Shinzo Abe
FILE - Haruyuki Takahashi, executive board member of the Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games attends the Tokyo 2020 Executive Board Meeting in Tokyo on March 30, 2020. Criminal allegations against a former Tokyo Olympic organizing committee board member widened Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, as Japanese prosecutors “re-arrested” Takahashi in suspected payments from a publisher that became a sponsor for the Games. (Issei Kato/Pool Photo via AP, File)
Tokyo Olympics bribery arrests widens to third Japan sponsor

By Yuri Kageyama Sep. 27, 2022 04:30 AM EDT

FILE - Japanese then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, center, and former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, right, with other delegates, celebrate after Tokyo was awarded the 2020 Summer Olympic Games, in Buenos Aires, Argentine on Sept. 7, 2013. Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the country’s central figure in landing the 2020 Olympics for Tokyo. Abe died after being shot while campaigning in western Japan on July 8, 2022.. (Kyodo News via AP, File)
Abe impersonated 'Super Mario' to promote Tokyo Olympics

By Stephen Wade Jul. 09, 2022 01:07 AM EDT

Suga Yoshihide, Prime Minister of Japan, remotely addresses the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly in a pre-recorded message, Friday Sept. 24, 2021, at UN headquarters. (Peter Foley/Pool Photo via AP)
Japan's leader says Olympics were 'symbol of global unity'

By Jennifer Peltz Sep. 24, 2021 04:08 PM EDT

Dancers perform during the closing ceremony for the 2020 Paralympics at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Sunday, Sept. 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Paralympic closing marks end of Tokyo's 8-year Olympic saga

By Stephen Wade Sep. 05, 2021 08:31 AM EDT

A man wearing a protective mask to help curb the spread of the coronavirus walks at pre-opened Main Press Center (MPC) for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Big Site Friday, July 2, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Report: Serbian arriving for Tokyo Olympics tests positive

By Stephen Wade Jul. 04, 2021 03:23 AM EDT

FILE - In this March 25, 2021, file photo, the celebration cauldron is seen lit on the first day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic torch relay in Naraha, Fukushima prefecture, northeastern Japan. IOC officials say the Tokyo Olympics will open on July 23 and almost nothing now can stop the games from going forward. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool Photo via AP, File)
Yes. Tokyo Olympics are 'a go' despite opposition, pandemic

By Stephen Wade Jun. 01, 2021 11:04 PM EDT

A man wearing a protective mask to help curb the spread of the coronavirus walks past a banner for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo Tuesday, May 11, 2021. The Japanese capital confirmed more than 920 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan ruling party renews charter change drive amid pandemic

By Mari Yamaguchi May. 11, 2021 08:57 AM EDT

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga takes off his face mask before speaking to reporters at his office in Tokyo Monday, April 26, 2021. His ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Sunday lost all three parliamentary by-elections, a blow to Suga’s grip on power ahead of national elections later this year. Suga said Monday he seriously takes the results seen to reflect voter discontent with his government's coronavirus handling as well as scandals involving his party. (Yuta Omori/Kyodo News via AP)
Japan's ruling party loses 3 key elections in blow to Suga

By Mari Yamaguchi Apr. 26, 2021 12:56 AM EDT

President Joe Biden, accompanied by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, walks from the Oval Office to speak at a news conference in the Rose Garden of the White House, Friday, April 16, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Japan, US showcase alliance, resolve in dealing with China

By Ellen Knickmeyer, Mari Yamaguchi And Aamer Madhani Apr. 16, 2021 12:16 PM EDT

FILE - In this March 3, 2020, file photo, the New National Stadium, a venue for the opening and closing ceremonies at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, is seen from Shibuya Sky observation deck in Tokyo. Organizers and the International Olympic Committee are pushing on despite COVID-19 risks, myriad scandals, and overwhelming public opposition in Japan to holding the games. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
100 Days: Tokyo Olympics marked by footnotes and asterisks

By Stephen Wade Apr. 13, 2021 09:35 PM EDT

People walk by signage to promote the Olympic Games, in Tokyo, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. The Olympics are scheduled to open on July 23 but recent polls show about 80% of the Japanese public want the Olympics canceled or postponed. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
Tokyo Olympics to pick Mori replacement; is a woman likely?

By Stephen Wade Feb. 16, 2021 01:22 AM EST

Yoshiro Mori, the president of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee, listens to a question from a journalist during a news conference in Tokyo Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. (Kim Kyung-hoon/Pool Photo via AP)
Tokyo Olympics face another problem because of its president

By Stephen Wade Feb. 08, 2021 09:31 PM EST

Editorial Roundup: US

By The Associated Press Jan. 27, 2021 06:44 PM EST
Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad: ___ Jan. 26 The Mercury News and...

FILE - In this Nov. 3, 2018, file photo, Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami signs his autograph on his novel "Killing Commendatore" during a press conference in Tokyo. Murakami said politicians need to reduce public uncertainty and fear over the coronavirus by speaking sincerely about the pandemic. Murakami, in a two-hour live New Year's Eve show on Dec. 31, 2020, urged political leaders to “talk honestly from the gut” to the people to encourage them to help slow rising infections which are on the verge of getting out of control. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
Murakami urges politicians to speak sincerely about virus

By Mari Yamaguchi Jan. 01, 2021 05:35 AM EST

FILE - This June 3, 2008, file photo shows then Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama fist bump with his wife Michelle, before speaking at a primary night rally in St. Paul, Minn. Barack and Michelle Obama famously fist-bumped when he clinched the Democratic presidential nomination in June 2008, making the move very cool in some circles, causing outrage in others. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)
2020: A year where the fist-bump became mainstream greeting

By Tim Reynolds Dec. 30, 2020 12:20 PM EST

FILE - In this Dec. 25, 2020, file photo, Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga adjusts a face mask after a press conference on the COVID-19 situation in Japan at the prime minister's office in Tokyo. Prime Minister Suga came to office on a surge of popularity, pledging to combat the coronavirus and fix the languishing economy. Now his support ratings have plunged amid flaring virus outbreaks and scandals within the ruling party, even as the economy appears to be recovering. (Nicolas Datiche/Pool Photo via AP, File)
Japan virus outbreaks, scandals sap public support for Suga

By Mari Yamaguchi Dec. 29, 2020 04:24 AM EST

People ride an escalator to a train station in Tokyo on Tuesday, April 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A pandemic atlas: Masks key to keeping Japan's caseload low

By Mari Yamaguchi Dec. 16, 2020 12:01 AM EST

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga speaks during a news conference in Tokyo on Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. Suga announced a 2 trillion green fund to promote innovation and technology to achieve his pledge to achieve a carbon free society by 2050.(AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Japan PM pledges $19B to promote ecological businesses

By Mari Yamaguchi Dec. 04, 2020 09:39 AM EST

Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, right, greets International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach during their meeting in Tokyo Monday, Nov. 16, 2020. (Kazuhiro Nogi/Pool Photo via AP)
Bach: Tokyo Olympic 'participants' encouraged to get vaccine

By Stephen Wade Nov. 16, 2020 12:59 AM EST

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach arrives at a hotel in Tokyo Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020. IOC President Bach is beginning a visit to Tokyo to convince politicians and the Japanese public that the postponed Olympics will open in just over eight months.(Kyodo News via AP)
Bach comes to Tokyo as cheerleader for next year's Olympics

By Stephen Wade Nov. 14, 2020 09:46 PM EST