The governor of Aichi Prefecture in central Japan has declared a state of emergency amid a rapid increase in coronavirus infections, including untraceable cases, in the prefecture.

Omura Hideaki said at a prefectural taskforce meeting on Friday that he will take all possible measures to protect residents' lives and health.

Kyoto Prefecture and Kyoto City in western Japan have decided to ask the central government to put the prefecture under a state of emergency for the coronavirus pandemic.

Kyoto Governor Nishiwaki Takatoshi and Kyoto City Mayor Kadokawa Daisaku made the announcement at a news conference on Friday morning.

The Japanese government plans to postpone two ceremonies to proclaim Crown Prince Akishino as the heir to the throne.

The ceremonies for the proclamation of the Crown Prince were scheduled to be held on April 19 at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

Narita Airport near Tokyo has seen a drastic drop in the number of international flights due to the coronavirus pandemic. Airport officials say weekly flights are down nearly 85 percent year-on-year.

They say Narita had 3661 international arrivals and departures during the week ending January 25,which overlapped with the Lunar New Year holiday. The figure was the largest this year except for the new year holiday period.

A doctor at a Tokyo medical institution for infectious diseases says he fears the capital's hospitals will not be able to treat the growing number of coronavirus patients.

The Tokyo metropolitan government began moving people with mild symptoms to hotels on Tuesday to free up hospital beds for the seriously ill.

Japanese lawmakers resumed Diet deliberations on Friday after a two-day suspension due to the declaration of a state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak.

At an Upper House plenary session, lawmakers wearing facemasks disinfected their hands before entering the chamber. They avoided sitting next to each other.

Japan's labor ministry says job placement centers will offer counseling to foreign workers to prevent unfair treatment by employers hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

The ministry plans to deploy 40 counselors at job placement centers in areas with large numbers of foreign residents. The counselors will handle complaints from foreign workers and give advice to their employers.

Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo says it's good that the central and Tokyo metropolitan governments have agreed on the types of businesses that will be requested to close temporarily under the state of emergency to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Abe told reporters on Friday that it is important to do everything possible under the law to contain the spread of infections.

Kyoto Prefecture and Kyoto City in western Japan are to ask the central government to put the prefecture under a state of emergency for the coronavirus pandemic.

Kyoto Governor Nishiwaki Takatoshi and Kyoto City Mayor Kadokawa Daisaku are set to announce their request at a news conference on Friday morning.

Japan's government has decided to reschedule ceremonies this month to proclaim Crown Prince Akishino as the heir to the throne.

Two Ceremonies for Proclamation of Crown Prince were scheduled for April 19 at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

A major Japanese airline group has offered to help make medical gowns to prepare for shortages that hospitals in the country may face amid the coronavirus pandemic.

ANA Holdings, the parent company of All Nippon Airways, floated the idea in response to consultation from the government.

The governor of Tokyo will on Friday unveil a list of business types that will be requested to close temporarily under the state of emergency declared to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Governor Koike Yuriko discussed the list with the central government's minister in charge of coronavirus measures, Nishimura Yasutoshi, on Thursday.

More than 500 infections were reported on Thursday, bringing the total to about 5,500. Tokyo and Osaka each saw a record daily increase.

The total does not include 712 cases linked to the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which was quarantined near Tokyo earlier this year.

Nearly 400 coronavirus infections were reported in Japan on Thursday, bringing the total to more than 5,300. And Tokyo saw a record increase for the second day in a row.

The total does not include 712 cases linked to the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which was quarantined near Tokyo earlier this year.