Hiroshima residents float paper lanters
epa03344869 Paper lanterns floating on the River Motoyasu to comfort souls of a-bomb victims past the Atomic Bomb Dome (R) destroyed by the world's first atomic bombing in 1945, at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, western Japan, 06 August, 2012. Hiroshima marked the 67th anniversary of the world's first usage of nuclear weapon at the end of the World War Two in 1945. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA
Hiroshima residents offer a prayer for a-bomb victims
epa03343904 A Hiroshima a-bomb survivor offers a prayer for a-bomb victims by the world's first atomic bombing in 1945 at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, western Japan, 06 August, 2012. Hiroshima marked the 67th anniversary of the world's first usage of nuclear weapon at the end of the World War Two in 1945. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA
Hiroshima atomic bombing anniversary
epa03337571 The Atomic Bomb Dome, destroyed by the world's first atomic bombing on 06 August 1945 at the end of World War Two, is lightened up in Hiroshima, western Japan, 03 August 2012. Hiroshima will commemorate the 67th anniversary of the bombing with attendance of Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of former US president Harry Truman who ordered to use the world's first usage of nuclear weapon against Japan (Hiroshima and Nagasaki) in 1945. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA
Nomura Holdings CEO steps down
epa03318048 Nomura Holdings Inc. Group newly appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Koji Nagai (R) is surrounded by reporters and cameramen after a news conference at Nomura's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, 26 July 2012. Former CEO Kenichi Watanabe announced he was stepping down to take responsibility for a scandal involving insider information leakages. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA
Nomura Holdings CEO steps down
epa03318034 Nomura Holdings Inc. Group newly appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Koji Nagai attends a news conference with outgoing CEO Kenichi Watanabe at Nomura Holding's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, 26 July 2012. Watanabe announced he was stepping down to take responsibility for a scandal involving insider information leakages. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA
Japan stocks drop on weak euro, eurozone debt woes
epa03317084 A freight ship unloads containers at dusk at an international freight terminal for import in Tokyo, Japan, 25 July 2012. Japanese shares fell sharply 25 July with export-oriented issues pulled down by the yen's rise against the euro as concerns about the eurozone debt problems grew. Exports fell as the yen climbed against the euro. The European currency briefly fell to 94.12 yen in New York on 24 July, the lowest since November 2000. A stronger yen makes Japanese goods more expensive overseas and hurts repatriated revenues. Japan's exports declined 2.3 per cent from a year earlier in June for the first drop in four months to 5.64 trillion yen (72.2 billion dollars), amid growing concerns about the eurozone debt crisis and a slowdown in China's economy, the government said. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA
Heatstroke victims hospitalized in Japan
epa03309770 Children try to get cool on a fountain at a park in central Tokyo, Japan, 18 July 2012 as the temperature rose into 33 centigrade degrees. The number of people hospitalized suffering heatstroke between 09 to 15 July increased than the previous week. Nearly 2,500 people were hospitalized by heatstroke all over Japan and 218 only in Tokyo in the week of 09 to 15, Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency announced on 18 June. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA
Dalai Lama Dalai Lama receives a greeting from a baby
epa02994131 Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama on board a Tohoku Shinkansen bullet train and a baby held by a mother touch through the window at Koriyama railway station, northern Japan, 06 November 2011 after delivering a speech to Fukushima residents racked with the aftermath of the March 11 tsunami and radiation damage caused by the accident at Fukushima nuclear power plant. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA
Tokyo Skytree
epa03234554 Commuters walk past Japan's biggest new landmark, Tokyo Skytree (Background C), 634-meter high, in downtown of Tokyo, Japan, 24 May, 2012. The Tokyo sightseeing spot has attracted many tourists before the formal opening on 22 May. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA
The annular eclipse of the sun
epa03228075 People peer through special glasses to see the annular eclipse of the sun in Tokyo, Japan, 21 May 2012. The eclipse was visible from China to Texas, USA. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA
