Japan is calling for the prompt release of Japanese journalist Kitazumi Yuki, who was taken into custody by security forces in Myanmar.

On Sunday night, his apartment in Yangon was surrounded by about 50 security personnel. He was later taken away.

A group of researchers from Japan's Riken research institute, the University of Tokyo, and other institutions say they have developed a test method that detects the coronavirus within five minutes.

Under the new method, specimens are placed on a glass plate with one million indentations per square centimeter.

The governors of Japan's two major urban centers are considering stricter measures including another state of emergency.

The goal is to counter a spike in cases experts say is driven largely by more contagious variants.

A group of scientists in Japan says it has developed a technology that could identify more than 100 coronavirus mutations in a single test.

The members of the group include Toho University Professor Tateda Kazuhiro, an infectious disease expert, and a Japanese manufacturer.

The Japanese government has compiled a draft roadmap that aims to achieve carbon neutrality in many parts of the country before the targeted goal of 2050.

The draft calls for taking all policy measures in the next five years to put Japan on a path to cut greenhouse gas emissions from power consumption to net zero by fiscal 2025 in at least 100 pilot regions.

Cherry blossoms at a park in Japan's northeastern prefecture of Aomori are in full bloom.

Hirosaki Park in Hirosaki City is home to about 2,600 cherry trees of around 50 varieties. It's one of Japan's best-known places for appreciating the beauty of cherry blossoms.

Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has said Japan is willing to lead the global effort in tackling climate change. He made the pledge in a meeting with COP26 President Alok Sharma on Monday.

The two met at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo, before the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference is held in Britain in November.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government says it confirmed 405 new cases of coronavirus infections on Monday.

The figure is up 99 from a week ago. This is the first time in almost three months that daily new cases on a Monday have topped 400. Numbers on Mondays are usually smaller than those on other days of the week.

Researchers in Japan are hoping to get a better look at greenhouse gas emissions from moving traffic. They have teamed up with ANA Holdings to equip passenger jets with sensors that capture detailed data from above.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency began the project with the airline operator this month.

Osaka Governor Yoshimura Hirofumi suggested on Monday that he will ask the central government to issue a state of emergency in the prefecture to contain surging coronavirus infections. Daily infections in Osaka reached a record high on Sunday.

The western Japanese prefecture confirmed 1,220 new cases on Sunday. Its daily figure topped 1,000 for six days in a row.

Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has indicated Japan is likely to receive enough doses of coronavirus vaccines from US pharmaceutical company Pfizer by September.

Suga asked Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla for additional vaccine supplies last week during his visit to Washington. The two men spoke by telephone.

Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko says she will search for ways to curb surging coronavirus infections, and may consider requesting the central government issue a new state of emergency.

In the capital, the daily infections averaged 586 over the last seven days, up about 25 percent from a week earlier.

Japan's Defense Ministry says the number of times Air Self-Defense Force jets were scrambled in fiscal 2020 decreased by more than 200.

The ministry says in the fiscal year that ended in March, ASDF jets were scrambled 725 times against foreign aircraft approaching Japan's airspace. The figure was 222 times fewer when compared to the previous year.

The Osaka prefectural government reported 1,220 new coronavirus cases on Sunday.

That is the highest daily count ever in the prefecture, exceeding 1,209 recorded on Friday. Osaka's daily tally has topped 1,000 for six days in a row.