Men hold up burning torches during a traditional festival dating back about 1,400 years at Kamikura shrine in Shingu in the western Japan prefecture of Wakayama on Feb. 6, 2025. Kyodo/Naoya Osato

Men hold up burning torches during a traditional festival dating back about 1,400 years at Kamikura shrine in Shingu in the western Japan prefecture of Wakayama on Feb. 6, 2025. Kyodo/Naoya Osato

KYODO PHOTOS OF THE MONTH

February 2025

An aurora is observed by the crew of the Japanese icebreaker Shirase in Antarctica in February of 2025. Kyodo/Accompanying  journalist

An aurora is observed by the crew of the Japanese icebreaker Shirase in Antarctica in February of 2025. Kyodo/Accompanying  journalist

"Maiko" traditional Japanese entertainers scatter roasted beans during a bean-throwing event at Yasaka shrine in Kyoto, western Japan, on Feb. 1, 2025. Kyodo/Kimio Ida

"Maiko" traditional Japanese entertainers scatter roasted beans during a bean-throwing event at Yasaka shrine in Kyoto, western Japan, on Feb. 1, 2025. Kyodo/Kimio Ida

Japan's H3 rocketNo. 5, carrying a quasi-zenith satellite aimed at improving the accuracy of global positioning data for various applications, lifts off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Minamitane in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Feb. 2, 2025, Kyodo/Takumi Sato

Japan's H3 rocketNo. 5, carrying a quasi-zenith satellite aimed at improving the accuracy of global positioning data for various applications, lifts off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Minamitane in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Feb. 2, 2025, Kyodo/Takumi Sato

Shinnosuke Yasuumi of Japan performs in the final of the 53rd Prix de Lausanne ballet competition in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Feb. 8, 2025. He placed third. Kyodo/Yuki Matsui

Shinnosuke Yasuumi of Japan performs in the final of the 53rd Prix de Lausanne ballet competition in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Feb. 8, 2025. He placed third. Kyodo/Yuki Matsui

Thousands of men wearing only "fundoshi" undergarments jostle during the traditional naked festival at Konomiya shrine in Inazawa, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on Feb. 10, 2025. Kyodo/Shigeyuki Inakuma

Thousands of men wearing only "fundoshi" undergarments jostle during the traditional naked festival at Konomiya shrine in Inazawa, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on Feb. 10, 2025. Kyodo/Shigeyuki Inakuma

Red-crowned cranes, designated as a Japanese special national treasure, interact on their snow-covered feeding grounds in the Hokkaido village of Tsurui, northern Japan, on Feb. 17, 2025. (Kyodo/Junko Ozaki)

Red-crowned cranes, designated as a Japanese special national treasure, interact on their snow-covered feeding grounds in the Hokkaido village of Tsurui, northern Japan, on Feb. 17, 2025. (Kyodo/Junko Ozaki)

People offer prayers at St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv on Feb. 22, 2025. (Kyodo/Yohei Fukai)

People offer prayers at St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv on Feb. 22, 2025. (Kyodo/Yohei Fukai)

Dan Ikarashi competes en route to winning the youth men's giant slalom at the National Sports Festival Winter Games Ski Competition in Kazuno, Akita Prefecture, on Feb. 16, 2025. (Kyodo/Miki Matsuzaki)

Dan Ikarashi competes en route to winning the youth men's giant slalom at the National Sports Festival Winter Games Ski Competition in Kazuno, Akita Prefecture, on Feb. 16, 2025. (Kyodo/Miki Matsuzaki)

A female participant attempts to lift a 90-kilogram gigantic "kagami mochi" rice cake during an annual competition at Daigo-ji temple in Kyoto on Feb. 23, 2025. (Kyodo/Nana Yumura)

A female participant attempts to lift a 90-kilogram gigantic "kagami mochi" rice cake during an annual competition at Daigo-ji temple in Kyoto on Feb. 23, 2025. (Kyodo/Nana Yumura)

Other visual stories

Shinkansen Part 2 of 2- The dream super limited express marks six decades

As 2024 marks 60 years since the bullet train was first put into service, this visual story traces the history of what has become one of the most recognizable symbols of postwar Japan.

Shinkansen Part 1 of 2 - The dream super limited express marks six decades

As 2024 marks 60 years since the bullet train was first put into service, this visual story traces the history of what has become one of the most recognizable symbols of postwar Japan.

Night factory tours provide history lesson of Japan's modern economy

Hundreds of lights emit an ethereal glow while a flame billows from a slender chimney that towHundreds of lights emit an ethereal glow while a flame billows from a slender chimney...............

Taste the world - Home away from home in Tokyo -

Tokyo's foreign residents are bringing the flavors of their respective homelands to their adopted home, enriching the Japanese capital with their thriving restaurants and helping them integrate in the metropolis.

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