Japan's Defense Ministry plans to enhance its electronic warfare capability by creating six specialized units across the country.
Electronic warfare involves monitoring and jamming enemy radio communications and radars.
The operator of a nuclear power plant in southwestern Japan says it will restart two offline reactors about one month earlier than planned.
It says progress in building additional mandatory safety systems was faster than expected.
Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has refused to appoint six nominees as new members of a leading organization of Japanese scientists, prompting a call for the move to be retracted.
The Science Council of Japan is designated as a special organization under the jurisdiction of the prime minister. It makes policy proposals, independent from the government.
A company in Tokyo has welcomed three new employees from Vietnam after a four-month delay due to Japan's coronavirus entry restrictions.
The solar power business firm, afterFIT, held a welcoming ceremony for the three on Thursday.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government says it confirmed 235 new cases of the coronavirus in the Japanese capital on Thursday.
The preliminary figure as of 3 p.m. brings the total number of confirmed cases in Tokyo to 25,973.
Japan's top government spokesperson says the suspension of trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange is regrettable.
All trading on the TSE was stopped on Thursday due to a technical problem.
The Japanese government's "Go To Travel" campaign that is aimed at stimulating domestic tourism now includes Tokyo.
The "Go To Travel" campaign offers people discounts on travel costs. It began in July.
Japan's "Go To Eat" program encouraging people to dine out kicked off on Thursday. The campaign focuses on supporting restaurants affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Through the program, diners can earn points when they make reservations at restaurants through booking websites.
Ishigaki City in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan, has officially changed the district name of the Senkaku Islands to "Tonoshiro Senkaku" as of Thursday.
Japan controls the Islands. China and Taiwan claim them. The Japanese government maintains the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory, in terms of history and international law. It says there is no issue of sovereignty to be resolved over them.
Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko has called on residents to follow basic anti-infection guidelines, while they participate in the central government's travel promotion program.
On Thursday, the "Go To Travel" discount campaign was expanded. It now includes trips to and from the Japanese capital.
Japan's Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry has laid out anti-infection rules for restaurants that hope to join the "Go To Eat" campaign.
The rules include placing disinfectant at entrances and ensuring that there is sufficient ventilation. Tables must also be placed more than a meter apart or separated by partitions.
Japan is easing entry restrictions on Thursday for foreigners from around the world, excluding tourists.
The Japanese government had denied entry of people from 159 countries and regions in principle due to the coronavirus pandemic. It has already resumed businesspeople's travel to and from Vietnam, Taiwan and some other places where infection is under control.
Japan's Defense Ministry is seeking a record 52 billion dollar budget for the fiscal year starting in April 2021.
The ministry decided on the amount, which is 3.3 percent more than the initial budget for the current fiscal year, at a meeting on Wednesday attended by Defense Minister Kishi Nobuo.
A Japanese high court has upheld a lower court ruling that ordered the government and the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to pay compensation to those affected by the 2011 nuclear accident triggered by a tsunami.
The ruling is the first issued by an appellate court making the state accountable in lawsuits related to the nuclear accident.