The mercury reached a dangerous 40.2 degrees Celsius in Niigata Prefecture on Thursday -- the first time anywhere in Japan that temperatures have hit the 40- degree mark in the month of September.

The record temperature for September was observed in the city of Sanjo near the Sea of Japan coast shortly before 2:00 p.m.

Preservation work on the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, also known as the Atomic Bomb Dome, started on Thursday after a delay of more than one year.

The structure in the city of Hiroshima was built more than 100 years ago. It survived the 1945 US atomic bombing.

Typhoon Haishen is gathering strength over waters south of Japan. The powerful storm is expected to approach the southwestern part of the country between Sunday and Monday.

Japan's Meteorological Agency said the typhoon was moving westward at a speed of about 20 kilometers per hour as of noon Thursday, Japan time.

Please click to watch NHK World's meteorologist Tsietsi Monare give the latest details on Typhoons Maysak and Haishen.

The Tokyo Metropolitan government says 211 new cases of the coronavirus were confirmed on Thursday.

This is a preliminary figure as of 3 p.m.

Japan has ranked 20th out of 38 in a UNICEF report on the well-being of children in the world's richest countries.

In the report released on Thursday, UNICEF evaluated the well-being of children of high income countries that are members of the OECD or the EU. The result was based on three dimensions: mental well-being, physical health and skills for life.

Japanese weather officials are warning of two typhoons, with one of them already affecting mainly the country's southwest, while the other is expected to approach in a few days.

The Meteorological Agency says Typhoon Maysak is traveling northward near the Korean Peninsula.

Sources say Yokozuna Grand Champion Hakuho had surgery on both knees last month. There are growing concerns about his participation in the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament, which will start on September 13.

In the July tournament, Hakuho was unbeaten until the 10th day, but withdrew on the 13th day after being diagnosed with a meniscus injury in his right knee and other conditions.

Japan's space agency says its probe Hayabusa2 is scheduled to release in early December a capsule believed to contain samples of an asteroid. The capsule will be disengaged at a position about 220,000 kilometers away from Earth and will then make its way back home.

A team of scientists at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, aims to bring back sand and other materials from the asteroid Ryugu's surface with the Hayabusa2.

Two powerful weather systems are bearing down on western Japan from different directions. Weather officials are warning people on the southwestern island of Kyushu to prepare for a strong typhoon.

At the same time, a severe tropical storm is expected to hit the region in the coming days.

Some countries have officially approved COVID-19 vaccines before completing all necessary clinical tests to confirm their safety and efficacy. The World Health Organization warns that rushing to make a vaccine widely available could pose risks.

Russia officially approved in August a domestically developed vaccine for the coronavirus after only completing phase 2 in the normal 3-phase clinical testing process. It plans to start group vaccinations mainly for medical workers in November.

Two powerful weather systems are bearing down on western Japan from different directions.

Weather officials are warning people on the southwestern island of Kyushu to prepare for a strong typhoon heading their way. At the same time, a severe tropical storm is expected to hit western Japan in the coming days.

The race to lead Japan's main ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the country will likely be a three-person contest. The winner will succeed Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, who announced last week he will step down over health issues.

Among the frontrunners, the government's top spokesperson is riding a wave of support that could prove impossible to beat.

Japanese researchers have begun a large-scale survey to check blood samples from coronavirus survivors to see how long antibodies remain in the human body.

Antibodies are proteins created in the body after a virus infection. One type, called neutralizing antibodies, are said to suppress virus activity and prevent infection.