Hospitals in Japan's southern prefecture of Okinawa are moving to limit the number of patients they see or admit as the rapid spread of the coronavirus has caused a shortage of hospital beds.

In Okinawa, hospital beds for coronavirus carriers were 97.9 percent full as of Tuesday. Beds for other patients were 93.5 percent occupied.

The number of applications for welfare benefits in Japan in fiscal 2020 grew from the previous year. It was the first increase since fiscal 2009, following the global financial crisis.

The welfare ministry says preliminary figures show that 228,081 applications were submitted in the fiscal year that ended in March. That was up 5,039, or 2.3 percent, from the previous year.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government reported 487 new cases of coronavirus infection in the capital on Wednesday, down 256 from a week ago.

This marks the 20th straight day of week-on-week decline in the daily tally.

The head of the Japanese government's advisory panel on the coronavirus says he hopes to discuss and explain what impact the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics will have on the infection situation in the country.

Omi Shigeru spoke in a Diet committee on Wednesday. He said that if there is a final decision to go ahead with the Games, it is the responsibility of professionals like him to assess whether they would impact the spread of the virus in Japan, and how the risks could be mitigated.

The number of applications for welfare benefits in Japan in fiscal 2020 grew from the previous year. It was the first increase since fiscal 2009, following the global financial crisis.

The welfare ministry says preliminary figures show that 228,081 applications were submitted in the fiscal year that ended in March. That was up 5,039, or 2.3 percent, from the previous year.

A recent survey indicates that young people in Japan are experiencing psychological distress due to the coronavirus pandemic restrictions.

A group led by Yamamoto Tetsuya, an associate professor at Tokushima University, conducted the study in February on the psychological impact of the pandemic on the country.

Members of Japan's main ruling Liberal Democratic Party are calling on the government to discuss ways to address possible contingencies involving Taiwan.

Members of the LDP's Foreign Affairs Division and Research Commission on Foreign Affairs have compiled a set of proposals for the government, saying China's military and economic pressure on Taiwan is growing in severity.

A member of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party has submitted his letter of resignation to the Lower House amid allegations that he violated an election law.

Sugawara Isshu, who is former economy minister, also submitted a letter of resignation to his party on Tuesday.

Japanese businesses as a group saw a healthy rise in ordinary profits from January to March compared with the same period a year ago. It's the first annual increase in eight quarters.

Finance Ministry officials say combined pretax profits for the quarter rose by 26 percent.

The new head of Japan's top business lobby has foreshadowed a major shift to eco-friendly practices.

Tokura Masakazu says Keidanren, or Japan Business Federation, will draft an action plan for a net-zero carbon society.

Japanese chip maker Renesas Electronics said on Tuesday that it now aims to restore output capacity at its fire-damaged plant by mid-June. That's half a month later than the previous target.

The fire happened in March at the plant north of Tokyo.

Japan's Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide and the new head of the US Indo-Pacific Command have confirmed that the two countries will further strengthen their alliance for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Suga held talks with Admiral John Aquilino for about 10 minutes in Tokyo on Tuesday. The commander is visiting Japan for the first time since he assumed the post on April 30.

Japan has adopted a long-term strategy to catch up with the US and Europe in the development and production of vaccines.

The ongoing pandemic has highlighted the need for the country to strengthen its ability to develop vaccines domestically.

Japanese tennis player Osaka Naomi has announced her withdrawal from the French Open, one day after she was fined for skipping a post-match news conference.

On Monday, she wrote on Twitter that, "this isn't a situation I ever imagined or intended when I posted a few days ago."