Osaka, Japan – (L to R) Yuki Shikama, Yuto Terakado, and Taiki Hirato (Antlers) in action during the 2014 J Youth Cup, semi-final Round match between Shimizu S-Pulse Yuoth 1-3 Kashima Antlers Youth at Yanmar Stadium Nagai, December 20, 2014. (Photo by AFLO SPORT)
Tokyo, Japan – Keisuke Sakamoto (L) and Takuya Taniguchi (R) in action during the 67th All Japan Fencing Championship, Men’s Epee semi-final match at Ota-City General Gymnasium, December 21, 2014. (Photo by AFLO SPORT)
Tokyo, Japan – Japan’s Emperor Akihito, accompanied by members of his family, appears on the veranda of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, waving to hundreds of well-wishers celebrating the monarch’s 81st birthday on Tuesday, December 23, 2014. They are, from left: Princess Masako, wife of Crown Prince Naruhito; Naruhito; Akihito; Empress Michiko; Prince Akishino, Akihito’s second son; Princess Kiko, Akishino’s wife; and Princess Mako, Akishino’s daughter. (Photo by Natsuki Sakai/AFLO)
Tokyo, Japan – Kohei Hasegawa (L) and Shinobu Ota (R) in action during the All Japan Wrestling Championship Men’s Greco-Roman Style -59kg Semi-Final at 2nd Yoyogi Gymnasium, December 23, 2014. (Photo by Shingo Ito/AFLO SPORT)
Tokyo, Japan – Visitors enjoy the “Nakameguro Blue Grotto” illumination event at Meguro river on Christmas. About 400,000 blue lights are displayed along the 500 meters on both sides of Meguro river during the illumination event, which is held until December 25. In Japan, Christmas became a romantic celebration for couples, which date after work around Tokyo at various illumination events. (Photo by Rodrigo Reyes Marin/AFLO)
