Mudslides occur after soil and rock are washed down a slope after heavy rain. A debris flow can move as fast as a passenger car, making it difficult for people to evacuate once it occurs.
Mudslides occur in places with sharply inclined rivers or valleys, as well as in fan-shaped areas near a valley. They can also occur in places where volcanic ash has accumulated.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government says it confirmed 716 new cases of the coronavirus in the capital on Saturday.
The daily tally is up 182 from a week ago. Week-on-week increases have been posted for 14 days straight.
Officials in Shizuoka prefecture in central Japan say two people have been found without vital signs and about 20 others remain unaccounted for after a series of mudslides swept away several houses.
Torrential rain has been lashing areas along Japan's Pacific coast since early Saturday.
Police and firefighters are searching for about 20 people unaccounted for after huge landslides swept away houses in Shizuoka Prefecture.
Torrential rain has been lashing areas along the Pacific coast of Japan since early Saturday.
Officials in Shizuoka Prefecture say they're still trying to confirm the safety of about 20 people after mudslides swept away homes in a coastal city.
The disaster, which struck in Atami City, occurred as torrential rain lashed areas along the Pacific coast of Japan on Saturday.
Shizuoka prefectural officials say about 20 people are missing after a landslide swept away homes in Atami City. The disaster occurred after torrential rain hit parts of the prefecture.
Police and firefighters are searching for the missing. The prefectural officials have requested help from Self-Defense Force personnel.
The organizers of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics have changed the schedules for the main ceremonies due to the coronavirus pandemic.
On Friday, the organizing committee said the opening ceremony for the Olympics on July 23 will run from 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. instead 11:00 p.m.
Weather officials in Japan say a seasonal rain front is bringing downpours to wide areas along the Pacific coast, especially Shizuoka and Kanagawa prefectures.
The Meteorological Agency is urging caution against landslides, flooding in low-lying areas, swollen rivers, lightning strikes and tornadoes.
The head of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic organizing committee has hinted that a cap on spectator numbers at the upcoming games may be reviewed depending on coronavirus restrictions.
Hashimoto Seiko told reporters on Friday that her committee will hold talks with four other parties, in line with criteria set by Japan's government. The four are the central and Tokyo metropolitan governments and the International Olympic and Paralympic committees.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government says it confirmed 660 new cases of the coronavirus in the capital on Friday.
The daily tally is up 98 from a week ago. Week-on-week increases have been posted for 13 days straight.
Mitsubishi Electric President and CEO Sugiyama Takeshi says he will step down over a data fabrication scandal.
Sugiyama made the announcement at a news conference on Friday. It follows revelations that a factory has been faking inspection checks for train equipment it manufactures.
Weather officials say a seasonal rain front is bringing downpours to wide areas of eastern and western Japan.
The Meteorological Agency says the heavy rain is being caused by an inflow of warm, damp air toward the front located south of the main island of Honshu.
Japan's health ministry says officials tracing infection routes among foreigners who tested positive for the coronavirus need not report them to immigration authorities even if they were overstaying their visas.
At least 5,200 foreign nationals have been confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus in Japan as of the end of June.
Japan's Cabinet Office has recommended that the country's largest agency for accepting foreign technical trainees investigate allegations that it granted favors to certain companies.
On Thursday, the Cabinet Office asked the Public Interest Foundation International Manpower Development Organization, Japan, or IM Japan, to carry out a thorough investigation and consider disciplinary action against executives. It also wants the agency to compile a detailed report of the probe.