The Tokyo Metropolitan Government says it confirmed 635 new cases of the coronavirus in the capital on Sunday.

The number topped 600 on a Sunday for the first time since January 31.

Japan's government plans to set up large-scale facilities for coronavirus vaccinations in Tokyo and Osaka from next month.

Local governments are carrying out the vaccinations at present. But the central government plans to deploy certified doctors and nurses from the Self-Defense Forces to help vaccinate up to 10,000 people per day at the temporary facilities in Tokyo's Otemachi district and central Osaka.

Many large commercial facilities in Tokyo and Osaka were closed on Sunday, as Japan's third coronavirus state of emergency took effect.

The Japanese government declared the emergency for the capital and the western prefectures of Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo. It will run until May 11.

The Japan Meteorological Agency has expanded the area where residents are on alert to beware of flying rocks and pyroclastic flows at Sakurajima in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan.

The volcano erupted around 1:09 a.m. on Sunday. It spewed ash and smoke up to about 2,300 meters into the sky and pyroclastic flows reached the area about 1.8 kilometers southwest of the crater.

A treatment for children with mucopolysaccharidosis II, also known as Hunter syndrome, will be available for the first time in the world when it launches in Japan on Monday.

MPS II is caused by an enzyme deficiency and affects a child's physical and mental development. Estimates put the number of sufferers in Japan at 150 or more.

Japan's third state of emergency to contain the rising number of cases of coronavirus has gone into effect in the nation's capital and three western prefectures.

The declaration will be in place for just over two weeks through May 11 in Tokyo, Osaka, Hyogo, and Kyoto.

The western Japanese prefecture of Osaka confirmed 1,097 new cases of the coronavirus on Saturday.

The daily tally in Osaka has exceeded 1,000 for five days in a row.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government says it confirmed 876 new cases of the coronavirus on Saturday.

The number is the highest since the second state of emergency for the capital ended on March 21.

Japan's Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has declared the nation's third state of emergency to contain the coronavirus pandemic. It takes effect on Sunday in Tokyo and the western prefectures of Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo.

The declaration will remain in effect for just over two weeks through May 11, and covers an annual weeklong holiday.

Japan's prime minister has declared the country's third state of emergency of the pandemic to contain rising COVID-19 cases. The measure will take effect in Tokyo, and three western prefectures on Sunday.

Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide said, "We're concerned that the current surge in the major cities could spread across the country. Amid these circumstances, I decided to declare a state of emergency again ahead of a weeklong holiday. We need to contain the spread of the virus by focusing on intensive measures over a short period of time."

Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force will conduct joint exercises with the French army and the US Marine Corps next month. It will be the first time that the GSDF and the French army will conduct drills together in Japan.

The Defense Ministry says the drills will take place from May 11 through 17. It says the exercises will be carried out mainly in the Kirishima training ground, which straddles Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures in western Japan.

Japan's prime minister has declared the country's third state of emergency of the pandemic to contain surging COVID-19 cases. The measure will take effect in Tokyo, and three western prefectures on Sunday.

Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide issued the declaration a short time ago at a government task force meeting.

Japan's government has declared its third state of emergency of the coronavirus pandemic for Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo. It will be in effect from Sunday to May 11.

Some parts of Japan are preparing to enter their third state of emergency of the pandemic. The measure is expected to take effect in Tokyo, Osaka, Hyogo, and Kyoto prefectures this weekend.

The minister in charge of the coronavirus response has been speaking to lawmakers in the Diet about the move.