Residents and relatives of Korean victims of the atomic bombing comfort souls of victims
epa02855503 Residents and relatives of Korean victims of the atomic bombing comfort souls of victims around the monument for Korean victims at Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, western Japan, 05 August 2011, on the eve of the 66th anniversary of the world's first atomic bombing in 1945 during the World War Two. It is said about 20,000 Koreans living in Hiroshima were killed by the world's first atomic bombing. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA
Major League Baseball opening
epa03162349 Oakland Athletics' shortstop Cliff Pennington (R) throws the ball to the first baseman for a double play attempt as Seattle Mariners' catcher Miguel Olivo (bottom) slides into the second base in the fifth inning of the opening game of the Major League Baseball 2012 season at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, 28 March 2012. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA
Ichiro Suzuki of Seattle Mariners
epa03160854 Ichiro Suzuki of Seattle Mariners smiles during an official workout at Tokyo Dome in preparation for the opening game of the Major League Baseball 2012 season in Tokyo, Japan, 27 March 2012. The Mariners and Oakland Athletics will open their 2012 season in Tokyo on March 28. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA
Japan marks first anniversary of quake, tsunami and nuclear crisis
epa03140529 Flowers are placed for victims killed by the tsunami following the Great East Japan Earthquake 11 March 2011 at a beach of the Pacific Ocean in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, 11 March 2012. Japan on 11 March marked the first anniversary of a magnitude-9 earthquake and tsunami in the north-eastern part of the country, which triggered the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station disaster, the world's worst nuclear disaster since the 1986 Chernobyl accident. More than 19,000 people died or went missing in the twin natural disasters, which also destroyed more than 370,000 houses. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA
Japan earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown anniversary
epa03140505 Bhuddhist monks form a line on the water's edge to comfort souls of victims killed by tsunami following the Great East Japan Earthquake 11 March, 2011, on the beach of the Pacific Ocean at Arahama in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, 11 March, 2012, the first anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami, killing15,850 people and missing 3,287 people. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA
Warm temperature in many parts of Japan
Cherry blossoms are seein in Tokyo Japan
Japan Considers 107 Billion Dollars Extra Spending To Stoke Economy
Japan's highest peak of Mt Fuji emerges at dusk, seen through Shinjuku skyscrapers in Tokyo, Japan
Rebuilding their livelihood one year after the tsunami: Oyster farming cooperative in Yamada
epa03129157 (16/20) Oyster farmers Masashi Shirano (C), chief of aqua farming at the Fishery Cooperative Association of Yamada town, and his son Takashi (R) speed to another farming raft as they harvest oyster with their colleague off tsunami-devastated fishing port town of Yamada, Iwate Prefecture, northern Japan, 15 February 2012. As a result of the tsunami on 11 March 2011, 770 of about 17,000 residents were either killed or recorded missing. Aqua farming which is the main industry in the town was devastated by the tsunami. Many aqua farmers lost their houses, fishing vessels, farming rafts and fishery workshops. The remaining oyster farmers decided to work together, pool resources and rebuild their business as a cooperative. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA PLEASE SEE ADVISORY(epa03129141) FOR FULL FEATURE TEXT
Elderly tsunami survivor spends at evacuation center
epa02773846 Misako Abe, 88-year-old tsunami survivor, prepares her medicines at an evacuation center in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, northern Japan, 10 June 2011, on the eve of three month anniversary of the March 11 magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami devastating northern Japan. Report state that Abe will move to a temporary house next week after spending three months at a makeshift evacuation center. More than 15,000 people were killed and about 8,300 are still missing by the earthquake and tsunami. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA
FIS World Cup ski jumping large hill individual competition in Sapporo
epa03081483 Daiki Ito of Japan soars during the official practice session and qualification of the 18th FIS World Cup ski jumping large hill individual competition in Sapporo, northern Japan, 27 January 2012. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA
