Japan's minister for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics says it would be difficult to postpone this summer's Games, citing problems with securing venues and accommodations.
Marukawa Tamayo was speaking at a regular news conference on Tuesday.
The Imperial Household Agency has reopened the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. The site was closed for six months, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Otemon gate of the Imperial Palace was opened to the public on Tuesday morning. Officials called on people to take anti-infection measures, such as disinfecting their hands and wearing masks.
A memorial service was held on Tuesday to mark 20 years since a stabbing rampage at an elementary school in Osaka Prefecture, western Japan.
Takuma Mamoru stabbed eight children to death and injured 13 other children and two teachers at Ikeda Elementary School on June 8, 2001.
NHK has learned that a Muslim group in Japan is planning to submit a petition to the government requesting burial sites for Muslims.
The group based in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, southwestern Japan, is aiming to remedy a shortage of burial sites for Muslims. Their religion does not allow cremation, which is a widespread practice in Japan.
Tokyo prosecutors have issued a summary indictment against former economy, trade and industry minister Sugawara Isshu for making donations in violation of Japan's public office election law.
Prosecutors say Sugawara gave a total of about 4,800 dollars in cash as either condolence or congratulatory money, plus about 2,400 dollars' worth of flowers, to 33 groups and 26 individuals in his constituency over a period of about 18 months through October 2019.
Japan's minister in charge of the coronavirus vaccine rollout, Kono Taro, has expressed hope that a wide range of people will be offered vaccinations at workplaces and universities.
Kono was speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the day that the government started accepting applications for inoculations at those venues.
Police and firefighters started to receive coronavirus vaccinations on Tuesday at the site of a former food market.
Personnel from organizations including Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and Tokyo Fire Department received their first jabs at Tsukiji, in Chuo Ward. They were then monitored inside parked buses for possible adverse reactions.
The coronavirus vaccine rollout is accelerating nationwide. Officials say about 70 percent of healthcare workers have been fully vaccinated, and more than 20 percent of the elderly have received their first shot.
Over 170,000 people have received vaccines at large-scale inoculation centers in Tokyo and Osaka. The Osaka site became available to elderly residents of neighboring prefectures on Monday.
A district court in Seoul has dismissed a damages suit brought by South Koreans who say they were forced to work for Japanese companies during World War Two.
A total of 85 former workers and their relatives launched the lawsuit against 16 Japanese firms in 2015. They are demanding compensation of 100 million won, or about 90,000 dollars, each.
A Japanese scholar has found official US military archives showing details that the ashes of Japan's seven class-A war criminals were "scattered" in the Pacific Ocean.
The seven war criminals include former prime ministers Tojo Hideki and Hirota Koki. They were executed on December 23, 1948, following their death sentence by the international military tribunal after World War Two.
Keio University, based in Tokyo, has announced a plan to provide coronavirus vaccine shots to its students and faculty members, starting on June 21.
The university made the announcement on Monday. This comes in response to plans by the government to begin vaccinations at workplaces and universities across Japan to speed up the rollout.
Japan's telecom giant NTT has announced that its executives, including the president, will have their pay cut due to wining and dining scandals involving the communications ministry.
NTT made the announcement on Monday after its panel consisting of external experts released a report on their investigation about the scandals.
Japanese automaker Toyota says it has reached a settlement with the family of an employee who committed suicide after enduring harassment from his boss.
The 28-year-old was employed at the company's vehicle design section and took his life in 2017. It happened after he returned to work following a leave of absence for mental health issues.
Elderly people formed long lines at a large-scale coronavirus vaccination site in Osaka on Monday morning after eligibility was expanded to residents of two neighboring prefectures.
The central government opened two large-scale venues in Osaka and Tokyo on May 24 to speed up inoculations of people aged 65 or older.