Mazda has updated the CX-3 subcompact crossover in Japan by introducing a new engine and a new available body color.

Japan's health authorities say the country saw 70 new cases of the coronavirus and nine deaths on Sunday.

The number of confirmed infections stands at 15,847.

A destroyer of Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force has left for the Middle East to take on an intelligence-gathering mission to ensure the safe navigation of Japan-related vessels in the region's waters.

The Kirisame left Sasebo Base in Nagasaki Prefecture on Sunday after a ceremony that was scaled back due to the coronavirus. The ship has a crew of around 200.

Japanese police say the volume of traffic around the country has plunged amid the coronavirus outbreak, leading to a significant decline in accidents.

But there has been an increase in fatal car crashes in urban areas. Police suspect this is due to more aggressive driving on empty roads.

Japanese health officials confirmed 114 new cases of coronavirus infection on Saturday, including 36 in Tokyo.

Japan now has 15,777 confirmed infections. The list includes people tested at airport quarantine stations.

The Japanese government plans to decide on Thursday whether a state of emergency can be lifted in regions where the coronavirus outbreak is easing.

Prime Minister Abe Shinzo told the Diet on Monday that he will hear from experts on Thursday before announcing whether a partial easing is possible.

Businesses across Japan are slowly reopening even before the government makes its final decision on lifting a nationwide state of emergency.

More than half the country's prefectures are likely to ease restrictions put in place last month.

Temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius were observed in wide areas in Japan on Monday. Hot weather is also forecast on Tuesday.

Daytime highs rose to 33.4 degrees in Kofu City, west of Tokyo, and Kiryu City, north of the capital.

Some prefectures in Japan are resuming business as the government mulls lifting the state of emergency due to the coronavirus before the end of the month.

More than 30 prefectures are expected to have restrictions eased while Tokyo is likely to stay under the emergency declaration.

Japan's public health authorities will launch a new online system this week to improve information-sharing on people infected with the coronavirus.

The new system was developed by the health ministry to integrate data on infected people between the central and prefectural governments, and public health centers.

Japan's health authorities say the country saw 65 new cases of the coronavirus and eight deaths on Sunday.

The number of confirmed infections stands at 15,842.

Outings declined in most prefectures across Japan on the first Saturday since the government extended the state of emergency in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Mobile phone carrier NTT Docomo released pedestrian traffic data collected from its base stations, without identifying users.

Japan's health authorities say the country has not recorded any new coronavirus cases on Sunday as of 11:30 a.m.

The total number of confirmed infections stands at 15,777, including people who tested positive at airport quarantine stations.

Health authorities in Japan have confirmed the first death from the coronavirus in the country's northeastern Tohoku region.

The Miyagi prefectural government said on Saturday the deceased had received treatment after testing positive for the virus.