Osaka? Fukuoka? Sapporo? The race is on to be second to Tokyo — and to claim the prestige and money that could come with it.

© Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times

Japan had tried to dissuade the U.S. from imposing sanctions on Tomoko Akane, president of the International Criminal Court, but the White House pressed ahead.

© Pool photo by Eva Plevier

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of Japan has been a public critic of Mr. Putin, who has denounced her country’s sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine war.

© Pool Sputnik Kremlin, via Associated Press