People wash money in water wishing increase of fortune
epa03050795 Akemi Takanezawa (R) and Sayaka Ikeda (C) are washing bills of Japanese yen (10,000 yen and 1,000 yen) with water for purification at Zeniarai-Benten shrine in Kamakura, south of Tokyo, Japan, 06 January 2012 at the start of the New Year. It is believed that money washed in sacred water at the shrine will increase ones fortune. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA
Japan's 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami aftermath
epa02684068 Yasu Iwabuchi pauses for a moment after visiting the remains of a relative's house in the tsunami-devastated city of Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, northern Japan, 12 April, 2011. More than 27,000 people have been killed or gone missing after a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit the region on 11 March. The death toll is expected to rise as the search and recovery operations for the bodies continue. Some 15,000 survivors are still living in the evacuation centers as a series of aftershocks keep rocking the country. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA
Japan's 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami aftermath
epa02683884 A tsunami survivor walks through a street in the tsunami-devastated city of Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, northern Japan, 12 April 2011. More than 27,000 people have been killed or gone missing after a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit the region on 11 March. The death toll is expected to rise as the search and recovery operations for the bodies continue. Some 15,000 survivors are still living in the evacuation centers as a series of aftershocks keep rocking the country. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA
A Japanese schoolgirl's story of survival, loss and remembrance
epa03138268 (07/26) A picture dated 11 April 2011 shows Chiyoko Sasaki cling to the coffin of her husband Sueo, at a makeshift mortuary at Kitakami in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, after she identified her husband at the mortuary. Chiyoko lost husband and her son-in-law Takashi in the tsunami. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA PLEASE SEE ADVISORY epa03138261 FOR FULL FEATURE TEXT
Kuniko Komuro, 69, wipes away mud on her niece's photo album with her hands
epa02647646 Kuniko Komuro, 69, wipes away mud on her niece's photo album with her hands near Okawa elementary school in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, northern Japan, about 350km north of Tokyo, 22 March 2011. Only 24 of 84 schoolchildren and 13 teachers have been confirmed as alive by the school. After the magnitude 9.0 earthquake hitting northern Japan, every schoolchildren and teachers prepared for evacuation at the school yard. Some of schoolchildren left the school for their houses with their family members. When rest of schoolchildren were waiting for their family members, tsunamis attacked. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA
Catholic A-bomb survivor pray in Nagasaki
epa02278691 Elderly A-bomb survivor offer a prayer during a mass to comfort victims killed by the world's second and last atomic bombing in 1945 at Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki, western Japan, 09 August 2010, marking the 65th anniversary of the bombing. The cathedral was destroyed by the atomic bombing and rebuild later. About 8,500 of 12,000 catholics at the cathedral were estimated to be killed by the atomic bombing in 1945. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA
Residents in Hiroshima offer prayers for a-bomb victims
epa02275265 epa02274851 A-bomb survivors Tsuyuko Nakao (R), 92, and Kinuyo Ikegami, 77, comfort each other after offering prayers for victims killed by the world's first atomic bombing in 1945 in Hiroshima, western Japan, 06 August 2010, marking the 65th anniversary of the bombing. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA
Blaze and smokes rise from a petroleum refining plant
epa02631646 Flames and smoke rise from a petroleum refining plant next to a heating power station in Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture, northern Japan, about 220km north of Tokyo,13 March, 2011. This follows the strong earthquakes and tsunami which according to Japanese police could take more than 10,000 lives. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA
Winter Wildlife on Northern Japanese Island
Japanese red-crowned cranes in blustery conditions at Kushiro
Winter Wildlife on Northern Japanese Island
