Japan's Reconstruction Minister Akiba Kenya has refuted a report that he allegedly violated the election law during the Lower House election campaign in October last year.

Online magazine Friday Digital reported on Wednesday that Akiba provided remuneration to his state-paid secretaries for assistance during his campaign. In addition, it said that his election expenditure report included costs for distribution of leaflets, which is also not allowed.

NHK has learned that Japan's immigration authority will allow some foreigners who have refused deportation orders to stay with family members or supporters, outside of government facilities, if they meet certain conditions.

The Immigration Services Agency is working on a draft revision of the laws on immigration and deportation.

Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide says Japan will step up support for the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to establish the rule of law in the region. He says there are actions in the South China Sea that run counter to the rule of law.

Suga on Monday spoke at a university in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, where he is visiting as part of his first overseas tour since taking office.

Japan's foreign minister has conveyed concerns to his Chinese counterpart over Beijing's introduction of a national security law for Hong Kong.

Motegi Toshimitsu talked with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi by phone on Wednesday. The talks took place at the request of Chinese authorities.

An association of Japanese prefectural governors is urging the central government to make changes in the law to make it easier to enforce requests for businesses to close to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

In a video conference on Sunday, the National Governors' Association agreed to include a request for legal revisions in their emergency proposals.

Japan's top government spokesperson says it is regrettable that China is adopting a national security law for Hong Kong, despite strong concerns among residents and the international community.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide told reporters that he has yet to confirm media reports that China's top legislative body has approved the legislation.

Artists and other celebrities in Japan were among millions of people who have been posting protests online against a government bill that could extend the retirement age of public prosecutors.

More than 3.8 million tweets were posted by Sunday afternoon with a hashtag that expresses opposition to the revision of the public prosecutor's office law.

Japan's Diet has enacted a law that will enable the prime minister to declare a state of emergency to help contain the coronavirus outbreak.

The Upper House approved the legislation on Friday with support from the governing coalition and some of the opposition parties. The Lower House passed the bill on Thursday.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has sought opposition parties' cooperation to enact legislation that would enable him to declare a state of emergency if the coronavirus spreads further.

Abe met leaders of the five opposition parties individually on Wednesday, and asked them to cooperate in passing the legislation through the Diet as soon as possible.

Japan's Defense Ministry plans to submit a bill to the current session of the Diet to establish a space unit.

The ministry is considering creating the new unit and increasing the number of personnel starting this April to beef up its defense capabilities in the realms of outer space and cyberspace.