Fireworks synchronized with music songs, including the official theme song for the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, light up the night sky above Izumisano in Osaka Prefecture. (Kyodo)
Japan's Princess Kako, niece of Emperor Naruhito, is in Peru for an official visit on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the countries. Her trip included a visit to the ancient Inca ruins at Machu Picchu. (Kyodo)
People take part in the Rainbow Parade in Fukuoka to promote understanding for LGBTQ and other sexual minorities. About 1,000 participants marched about three kilometers during the hour-long rally. (Kyodo)
Sakura becomes the third-generation honorary cat stationmaster at Aizu Railway's Ashinomaki Onsen Station in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture. (Kyodo)
A calligrapher uses a mixture of sake and ink to write the names of kabuki performers on a "maneki" wooden signboard in Kyoto for the year-end show at Minamiza Theater. (Kyodo)
Snow crabs are unloaded at Tsuiyama port in Toyooka, Hyogo Prefecture, as the snow crab fishing season begins west of Toyama Prefecture in the Sea of Japan. (Kyodo)
Vibrant autumn foliage of Enkianthus perulatus shrubs, known as dodan-tsutsuji in Japanese, turns bright red at Ankoku-ji temple in Toyooka in Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan. The temple will be open to visitors through Nov. 22. (Kyodo)
Tokyo-born giant panda Xiang Xiang is shown to the Japanese press at a giant panda research center in China's Sichuan Province. The 6-year-old female panda was put on public view there in early October following her arrival in China in February. (Kyodo)
A rare "Diamond Fuji" view from the Tokyo Skytree observatory in the Japanese capital shows the sun sparkling like a diamond above the summit of Mt. Fuji, Japan's highest peak, during sunset. (Kyodo)
Firefighters carry out a water drill at Sensoji Temple in Tokyo ahead of the Nov. 9-15 fire prevention campaign. (Kyodo)
Workers at long-established Japanese pickles producer Daiyasu Co. make "senmaizuke" pickled sliced turnips in Kyoto. (Kyodo)
A preview of a flower-themed illumination show using about 1 million lights is held at Tottori Hanakairo flower park in Nambu in Tottori Prefecture, western Japan. (Kyodo)
A craftsman puts the finishing touches to a "Daruma" doll, seen as a symbol of perseverance and good luck for the New Year, at his shop in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. The hand-painted green and gold Daruma have been designed to resemble dragons as 2024 is the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac. (Kyodo)
Ozeki Takakeisho (R) takes part in a practice bout against sekiwake Kotonowaka in Fukuoka ahead of the Nov. 12-26 Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in the southwestern Japan city. Takakeisho is targeting his second straight championship title, having won the Autumn tourney in a playoff in September in Tokyo. (Kyodo)
Japanese figure skater Shoma Uno, the men's world champion, takes part in official practice for the Cup of China in Chongqing, the fourth leg of the International Skating Union's Grand Prix series. (Kyodo)
Former House of Representatives Speaker Hiroyuki Hosoda dies at age 79, just weeks after the veteran Japanese lawmaker stepped down from the position. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reacted to his death. (Kyodo)
The Japanese icebreaker Shirase leaves the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Yokosuka base south of Tokyo for an expedition to Antarctica. Expeditioners are slated to fly out later and board the ship from a port in western Australia in late November. They are expected to reach Japan's Syowa Station in late December. (Kyodo)
