YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - AUGUST 21: Japan Martime Self-Defense Force's destroyer Ise is launched at IHI Marine United Yokohama factory on August 21, 2009 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. Ise is a 13950 ton destroyer and becomes Japan's largest destroyer. Getty Images logo Getty Images 5 months ago

YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - AUGUST 21: Japan Martime Self-Defense Force's destroyer Ise is launched at IHI Marine United Yokohama factory on August 21, 2009 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. Ise is a 13950 ton destroyer and becomes Japan's largest destroyer.

More Photos of Japan

View as Grid »

  1. Junya Kono, right, and Tomoharu Fujimaki, window cleaner dressed as Santa Claus and reindeer pose for photographers at a shopping mall in Tokyo, Japan, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009.
  2. In this photo released by the Institute of Cetacean Research of Japan, the anti-whaling group's Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's newly-acquired vessel Ady Gil tows a rope while sailing close to the Japanese whaling ship Shonan Maru No. 2 during their encounter in the Antarctic early Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009. The Ady Gil is a high-speed trimaran previously known as the Earthrace that recently set the world record for global circumnavigation.
  3. TOKYO - DECEMBER 23: A crowd of people applaud during a ceremony to celebrate Emperor Akihito's 76th birthday at the Imperial Palace on December 23, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. Akihito acceded to the thrown on January 7, 1989.
  4. TOKYO - DECEMBER 23: Well-wishers arrive for the Emperor's 76th birthday at the Imperial Palace on December 23, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. Akihito acceded to the thrown on January 7, 1989.
  5. TOKYO - DECEMBER 23: (L-R) Crown Princess Masako and Crown Prince Naruhito make a public appearance to celebrate the Emperor's 76th birthday at the Imperial Palace on December 23, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. Akihito acceded to the thrown on January 7, 1989.
  6. TOKYO - DECEMBER 23: A Japanese woman waves the national flag to celebrate Emperor Akihito's 76th birthday at the Imperial Palace on December 23, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. Akihito acceded to the thrown on January 7, 1989.
  7. TOKYO - DECEMBER 23: Japanese Emperor Akihito greets to the well-wishers gathered to celebrate the Emperor's 76th birthday at the Imperial Palace on December 23, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. Akihito acceded to the thrown on January 7, 1989.
  8. Japan's Emperor Akihito (L) and Empress Michiko wave to well-wishers as they celebrate the monarch's 76th birthday at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo December 23, 2009.
  9. Japan's Emperor Akihito waves to well-wishers as he celebrates his 76th birthday at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo December 23, 2009.
  10. Japan's Emperor Akihito is seen through banners of right-wing groups as he makes a speech to well-wishers at an event to celebrate his 76th birthday at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo December 23, 2009. The banner reads: "Emperor".
  11. Well-wishers wave Japanese national flags to celebrate Japan's Emperor Akihito's 76th birthday at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo December 23, 2009.
  12. Policemen and imperial palace officials escort well-wishers attending an event to celebrate Japan's Emperor Akihito's 76th birthday at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo December 23, 2009. The characters on the flags read: "Banzai (Hurrah for) Emperor".
  13. A Japanese businessman takes a picture during the first Iraq-Japan Economic Conference at Baghdad's International Airport December 20, 2009. Baghdad has long called for foreign firms to help rebuild Iraq, but in a country where the word "Japanese" is a byword for high quality, companies from Japan are especially dear to Iraqi hearts. Picture taken December 20, 2009.
  14. Visitors walk through Christmas illuminations at a Tokyo park, Japan, Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009.
  15. Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama attends a meeting with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili at the premier's official residence in Tokyo December 22, 2009. Support for Hatoyama's 3-month-old government has sunk as low as just below 50 percent as doubts grow about the premier's leadership on the economy and diplomacy.
  16. TOKYO - DECEMBER 22: Saeed Jalili (L), Secretary of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) of Iran, shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (R) at Hatoyama's official residence on December 22, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. Jalili is in Japan for five days for an exchange of opinions on Iran's nuclear issues as well as the countries bilateral relationship.

