Here is a selection of Kyodo News photos taken this week in Japan and beyond.

Feb. 17

Japan successfully launches its new H3 rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, nearly a year after a failed attempt cast doubt over the country's aspirations in the space industry. (Kyodo)
 
People lay flowers to honor Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny in downtown Moscow after Russian media reported he had died in a jail in the Arctic region. (Kyodo)
 
Singer Masaharu Fukuyama, a native of Nagasaki Prefecture, rides on a palanquin during the Emperor Parade of the Nagasaki Lantern Festival, playing the role of a Qing dynasty emperor. (Kyodo)

Feb. 18

Hideki Matsuyama wins the Genesis Invitational golf tournament with a 17-under 267 total at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California, securing his ninth career victory on the U.S. PGA Tour and first since the Sony Open in Hawaii in January 2022. (Kyodo)
 
A traditional rice-planting dance is performed at Kusano shrine in the Ukedo area of Namie in Fukushima Prefecture. The shrine was rebuilt after being swept away in a tsunami triggered by the March 2011 earthquake. (Kyodo)
 
Japanese swimmer Daiya Seto takes the bronze medal in the men's 400-meter individual medley on the final day of the world aquatics championships in Doha. The result meant Japan finished with just two medals from the swimming program after several prominent names opted to stay at home to prepare for March's Olympic team selection meet in Tokyo. (Kyodo)

Feb. 19

The carcass of a sperm whale measuring 13 to 14 meters and weighing 25 to 30 tons is found in Osaka Bay. A growing number of whales are becoming stranded in the western Japan bay known for its maze-like passages, with experts warning the marine mammals are increasingly likely to wander into the area as global warming progresses. (Kyodo)
 
The Japanese men's and women's teams beat Madagascar and Brazil, respectively, to secure knockout stage spots at the world team table tennis championships in Busan. (Kyodo)
 

Feb. 20

Kawazu cherry blossoms, known for their early flowering, are in full bloom along with canola flowers at a park in Matsuda, Kanagawa Prefecture. (Kyodo)
 
Japan's House of Representatives votes down a no-confidence motion against education minister Masahito Moriyama, who has drawn scrutiny over his links to the controversial Unification Church. (Kyodo)

Feb. 21

Candles are lit at the site where the Canterbury Television building stood in Christchurch, New Zealand, in front of the photos of 115 victims, including 28 Japanese students, who died when the building collapsed in the M6.3 earthquake on Feb. 22, 2014. (Kyodo)

Members of the North Korea women's national football team are pictured at Beijing Capital International Airport, ahead of their Paris Olympic qualifying game against Japan in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 24. (Kyodo)

A motorcyclist is seen on a snow-covered road in Beijing. (Kyodo)

Feb. 22 

A stock monitor in Osaka shows the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ending at an all-time high, breaking the previous record set 34 years ago. (Kyodo)
 
An annual event to mark Shimane Prefecture-designated "Takeshima Day" is held in Matsue, western Japan, on Feb. 22, 2024, to push Japan's claim to a group of South Korea-controlled islets in the Sea of Japan. (Kyodo)

Japan's women's national team footballers train in Jeddah ahead of their Paris Olympic qualifier against North Korea in the Saudi Arabian port city on Feb. 24. (Kyodo) 

 

Feb. 23

Emperor Naruhito, alongside Empress Masako and other members of Japan's imperial family, waves to well-wishers from a balcony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo during his birthday celebration. The emperor, who ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne in 2019, turned 64. (Kyodo)

 

Japan defeats Hong Kong 3-0 to reach the women's finals at the world team table tennis championships in South Korea's Busan, with Miu Hirano topping her opponent Lee Ho-ching comfortably. (Kyodo)

 

Emiliia Tarmaieva fled Odesa, Ukraine, to Osaka alone roughly one year and nine months ago following Russia's invasion. The 17-year-old technical school student is determined to continue studying in Japan to acquire language and information technology skills in a bid to help her motherland. (Kyodo)

 

Back number:

Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - Feb. 10-16

Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - Feb. 3-9

Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - Jan. 27-Feb. 2

Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - Jan. 20-26