epa02718539 (28/30) Japanese red-crowned cranes in blustery conditions at Kushiro, an eastern city of Hokkaido, a northern island in Japan, 13 February 2011. The cranes overwinter on a river that does not freeze to protect themselves from their natural enemies like foxes, weasels, crows, Steller's sea eagles, white-tailed eagles and others. The estimated population of the red-crowned crane lies between 2,000 and 2,500 birds, with habitats in northern Japan, northeastern China, Mongolia, Korean Peninsula and eastern Russia. The population on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido is estimated at about 1,200 cranes. On 11 March 2011, a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit northeastern Japan. So far it appears that the disaster has not had any adverse effects on the animals' habitat on Hokkaiko. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA ***PLEASE REFER TO THE ADVISORY NOTICE (epa02718511) FOR COMPLETE FEATURE TEXT***
Winter Wildlife on Northern Japanese Island
Japanese red-crowned cranes sleep in their winter roost on a river in the morning at Kushiro
Winter Wildlife on Northern Japanese Island
Japanese red-crowned cranes fly out of their winter roost on a river in the early morning at Kushiro
Winter Wildlife on Northern Japanese Island
epa02718523 (12/30) Japanese red-crowned cranes sleep in their winter roost on a river in the morning at Kushiro, an eastern city of Hokkaido, northern island in Japan, 20 January 2011, as temperatures drop to minus 15 degrees Celsius. The cranes overwinter on a river that does not freeze to protect themselves from their natural enemies like foxes, weasels, crows, Steller's sea eagles, white-tailed eagles and others. The estimated population of the red-crowned crane lies between 2,000 and 2,500 birds, with habitats in northern Japan, northeastern China, Mongolia, Korean Peninsula and eastern Russia. The population on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido is estimated at about 1,200 cranes. On 11 March 2011, a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit northeastern Japan. So far it appears that the disaster has not had any adverse effects on the animals' habitat on Hokkaiko. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA ***PLEASE REFER TO THE ADVISORY NOTICE (epa02718511) FOR COMPLETE FEATURE TEXT***
Winter Wildlife on Northern Japanese Island
epa02718534 (23/30) Japanese red-crowned cranes fly out of their winter roost on a river in the early morning at Kushiro, an eastern city of Hokkaido, northern island in Japan, 20 January 2011, as temperatures drop to minus 15 degrees Celsius. The cranes overwinter on a river that does not freeze to protect themselves from their natural enemies like foxes, weasels, crows, Steller's sea eagles, white-tailed eagles and others. The estimated population of the red-crowned crane lies between 2,000 and 2,500 birds, with habitats in northern Japan, northeastern China, Mongolia, Korean Peninsula and eastern Russia. The population on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido is estimated at about 1,200 cranes. On 11 March 2011, a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit northeastern Japan. So far it appears that the disaster has not had any adverse effects on the animals' habitat on Hokkaiko. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA ***PLEASE REFER TO THE ADVISORY NOTICE (epa02718511) FOR COMPLETE FEATURE TEXT***
Cherry blossoms in full bloom in Tokyo
People on rowing boats view cherry blossoms in full bloom in Tokyo, Japan
Cherry blossoms in full bloom in Tokyo
epa02101835 People on rowing boats view cherry blossoms in full bloom in Tokyo, Japan, 02 April 2010. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA
Youngsters walk past paper lanterns for Mitama-matsuri summer festival in Tokyo
Paper lanterns are hung for Mitama-matsuri summer festival at Yasukuni Shrine, Japan's war shrine, in Tokyo, Japan
Japanese red-crowned cranes
Japanese red-crowned cranes sleeping at their winter roost of an ice-free river
Japanese red-crowned cranes
epa02030795 A picture made available on 14 February shows Japanese red-crowned cranes sleeping at their winter roost of an ice-free river in early morning at the temperature under minus 20 degrees Celcius in Tsurui, northern Japan, 22 January 2010. The crane, a species of animal designated for special protection as special Japanese natural treasure, survive at marshland of eastern Hokkaido, Japanese northern island, in spring, summer and autumn and move to feeding fields in winter as it' s difficult to take feed at frozen river and marshland in winter. About 1,000 cranes survive in the eastern part of Hokkaido island after about 15 cranes once were found in 1924. About 2,500 red-crowned cranes survive in China, Korean Peninsula, eastern Russia and eastern Hokkaido of northern Japanese island. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA