For many, 2020 was a difficult year. However, some moments of hope managed to break through the bad news, nowhere more so than in the sphere of human achievement. From advances in fighting disease to representation in art and standing up for a cause, The Japan Times would like to end the year on a positive note by celebrating these moments in pictures ...

A street financial monitor in Tokyo's Yaesu business district on Nov. 17 shows stocks surging across the world, with the Nikkei Stock Average reaching the 26,000 mark for the first time in more than 29 years. | KYODO
A street financial monitor in Tokyo's Yaesu business district on Nov. 17 shows stocks surging across the world, with the Nikkei Stock Average reaching the 26,000 mark for the first time in more than 29 years. | KYODO