Chichibu Night Festival is held in Chichibu in Saitama Prefecture, eastern Japan, on Dec. 3, 2022, after the annual event was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Kyodo)
Shogi player Sota Fujii (facing camera) reflects on Game 6 of a best-of-seven series for shogi's most prestigious Ryuo title, which he defended by beating Akihito Hirose 4-2 at a traditional Japanese hotel in the Kagoshima Prefecture city of Ibusuki, southwestern Japan, on Dec. 3, 2022. (Kyodo)
Japanese "maiko" traditional professional entertainers visit Minamiza Theatre in Kyoto to watch a Kabuki performance on Dec. 5, 2022. It is a year-end custom for them to watch the show to improve their traditional shamisen three-stringed instrument and dancing skills. (Kyodo)
Croatia players (top) celebrate after a 3-1 penalty shootout win over Japan in a World Cup round of 16 football match at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, on Dec. 5, 2022. (Kyodo)
Japan captain Maya Yoshida (2nd from R) comforts Takumi Minamino, who dropped down on all fours after a 3-1 penalty shootout defeat to Croatia in a World Cup round of 16 football match at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, on Dec. 5, 2022. Minamino missed Japan's first spot kick during the penalty shootout, which followed a 1-1 draw after extra time. (Kyodo)
Japan supporters react at a sports bar in Tokyo's Shibuya area in the small hours of Dec. 6, 2022 after Japan's 3-1 penalty shootout defeat to Croatia in a World Cup round of 16 football match at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar. (Kyodo)
The Chinese national flag is flown at half-mast at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on Dec. 6, 2022, as China holds a memorial service for Jiang Zemin, a former president who died the previous week at the age of 96. (Kyodo)
People observe a moment of silence in front of the former residence of former Chinese President Jiang Zemin in Yangzhou in China's eastern Jiangsu Province on Dec. 6, 2022. His memorial service was held in Beijing the same day. (Kyodo)
Photo taken at the head office of doll maker Kyugetsu in Tokyo on Dec. 6, 2022, shows traditional Japanese "hagoita" battledores decorated with images of some of 2022's newsmakers, including Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September at age 96 after 70 years on the throne. (Kyodo)
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon watches as a penalty by Morocco's Achraf Hakimi (L) hits the back of the net during a shootout to decide a World Cup round of 16 football match at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, on Dec. 6, 2022. (Kyodo)
Photo taken Dec. 6, 2022, shows F-15 fighter jets of Japan's Air Self-Defense Force at Clark Air Base in Mabalacat, Philippines. (Kyodo)
A rainbow arches across the sky during a ceremony commemorating the 81st anniversary of Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor in Honolulu on Dec. 7, 2022. (Kyodo)
Japanese doctor Hiroya Sugano (2nd from L) pours bourbon whiskey from a World War II-blackened canteen into the waters of Pearl Harbor in Honolulu as an offering to the spirits of the fallen on Dec. 6, 2022. (Kyodo)
Making of "hamaya" decorative arrows for New Year is under way at Atsuta Jingu shrine in Nagoya, central Japan, on Dec. 7, 2022. An "ema" votive tablet with an illustration of a rabbit is attached to each arrow as 2023 is the year of the rabbit in the Chinese zodiac. (Kyodo)
Making of "hamaya" decorative arrows for New Year is under way at Atsuta Jingu shrine in Nagoya, central Japan, on Dec. 7, 2022. An "ema" votive tablet with an illustration of a rabbit is attached to each arrow as 2023 is the year of the rabbit in the Chinese zodiac. (Kyodo)
Japan supporters look downcast at a sports bar in Tokyo's Shibuya area in the small hours of Dec. 6, 2022 after Japan's 3-1 penalty shootout defeat to Croatia in a World Cup round of 16 football match at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
Croatia players (top) celebrate after a 3-1 penalty shootout win over Japan in a World Cup round of 16 football match at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, on Dec. 5, 2022. (Kyodo)
Japan captain Maya Yoshida (2nd from R) comforts Takumi Minamino, who dropped down on all fours after a 3-1 penalty shootout defeat to Croatia in a World Cup round of 16 football match at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, on Dec. 5, 2022. Minamino missed Japan's first spot kick during the penalty shootout, which followed a 1-1 draw after extra time. (Kyodo)
People observe a moment of silence in front of the former residence of former Chinese President Jiang Zemin in Yangzhou in China's eastern Jiangsu Province on Dec. 6, 2022. His memorial service was held in Beijing the same day. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
Photo taken at the head office of doll maker Kyugetsu in Tokyo on Dec. 6, 2022, shows traditional Japanese "hagoita" battledores decorated with images of some of 2022's newsmakers, including Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (R in front row), who died in September at age 96 after 70 years on the throne. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
The Chinese national flag is flown at half-mast at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on Dec. 6, 2022, as China holds a memorial service for Jiang Zemin, a former president who died the previous week at the age of 96. (Kyodo)
Photo taken Dec. 6, 2022, shows F-15 fighter jets of Japan's Air Self-Defense Force at Clark Air Base in Mabalacat, Philippines. (Kyodo)
Japanese "maiko" traditional professional entertainers visit Minamiza Theatre in Kyoto to watch a Kabuki performance on Dec. 5, 2022. It is a year-end custom for them to watch the show to improve their traditional shamisen three-stringed instrument and dancing skills. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon watches as a penalty by Morocco's Achraf Hakimi (L) hits the back of the net during a shootout to decide a World Cup round of 16 football match at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, on Dec. 6, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
