Baseball stadiums in Japan welcomed back more fans on Saturday as a spectator limit of 5,000 people was eased.
Organizers of professional baseball games can now fill up to half the capacity of stadiums.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo has announced he visited Yasukuni Shrine on Saturday.
Abe tweeted that he told the souls of the war dead that he had stepped down as prime minister on Wednesday. He also posted a photo of his visit.
NHK has learned that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will be in Tokyo early next month for talks with his Japanese, Australian and Indian counterparts.
The four also met in New York in September last year. In October, they are expected to discuss China's increased maritime activities, and reaffirm their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu told reporters on Wednesday that the police will investigate the matter and that the government will examine the results of the investigation.
Kato noted that the Consumer Affairs Agency has imposed administrative penalties on Japan Life four times. He also said that strict measures have been taken against the firm's malicious business practices. He added that the agency is examining ways to protect consumers.
Tokyo police have arrested 14 people suspected of being involved in fraudulent business practices carried out by Japan Life, a failed health equipment dealer.
Those arrested include the 78-year-old former chairman of the company, Yamaguchi Takayoshi.
Lawyers for the victims say Japan Life solicited clients by displaying on company materials an invitation to a party funded by the Japanese government. The invitation was addressed to the firm's former chairman.
The company allegedly showed potential clients documents at seminars and other events in 2015. The documents reportedly said, "Chairman Yamaguchi Takayoshi has received an invitation from the prime minister" to an annual cherry blossom-viewing party.
A group of lawmakers from Japan's main ruling Liberal Democratic Party says it will urge the government to step up the function of its control over the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.
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.
Japan's government is easing entry restrictions for travelers from Singapore on Friday to allow short-term visits by businesspeople between the two countries.
This is in line with the government's policy to allow travelers from countries and territories where the coronavirus pandemic is largely contained.
Tokyo police have arrested the former chairman of a failed health equipment dealer on suspicion of fraudulent business practices. The company allegedly solicited clients by showing them an invitation to a state-funded party that bore the name of then Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.
Police suspect Yamaguchi Takayoshi, the 78-year-old former chairman of Japan Life, and 13 others associated with the company of fraud and other infractions.
Japan's e-money services have been under the spotlight after criminals used them to steal from bank accounts. Now officials say fraudulent withdrawals have expanded to another five payment firms.
Sources say one of them is PayPay, a subsidiary of mobile phone operator SoftBank. They say criminals used its services to make improper withdrawals from Japan Post Bank totaling 1.4 million yen, or about 13,400 dollars.
TOKYO — The financial misconduct trial of former Nissan executive Greg Kelly began Tuesday with Kelly saying he committed no crimes and was only trying to keep his star boss Carlos Ghosn from leaving.
The charges being heard at Tokyo District Court center on Kelly's alleged role in failing to report to Japanese authorities the future compensation of Ghosn, who led Nissan Motor Co. for two decades.
The Japanese government plans to expand catch limits to more types of fish in its surrounding waters. The aim is to make the country's commercial fishing industry more sustainable.
The government has drafted a plan that calls for new limits on 15 types of marine resources, including yellowtail and red sea bream.
NHK has learned that British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca plans to resume clinical trials of a coronavirus vaccine in Japan soon, following their resumption in Britain.
Sources close to the firm say the trials will restart this week at the earliest at multiple locations in Japan, with about 250 people aged 18 or older taking part.
A major US carrier, United Airlines, is closing a flight attendant base in Japan. The move comes at a time when the carrier is suffering poor business performance due to the coronavirus pandemic.
United Airlines and a union representing its flight attendants say a decision has been made to close the base at Narita Airport near Tokyo at the end of September.