Here is a selection of Kyodo News photos taken this week in Japan and beyond.
People view cherry blossoms in full bloom at an avenue extending for 1 kilometer on Tokyo's Meguro River as paper lanterns are lit up on March 25, 2023. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
People pose for a photo in front of cherry blossoms in full bloom at an avenue extending for 1 kilometer on Tokyo's Meguro River as paper lanterns are lit up on March 25, 2023. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
Visitors walk down Inui Street within the Imperial Palace grounds in Tokyo in the rain on March 25, 2023, the day the route opened to the public for cherry-blossom viewing for the first time in four years. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
Photo taken on March 25, 2023, shows cherry blossoms on Inui Street within the Imperial Palace grounds in Tokyo, on the day the route opened to the public in the spring for the first time in four years. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
Ryota Murata, the first Japanese boxer to win both an Olympic and professional world championship, speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on March 28, 2023, in which he announced his retirement. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
File photo taken on Aug. 11, 2012 shows Japanese boxer Ryota Murata posing for a photo with the gold medal following his victory in the men's middleweight final at the London Olympics. Murata, the first Japanese boxer to win both an Olympic gold medal and a professional world title, announced his retirement on March 28, 2023. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
File photo taken on July 12, 2019 shows Japan's Ryota Murata (R) throwing a punch at Rob Brant of the United States on his way to a second-round technical knockout in their WBA middleweight boxing title match at Edion Arena Osaka. Murata, the first Japanese boxer to win both an Olympic gold medal and a professional world title, announced his retirement on March 28, 2023. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
Sekiwake Kiribayama poses in front of a blooming cherry tree in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, western Japan, on March 27, 2023, a day after winning his first career title at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
Colombia's Rafael Borre (C,L) scores an overhead kick winner against Japan during the second half of an international friendly football match at Yodoko Sakura Stadium in the western Japan city of Osaka on March 28, 2023. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
Japan's Kaoru Mitoma (far L) opens the scoring with a header during the first half of an international friendly football match against Colombia at Yodoko Sakura Stadium in the western Japan city of Osaka on March 28, 2023. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
Japan fans hold up signs ahead of an international friendly football match against Colombia at Yodoko Sakura Stadium in the western Japan city of Osaka on March 28, 2023. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
Gold medalist Shoma Uno (C) of Japan, silver medalist Cha Jun Hwan (L) of South Korea and bronze medalist Ilia Malinin of the United States take part in a medal ceremony for the men's singles competition at the world figure skating championships at Saitama Super Arena in the eastern Japan city of Saitama on March 25, 2023. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
Gold medalist Kaori Sakamoto (C) of Japan, silver medalist Lee Hae In (L) of South Korea and bronze medalist Loena Hendrickx of Belgium pose during a ceremony for the women's singles competition at the world figure skating championships at Saitama Super Arena in the eastern Japan city of Saitama on March 24, 2023. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
Japan's Shoma Uno performs his men's free skating routine during the world figure skating championships at Saitama Super Arena in the eastern Japan city of Saitama on March 25, 2023. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
Japanese pair Riku Miura (L) and Ryuichi Kihara perform during the exhibition gala at the world figure skating championships at Saitama Super Arena in the eastern Japan city of Saitama on March 26, 2023. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
Kaori Sakamoto of Japan performs during the exhibition gala at the world figure skating championships at Saitama Super Arena in the eastern Japan city of Saitama on March 26, 2023. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
Shoma Uno of Japan performs during the exhibition gala at the world figure skating championships at Saitama Super Arena in the eastern Japan city of Saitama on March 26, 2023. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
Kaori Sakamoto of Japan performs during the exhibition gala at the world figure skating championships at Saitama Super Arena in the eastern Japan city of Saitama on March 26, 2023. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
Japanese ice dancers Kana Muramoto (L) and Daisuke Takahashi perform during the exhibition gala at the world figure skating championships at Saitama Super Arena in the eastern Japan city of Saitama on March 26, 2023. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
Back number:
Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - March 18~24
Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - March 11~17
Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - March 4~10
Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - Feb. 25~March 3
