Yahoo Japan plans to ban sales of face masks on its auction site starting on March 14, as a severe shortage of masks due to the coronavirus outbreak drives up prices.
Yahoo Japan said on Thursday that the ban will be in place until further notice. The firm is to delete listings of face masks as soon as it finds them, at the request of the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry.
Japan and China have agreed to postpone Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Japan due to the coronavirus outbreak. Xi's visit had been scheduled for early April.
Japan's National Police Agency says it detected a record number of suspected cyberattacks in the country last year.
The agency's Cyber Force Center observed an average of 4,192 cases of suspicious communications per day. That's an increase of about 50 percent from the previous year's daily average of 2,752.
The number of coronavirus cases in Japan has increased to 1,036 as of 10:30 a.m. Thursday, local time. That figure includes 706 people from the Diamond Princess cruise ship. The vessel is moored at Yokohama Port, near Tokyo.
The tally is based on data compiled by the health ministry and local governments.
Japan's top government spokesperson says Tokyo will steadily proceed with its preparations for the upcoming Olympics and Paralympics.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga made the remark on Wednesday, following a statement from the International Olympic Committee.
Officials with Japan's biggest trade union group say the coronavirus outbreak is causing a great deal of anxiety for workers. They say that in response to the growing number of inquiries they've been getting on the matter, they've set up a dedicated hotline to answer questions.
The officials say in recent weeks they've been receiving more and more calls, mainly from contract and part-time staff.
The number of coronavirus cases in Japan has ticked up to 1,000 as of 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, local time. That figure includes 706 people from the Diamond Princess cruise ship. The vessel is moored at Yokohama Port, near Tokyo.
The tally is based on data compiled by the health ministry and local governments.
Seven new cases of the coronavirus have been reported in Japan on Tuesday, bringing the total to 987. That includes more than 700 from a quarantined cruise ship docked near Tokyo.
Cases are surging in Hokkaido. The governor of the northern prefecture declared a state of emergency last week.
Face masks have been in short supply in Japan amid the coronavirus outbreak as well as hay fever.
The industry ministry says domestic mask makers are operating around the clock to triple their outputs to about 100-million masks a week.
Businesses in Japan are adjusting to a new reality as they face the fears and risks created by the coronavirus outbreak.
Gym operator Central Sports says almost all of its 240 outlets will be closed until March 10. Other gym companies have taken similar measures.
Authorities in some prefectures where people are confirmed to be infected with the new coronavirus are providing multilingual information services for foreigners visiting or living in Japan.
Okinawa Prefecture has set up a round-the-clock hotline serviced by medical professionals who provide information on medical institutions that can handle foreign languages. The service is available in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese and Thai. The phone number is 0570-050-235.
The number of confirmed cases of the new coronavirus infections across Japan hit 980 as of 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday. They include 706 people from the Diamond Princess cruise ship moored at Yokohama Port, near Tokyo.
The tally is based on data compiled by the health ministry and local governments.
A Japanese Cabinet minister says organizers of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games are working on preparations for the torch relay to be held later this month as planned.
The relay is scheduled to start on March 26 in Fukushima Prefecture.
A Japanese official has asked Lebanon's president to cooperate in the case against former Nissan Motor chairman Carlos Ghosn, who is now in Beirut after skipping bail in Japan.
Japan's State Minister of Justice Hiroyuki Yoshiie spoke with Lebanon's President Michel Aoun and Justice Minister Marie-Claude Najm in Beirut on Monday.