Wooden "speedboats" rowed by shirtless men compete in a traditional boating race as part of the Mifune festival on the Kumano River running near World Heritage-listed Kumano Hayatama Taisha Grand Shrine in Shingu in the western Japan prefecture of Wakayama on Oct. 16, 2024. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.