PARIS (AP) — Brigitte Bardot, the French 1960s sex symbol who became one of the greatest screen sirens of the 20th century and later a militant animal rights activist, has died. She was 91.

This year, Japan’s film industry was dominated by “Kokuho,” directed by Lee Sang-il. The film centered on the world of kabuki and got younger people interested in Japan’s traditional performing arts. It broke the box office record for a Japanese live-action film, grossing over ¥18.1 billion and beating out the previous record from 22 years ago. It is also a contender for the Academy Awards, ensuring the buzz continues into the new year.

Glass kagamimochi ceremonial rice cakes for the New Year are displayed at glass studio GLOW in Kita Ward, Sapporo. Glass artist Issey Mizuki, 44, molds the molten glass — heated to 1,300 C in a furnace — using chopsticks and scissors. The lower sections are transparent, but air bubbles trapped inside give them a white tint. “I hope people enjoy how the appearance changes with the angle and light. I want to convey Japanese traditions through glass craft,” Mizuki said. Three sizes: small, large and extra-large, are available in store and online, priced from ¥3,600.

TAKARAZUKA, Hyogo — Fans of the popular media franchise Kemono Friends can enjoy an exhibition of its illustrations at The Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture.Livestock abandoned in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011 are behind the creation of this charming work, which features anthropomorphized animals. The exhibition offers the opportunity to think about our coexistence with animals.Kemono Friends is set in Japari Park, a fictional giant zoo. The work has spawned entertainment across various genres, including games, anime and manga, both in Japan and overseas. Mine Yoshizaki, the creator of the manga “Keroro Gunso” (“Sgt. Frog”), has been providing the concept designs.After the 2011 earthquake, Yoshizaki shifted his focus to abandoned livestock in the disaster-hit areas. He began looking for ways to help the affected region as well as the people and animals there through his profession, leading to the creation of characters that transform from animals into humans.To deepen the public’s understanding of animals, Kemono Friends collaborates with zoos and aquariums nationwide by placing character panels near the exhibited animals. Donation boxes for the World Wildlife Fund also are set up at events featuring Kemono Friends.

Jonathan Anderson is one of the most talked-about fashion designers in the world right now. The 41-year-old became the creative director for French fashion house Dior and presented his first new collection for Spring/Summer 2026 in Paris this autumn.

Money boxes come in all shapes and sizes, but the pig is one of the most familiar shapes, as is indicated by the fact that they are commonly called piggy banks in English.