Japan's communications minister has admitted dining with the president of a telecom giant that his ministry oversees. But he says the meal was not a breach of the ministerial code of conduct.

Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Takeda Ryota made the admission at a Lower House committee on Thursday.

Universal Studios Japan has opened a hotly anticipated theme park zone featuring the Nintendo character Mario. The launch comes 8 months later than planned as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

"Super Nintendo World" opened in Osaka on Thursday.

Japan's Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has announced that the COVID-19 state of emergency for the Tokyo area will end as scheduled on Sunday.

A Japanese court has ruled that the only nuclear power plant in the Greater Tokyo area should not be restarted, citing insufficient safety measures in the event of a major earthquake.

The Tokai No.2 nuclear plant is located in Ibaraki Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government reported 323 new cases of the coronavirus in the Japanese capital on Thursday.

The daily average for the seven days to Thursday came to 297.1, up 8.8 percent from the preceding week.

A Japanese court has ruled that a nuclear reactor in western Japan can be restarted, reversing an injunction order issued last year.

The Hiroshima High Court on Thursday handed down its decision regarding the No.3 reactor at the Ikata nuclear power plant in Ehime Prefecture.

A coronavirus advisory panel for the government has given the green light to a plan to lift the state of emergency for the Tokyo area. The declaration, covering four prefectures, is set to expire on Sunday.

Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide is scheduled to hold a news conference at around 7 p.m. on Thursday to explain the decision, and what comes next.

The chief creative director for the Tokyo Games ceremonies has resigned over a derogatory remark he made about a female entertainer.

It's just the latest setback for the delayed Olympic and Paralympic Games, which is facing the unprecedented challenge of hosting the world's largest sporting event during a coronavirus pandemic.

A former high-ranking Japanese prosecutor is facing summary indictment for gambling on mahjong amid a coronavirus state of emergency.

Kurokawa Hiromu, who headed the Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office, stepped down after being reprimanded last May for playing mahjong for money with two newspaper reporters and one former reporter in Tokyo twice earlier that month.

A coronavirus advisory panel for the government has agreed to a plan to lift the state of emergency for the Tokyo area. The declaration, covering Tokyo and three neighboring prefectures, has been in place for over two months.

Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has said he would like to end it, as scheduled, on Sunday.

The chief creative director for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics is set to step down over a derogatory staging proposal.

Bunshun Online reported on Wednesday that Sasaki Hiroshi made the proposal in a social media exchange with his staff last March.

The Japanese government has asked an advisory panel whether to lift the coronavirus state of emergency for Tokyo and its three neighboring prefectures as planned on Sunday.

The panel including contagious disease experts met at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, with the minister in charge of the country's coronavirus response, Nishimura Yasutoshi, and health minister Tamura Norihisa attending.

NHK has learned that the Japanese government plans to step up coronavirus examinations to better detect mutant strains.

NHK obtained a draft revision of the government's basic policy against infections after the coronavirus state of emergency, which is currently in place for Tokyo and its three neighboring prefectures, is lifted.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held a series of meetings in Tokyo on Tuesday, as part of their very first overseas trip.

The choice to travel to Tokyo underscores the weight the Biden administration is giving to Asian alliances, particularly as recent moves by China spark concerns in the US.