News

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government reported 3,809 new infections of the coronavirus on Saturday.

The daily tally is up by 830 from a week ago, marking the first day of week-on-week increase since April 11.

Japanese Defense Ministry officials say North Korea has launched a projectile that is thought to have been a ballistic missile.

They say they believe it fell into waters outside of Japan's exclusive economic zone in the Sea of Japan. No damage has been reported.

Japanese government officials say North Korea launched a projectile that could be a ballistic missile on Saturday afternoon.

They say the projectile might have fallen outside of Japan's exclusive economic zone.

Japan's government is considering a plan to reopen the country to foreign travelers in phases from next month.

Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said during a visit to Britain on Thursday that border controls against the coronavirus would be eased, in line with other G7 members.

The Japanese government announced on Friday that it will send Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa to the upcoming inauguration of South Korea's President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol.

The government said Hayashi will attend the ceremony to be held in Seoul next Tuesday as a special envoy of Prime Minister Kishida Fumio.

Japan's government says that companies producing basic materials such as chemicals will need tens of trillions of yen in investment to achieve carbon neutrality.

Huge amounts of coal and other fossil fuels are used in the steel, chemical, cement and paper sectors. The industry ministry estimates the cost of getting them to net-zero by 2050 is 24 trillion yen, or about 185 billion dollars. That includes significant amounts of capital investment as well as spending on research and development.

It has been two weeks since a search began for people who went missing after a tour boat sank off Hokkaido, northern Japan.

The "KAZU I" sank off the Shiretoko Peninsula during a sightseeing cruise on April 23. Of the 26 people on board, 14 people have been confirmed dead and 12 others remain missing.

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has announced additional sanctions on Russia.

He said Japan will freeze the assets of about 140 more individuals, as well more assets of Russian banks. About 70 more military-related entities will be added to the export ban. Quantum computers and other high-tech products will be banned from export to Russia.

People in Japan have been enjoying the first spring holidays without coronavirus restrictions since the start of the pandemic.

Some are wrapping up visits to family across the country and making their way back home.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government confirmed 2,320 new infections of the coronavirus on Thursday.

The daily tally is down by 3,074 from a week ago, marking the 24th consecutive day of week-on-week decline.

Japan is celebrating Children's Day on Thursday.

The country's internal affairs ministry estimates that on April 1, the number of children aged 14 or younger had declined for the 41st consecutive year to 14.65 million. That's a drop of 250,000 from the previous year.

A team of Japanese researchers say they have found a method by which induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells can be created from cancer cells. They expect it will help screen candidate drugs for new cancer treatments.

Cancer cells are generally known to be resistant to reprogramming into iPS cells using the same methods as those applied to ordinary cells.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government officials have confirmed just under 3,000 new daily cases of coronavirus infection, marking about half the level of the previous Wednesday.

They reported 2,999 new infections. That's down by 3,053 from a week ago, representing the 23rd consecutive day of week-on-week decline.

Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has strongly condemned North Korea for launching a ballistic missile on Wednesday.

Kishida was speaking in Italy. He described North Korea's actions as a threat to global and regional peace, security and stability.