Explore Photos of Related Topics

Recent Photos From The Wire

  1. The Endeavour and Expedition 22 crew pose for a photo after the two crafts docked in this image from NASA TV February 10, 2010. The crew (front row L-R) Expedition 22 Commander Jeff Williams, STS-130 Commander George Zamka, Kathryn Hire,and Robert Behnken. (Row two L-R) Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Soichi Noguchi, Stephen Robinsonin, Nicholas Patrick of England and NASA astronaut T.J. Creamer. (Row three L-R) flight engineer Oleg Kotov and Pilot Terry Virts.
  2. JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 10: Red Bull Racing drivers Mark Webber (R) of Australia and Sebastian Vettel (L) of Germany unveil the new RB6 during winter testing at the at the Circuito De Jerez on February 10, 2010 in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.
  3. Employees inspect solar panels at a workshop in Chint Solar Co. Ltd. factory in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province February 10, 2010. Chinese wind and solar companies told a renewable energy conference on Thursday they were looking abroad for burgeoning markets in renewable energy.
  4. Expedition 22 Flight Engineer Maxim Suraev (Front) speaks in Russian as he films a movie during the arrival of the STS 130 crew aboard the Harmony module of the International Space Station in this image from NASA TV February 10, 2010.
  5. JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 10: (L-R) Red Bull Racing Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey, Red Bull Racing driver Mark Webber of Australia, Red Bull Racing driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner unveil the new RB6 during winter testing at the at the Circuito De Jerez on February 10, 2010 in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.
  6. JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 10: Red Bull Racing drivers Mark Webber (L) of Australia and Sebastian Vettel (R) of Germany unveil the new RB6 during winter testing at the at the Circuito De Jerez on February 10, 2010 in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.
  7. The Olympic rings are illuminated next to the Medal Plaza for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics as people stroll at the pedestrian zone in Whistler, British Columbia early morning February 10, 2010.
  8. JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 10: (L-R) Red Bull Racing Chief Designer Rob Marshall, Red Bull Racing Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey, Red Bull Racing driver Mark Webber of Australia, Red Bull Racing driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany, Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner and Red Bull Racing Head of Aerodynamics Peter Prodromou unveil the new RB6 during winter testing at the at the Circuito De Jerez on February 10, 2010 in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.
  9. JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 10: (L-R) Red Bull Racing Chief Designer Rob Marshall, Red Bull Racing Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey, Red Bull Racing driver Mark Webber of Australia, Red Bull Racing driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany, Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner and Red Bull Racing Head of Aerodynamics Peter Prodromou unveil the new RB6 during winter testing at the at the Circuito De Jerez on February 10, 2010 in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.
  10. JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 10: Red Bull Racing driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany attends the unveiling of the new RB6 during winter testing at the at the Circuito De Jerez on February 10, 2010 in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.
  11. Protesters supporting defeated presidential candidate Gen. Sarath Fonseka shout slogans against government during a street clash in in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010. Government supporters hurled stones at opposition activists protesting the arrest of their defeated presidential candidate in Sri Lanka's capital Wednesday, in scattered street battles that prompted volleys of tear gas from police.
  12. In this undated photo provided by Xue Mingkai's mother Wang Shuqing, Xue Mingkai, dressed as a security worker, poses for a photo in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong province. Xue, a 20-year-old factory worker who joined a banned political party because he was unhappy with one-party rule in China, was sentenced to jail for 18 months Wednesday Feb. 10, 2010, his mother said.
  13. A pro-government protester hurls a stone towards opposition protesters and supporters of the defeated presidential candidate Gen. Sarath Fonseka during a street clash in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010. Government supporters hurled stones at opposition activists protesting the arrest of their defeated presidential candidate in Sri Lanka's capital Wednesday, in scattered street battles that prompted volleys of tear gas from police.
  14. Honda Motor Co. headquarters, top, is reflected on the windshield of a Honda vehicle on display, bottom, in Tokyo, Japan, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010. Honda Motor Co. says it is adding 17,000 more cars in Japan and elsewhere to an existing global recall for faulty airbags, bringing the latest round of recalls to 437,000. The Feb. 10, 2010 announcement in Tokyo came after Honda said Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010, that it is adding more than 378,000 cars to the recall in the U.S. and Canada.
  15. Hindu devotees offer prayers after they take a ritual dip in River Ganges during the months-long Hindu festival Kumbh Mela, in Haridwar, India, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010. The festival, which is celebrated every three years, and rotates among four Indian holy cities is expected to attract more than 10 million people.
  16. A woman walks past the gate of Myanmar's notorious Insein Prison, on the outskirts of Yangon Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010, in Myanmar. A Myanmar court ordered a U.S. citizen Wednesday to serve three years of hard labor at the prison for entering the military-ruled country with forged documents and undeclared foreign currency.