garden party

Japanese imperial garden party

(from L, back) Japanese Crown Princess Kiko, Princess Aiko and Princess Kako attend a spring imperial garden party at the Akasaka Imperial Gardens in Tokyo on April 17, 2026. Walking in front of them is Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

Japanese imperial garden party

Japanese imperial garden party

Milan Cortina Olympic men's snowboard big air gold medalist Kira Kimura (far R) chats with Japanese Crown Prince Fumihito (front, 2nd from L) and Crown Princess Kiko (front, L) during a spring imperial garden party at the Akasaka Imperial Gardens in Tokyo on April 17, 2026.

Japanese imperial garden party

Japanese imperial garden party

A spring imperial garden party is held at the Akasaka Imperial Gardens in Tokyo on April 17, 2026, with Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and other imperial family members in attendance.

Japanese imperial garden party

Japanese imperial garden party

A spring imperial garden party is held at the Akasaka Imperial Gardens in Tokyo on April 17, 2026, with Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and other imperial family members in attendance. (Pool photo)

Japanese imperial garden party

Japanese imperial garden party

"Gagaku" ancient Japanese court music is performed during a spring imperial garden party at the Akasaka Imperial Gardens in Tokyo on April 17, 2026. (Pool photo)

Japanese imperial garden party

Japanese imperial garden party

Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako attend a spring imperial garden party at the Akasaka Imperial Gardens in Tokyo on April 17, 2026.

Japanese imperial garden party

Japanese imperial garden party

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (2nd from L) and Empress Masako (far L) chat with invitees during a spring imperial garden party at the Akasaka Imperial Gardens in Tokyo on April 17, 2026. (Pool photo)

Japanese imperial garden party

Japanese imperial garden party

Milan Cortina Olympic pairs figure skating gold medalists Riku Miura (R) and Ryuichi Kihara pose for a photo during a spring imperial garden party at the Akasaka Imperial Gardens in Tokyo on April 17, 2026. The pair announced their retirement from competition the same day. (Pool photo)

Japanese imperial garden party

Japanese imperial garden party

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (far R) and Empress Masako (2nd from R) chat with invitees during a spring imperial garden party at the Akasaka Imperial Gardens in Tokyo on April 17, 2026.

Japanese imperial garden party

Japanese imperial garden party

Milan Cortina Olympic pairs figure skating gold medalists Riku Miura (R) and Ryuichi Kihara meet the press during a spring imperial garden party at the Akasaka Imperial Gardens in Tokyo on April 17, 2026. The pair announced their retirement from competition the same day.

Japanese imperial garden party

Japanese imperial garden party

Milan Cortina Olympic pairs figure skating gold medalists Riku Miura (R) and Ryuichi Kihara meet the press during a spring imperial garden party at the Akasaka Imperial Gardens in Tokyo on April 17, 2026. The pair announced their retirement from competition the same day.

Japanese imperial garden party

Japanese imperial garden party

Milan Cortina Olympic pairs figure skating gold medalists Riku Miura (L) and Ryuichi Kihara attend a spring imperial garden party at the Akasaka Imperial Gardens in Tokyo on April 17, 2026. The pair announced their retirement from competition the same day.

Japanese imperial garden party

Japanese imperial garden party

Japanese Crown Princess Kiko (C) chats with an invitee in sign language during a spring imperial garden party at the Akasaka Imperial Gardens in Tokyo on April 17, 2026. (Pool photo)

Japanese imperial garden party

Japanese imperial garden party

Milan Cortina Olympic speed skating bronze medalist Miho Takagi (C) chats with Japanese Crown Prince Fumihito (2nd from L) and Crown Princess Kiko (far L) during a spring imperial garden party at the Akasaka Imperial Gardens in Tokyo on April 17, 2026.