A survivor of the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima has again called for the total abolition of nuclear weapons.
Setsuko Thurlow, who lives in Canada, made the appeal in a video message on Saturday at an event sponsored by the Japanese NGO, Peace Boat.
A US group of foreign policy experts has called for boosting Japan-US cooperation in the face of challenges from China and North Korea.
The experts, including former US deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage and Harvard University Professor Joseph Nye, released a report on Monday.
Japan's Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has called on the international community to create a "united world" to overcome the coronavirus crisis.
Suga delivered a speech by video link at the special session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Japan's Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has strongly urged Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to act positively on maritime and security issues around the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.
Wang made a courtesy visit on Suga at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Wednesday. They talked for about 20 minutes.
A UN panel has described Japan's extended pretrial detention of former Nissan Motor chairman Carlos Ghosn as an "abuse of process." The Japanese government lodged an objection to the panel.
The UN Human Rights Council's Working Group on Arbitrary Detention released on its website a report dated November 20, outlining its opinions.
Japan's Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has called on the Group of 20 major economies to push for the availability of coronavirus vaccines and treatments for people around the world.
Suga spoke at an online G20 summit chaired by Saudi Arabia. US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping were among the leaders who took part on Saturday, at the start of the two-day summit.
Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has made a speech in favor of free trade in the Asia-Pacific region to an online summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
Suga told APEC leaders on Friday that an increase in free trade, investment and connectivity based on international rules will help to protect a free and open region.
Japan's health ministry has called on public health centers to make it mandatory to conduct coronavirus tests at facilities for the elderly when any of the residents or staff develops a fever or other symptoms.
The ministry issued a notice to public health centers across the country via prefectural governments on Thursday.
Japan's minister in charge of the government's coronavirus response has expressed an intention to review guidelines for restaurants and bars, as some group infections have recently been confirmed through eating out.
The government held a meeting on Wednesday. At the meeting, Nishimura Yasutoshi said he wants authorities to revise and strengthen the guidelines as soon as possible, as parties and gatherings take place at the end of the year.
Japanese officials are increasingly worried about an ongoing spike in coronavirus infection cases nationwide. The northern prefecture of Hokkaido is asking people in the city of Sapporo to refrain from non-essential outings and avoid risky activities such as dining in a large group.
Governor Suzuki Naomichi said, "We want all residents to be on the highest alert and do all they can to prevent the spread of infection."
The mother of a Japanese woman abducted by North Korea has urged Japan's government to resolve the abduction issue through dialogue between the leaders of the two countries.
Yokota Sakie made the appeal at a news conference ahead of the 43rd anniversary of the abduction of her daughter, Megumi, on Sunday. She was kidnapped on her way home from a junior high school. Megumi turned 56 last month.
Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has instructed his coronavirus taskforce to use all available means to prevent the spread of the virus, as the daily number of new cases increases ahead of the winter season.
Suga noted at a taskforce meeting on Tuesday that the national daily tally has exceeded 1,000 recently, and said the government needs to respond to the situation with the strongest sense of urgency.
An online petition is calling for legislation in Japan banning discrimination against sexual minorities as Tokyo gears up to host the Olympics and Paralympics next year.
Groups supporting sexual minorities, along with the international non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch, started collecting signatures online on Thursday.
Following the death of a prominent Japanese actor Takeuchi Yuko in an apparent suicide, the health ministry wants to remind the public that crisis counseling services are available.
The ministry posted on its website telephone numbers of services provided by municipalities and QR codes for non-profit organizations using social media.