The Japanese government says it will ease COVID-19 quarantine measures from next month, and raise the limit on daily arrivals to 20,000 from the current 10,000.
The government revealed on Friday that in relaxing the measures, countries and regions will be divided into three groups, depending on risk factors such as rates of recent positive test results upon arrival.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency says that North Korea seems ready to conduct a nuclear test soon.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, now visiting Japan, made the comment in an interview with NHK on Friday.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government reported 3,573 new cases of the coronavirus in the capital on Friday.
The daily tally was down more than 500 from a week ago, for a seventh straight day of week-on-week decline.
Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has agreed with the head of the international nuclear watchdog to work together to ensure the safety of Ukraine's nuclear power plants.
Kishida made the pledge when he met with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi on Friday.
Japan's Defense Minister Kishi Nobuo has indicated that North Korea may test-fire a long-range missile, possibly an intercontinental ballistic missile, within a few days.
On Wednesday, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said North Korea may conduct a long-range ballistic missile launch or a nuclear test during President Joe Biden's visit to South Korea and Japan.
An Osprey transport aircraft belonging to the US military made an unusual landing at an airport in Kagoshima Prefecture in southwestern Japan on Friday, just 10 minutes after the airport was notified.
The landing did not affect civilian flights. No injuries have been reported.
The Japanese government has decided to provide a fourth shot of coronavirus vaccine for people aged 60 or older and others with higher risks, starting on May 25.
Cabinet members decided the details of the plan on Friday.
Japan has pledged about 2.1 million dollars to support efforts by the International Atomic Energy Agency to help ensure the safety of nuclear facilities in Ukraine.
Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa met IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi in Tokyo on Thursday.
Japanese experts on coronavirus infections are offering new advice on face masks. They say there may be more situations where people do not need to wear them.
Health ministry experts say people don't necessarily need to wear masks outdoors as long as they and people around them are not talking much. They say that applies even when people can't social-distance.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has visited the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to assess progress in its decommissioning and preparations for releasing treated water from the plant.
Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, along with four other IAEA officials, spent two hours inspecting the plant on Thursday morning. The visit was Grossi's first to the plant since February 2020.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government reported 4,172 new infections of the coronavirus in the capital on Thursday.
The daily tally was down about 40 from a week earlier, for a sixth straight day of week-on-week decline.
Japan Post says it will partially resume airmail services to Ukraine for the first time in about three months.
Japan Post stopped accepting mail for Ukraine in February when the airlines it works with suspended flights to and from the country.
Japan's Air Self-Defense Force has carried out a drill in the western city of Osaka for deploying ground-based PAC-3 interceptor missiles.
The anti-missile drill took place in the Maishima seaside area on Thursday.
The Japanese labor ministry's Tokyo bureau has begun offering job consultation services in Ukrainian for evacuees from the nation to help them find work in Japan.
As of May 15, 984 Ukrainians have fled to Japan. One of the tasks Japan faces in accepting these evacuees is to support anyone who wishes to work.