Japan's health minister Tamura Norihisa says he has a sense of crisis over a record number of seriously-ill coronavirus patients across the country.

The number of patients being treated at intensive care units or with ventilators hit 472 on Monday, the highest ever.

A giant votive tablet featuring an ox has been put on display at a shrine in Nara Prefecture, western Japan. The ox is next year's animal symbol in the Oriental zodiac.

The hanging of the huge plaque is part of a seasonal tradition at Kashihara Jingu Shrine. The plaque is 5.4 meters wide and 4.5 meters high.

Japanese astronaut Noguchi Soichi has enjoyed eating a canned mackerel dish in space. The product was developed by Japanese high school students.

Noguchi began a six-month science mission at the International Space Station in mid-November. He is using YouTube and social media platforms to issue reports on his daily life at the outpost.

Japanese immigration authorities have temporarily enabled people who cannot return to their countries amid the coronavirus pandemic to work part-time in Japan.

The Immigration Services Agency put the measure into effect on Tuesday.

Princess Aiko, the daughter of Japan's Emperor and Empress, turned 19 on Tuesday.

The princess enrolled in Gakushuin University in April.

A survey by an aid group shows that some young people in Japan are giving up on higher education due to financial uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The survey was carried out in October and November by Ashinaga, a group that provides educational and emotional support to orphaned students worldwide.

The resumption of business travel between Japan and China is making travel agencies in China busy with inquiries from local businesses about trips to Japan.

On Monday, the two countries eased entry restrictions imposed in response to the coronavirus pandemic, allowing businesspeople to make trips for both short- and long-term stays. This will allow for business activities on a limited scope even during a 14-day quarantine period.

Japanese public health officials are battling a rise in coronavirus cases. They say 311 new infections were confirmed in the metropolis on Monday.

The officials say 70 people are now in serious condition. That's the highest figure since a nationwide state of emergency was lifted in late May.

Sources close to organizers of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics say anti-coronavirus measures for the events are expected to cost about 100 billion yen, or more than 960 million dollars.

The sources say the organizing committee has already concluded additional expenses that will be incurred, due to the Games' postponement, are likely to be about 1.9 billion dollars.

Japan is coming out of the first weekend in a three-week period the central government has deemed crucial for curbing the spread of the coronavirus.

Several prefectural governments, including Tokyo and Osaka, have requested bars and restaurants serving alcohol to limit their hours.

Scientists are making final preparations to retrieve a capsule from a Japanese space probe that went to collect sand from an asteroid.

Japan's space agency, JAXA, launched Hayabusa2 in 2014. It has twice landed on an asteroid called Ryugu about 340 million kilometers from Earth.

Japanese financial regulators appear set to penalize the Tokyo Stock Exchange and parent firm the Japan Exchange Group for last month's full-day trading halt.

The Financial Services Agency plans to issue a business improvement order on Monday to prevent a similar shutdown from happening again.

Japan's Crown Prince Akishino has said he approves of his eldest daughter Princess Mako's marriage to her college classmate which was postponed.

Crown Prince Akishino spoke to reporters ahead of his 55th birthday on Monday.

Powerful Japanese drum beats at a Buddhist temple in western Japan gave encouragement to people affected by the coronavirus and those responding to the crisis.

Six drummers performed on Sunday in front of about 300 spectators at the Jogyo-do Hall of Shoshazan Engyoji Temple in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture. The building is a national important cultural asset.