Weather officials say a seasonal rain front lingering over Japan is creating localized thunderclouds that will unleash torrential quantities of rain over western and eastern Japan through Sunday. They warn that the downpour could trigger landslides and overflowing rivers.

The Meteorological Agency says the rainclouds formed over the Tokai and Kanto-Koshin regions on Saturday because of unstable atmospheric conditions.

Coronavirus infections are continuing to increase in Japan. There were more than 700 new cases on Friday, including 260 in Tokyo.

It's the fourth straight day that the figure has topped 200, and the 16th consecutive day with cases in the triple digits.

U.S. prosecutors claim that the son of Carlos Ghosn made roughly $500,000 in cryptocurrency payments to one of the men who helped smuggle the former Nissan executive from Japan and into Lebanon.

Heavy rains are pounding parts of Kyushu and Shikoku. Weather officials warn that wide areas of western and eastern Japan may also be subject to more rain through Sunday.

The Meteorological Agency says a lingering seasonal rain front and a low-pressure system are causing unstable atmospheric conditions in western Japan.

Heavy rain is pounding parts of northern Kyushu. Weather officials warn that wide areas of western and eastern Japan may also be hit through Sunday.

The Meteorological Agency says a lingering seasonal rain front and a low pressure system are making atmospheric conditions unstable in western Japan.

A large number of people visited a famed food market in the northern prefecture of Hokkaido on Thursday, the start of a four-day weekend.

More than 40 fishmongers and other workers serve a variety of delicacies fresh from the sea and farms at Washo Ichiba market, which is located in the center of Kushiro city.

Japan's government is set to begin talks with 12 countries and territories on mutually allowing entry of businesspeople.

The government task force met on Wednesday to discuss easing the entry ban on foreigners which has been in place to prevent coronavirus infections coming into Japan from overseas.

Japan's health minister says he wants to raise the country's coronavirus testing capacity at airports to prepare for easing of travel restrictions.

Kato Katsunobu told reporters on Tuesday that he plans to raise the number of PCR tests at airports from the current maximum of 2,300 per day to 10,000 by the end of September. He said he will do so by encouraging the use of saliva in such tests.

Eating grilled eels in this season has been a long-standing tradition in Japan. This year consumers will be pleased to see the price drop slightly.

Japan's Fisheries Agency says the domestic catch of juvenile Japanese eels for cultivation between last November and April was 17.1 tons -- the highest level in six years.

Japan's health ministry has set up a new team aimed at leading negotiations with overseas developers of coronavirus vaccines.

Health minister Kato Katsunobu revealed on Monday that negotiations between the team and pharmaceutical companies are underway as part of efforts to secure vaccines for the country.

Two deaths from the coronavirus were confirmed in Japan on Monday, bringing the nationwide total to 1,001. The tally includes 13 from the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was docked just outside the capital earlier this year.

The latest two were in Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture.

One of Japan's favorite theme parks is lifting its entry restrictions to allow anyone from around the country to come and visit.

Universal Studios Japan in Osaka began reopening on limited basis in June. It had been closed since the end of February.

The number of coronavirus deaths has reached 1,000 in Japan. The figure includes 13 deaths from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, that docked just outside Tokyo earlier this year.

Authorities confirmed the latest fatality on Monday. The number of infections now stands at over 26,000, including more than 700 cases from the cruise ship.

More than 660 new cases of coronavirus infection have been confirmed in Japan. It's the highest number of daily infections since the state of emergency was lifted on May 25.

Tokyo reported 290 new infections on Saturday. It's the third consecutive day for the capital to confirm over 200 new cases. On Friday, the metropolis reported 293 infections ... a record high.