Rescue workers continue to search for missing people in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, after record rainfalls triggered floods and landslides over the weekend.

Officials say 24 people have been confirmed dead. A further 16 are without vital signs, and 12 others are missing.

Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko has renewed her commitment to the fight against the coronavirus after winning a second term.

Koike spoke to reporters as she arrived at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building on Monday morning. She garnered over 3.66 million votes in Sunday's election.

Japanese business leaders have weighed in on what they are hoping for from Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko after she won a second term in Sunday's election.

The Chairman of the Japan Business Federation, or Keidanren, says Japan is entering a critical stage. Nakanishi Hiroaki says the governor should focus on containing the coronavirus and putting the economy back on track.

More companies in Japan are asking staff to take early, voluntary retirement, as some of them struggle to weather the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Private research firm Tokyo Shoko Research says 41 companies did so during the first half of this year. That is already more than the 35 in the whole of last year. It is also the first time since 2010 that the figure has topped 40 in a six-month period.

The Japanese government opened a one-stop consultation center in Tokyo on Monday to provide assistance to foreign workers.

The Foreign Residents Support Center, or FRESC, is in Yotsuya, Shinjuku Ward. Eight government-affiliated organizations have offices there, including the Immigration Services Agency and the Japan Legal Support Center.

Monday marks two years since torrential rains devastated large parts of western Japan. As of Wednesday last week, a total of 305 people have died or remain missing in 14 prefectures due to the disaster.

An NHK survey shows that 222 out of the total 296 deaths were directly caused by the disaster, such as landslides and flooding. The other 74 people died later from causes related to the disaster, such as health problems. The figure is up 22 from a year earlier.

Rain is intensifying in Japan's southwestern Kumamoto prefecture, which has already suffered deadly floods and landslides triggered by record downpours over the weekend. More torrential rain is forecast for the prefecture on Monday and Tuesday.

Japan's Meteorological Agency warns that developed rainclouds have been flowing into the Kyushu region, which includes the prefecture.

Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry has compiled this year's list of more than 100 top domestic companies in niche industries worldwide.

The ministry selected the firms based on their global market shares and techniques to produce key parts or materials for supply chains. It plans to support the research and development of those companies.

Japan's Defense Ministry will fly an Osprey transport aircraft to Camp Kisarazu in Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo, on Monday for temporary deployment by the Ground Self-Defense Force, or GSDF.

The Osprey is one of two that have been undergoing maintenance at US Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Japan's western prefecture of Yamaguchi since its arrival in May. The other Osprey will fly to Camp Kisarazu on Friday.

Rescue workers continue to search for missing people in southwestern Japan, after record rainfall triggered floods and landslides over the weekend.

Officials say in Kumamoto Prefecture, 24 people have been confirmed dead, 16 are without vital signs, and 12 others are missing.

Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko has won a second term after Sunday's voting. Koike laid out what she wants to accomplish over the coming years. She said her most urgent priority is fighting the coronavirus.

She said, "Under the nationwide state of emergency declaration, we asked almost all businesses in Tokyo to close down. But these days we know more about where and how the virus has been spreading. So we don't plan to ask all businesses to close down again. Instead, we will consider another effective measure to contain the spread of infection."

The death toll from floods and landslides caused by heavy rain in Kumamoto Prefecture, southern Japan, has reached 24. Officials say another 16 people have no vital signs and 12 are missing.

The record rain on Saturday inundated many residential areas.

Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko is poised to lead the capital through another four years. Ballot-counting is still underway in Sunday's election, which was shaped by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

In an interview soon after NHK projected her victory, Koike made fighting the virus her most urgent priority.

Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko is poised to lead the capital through another four years.

Ballot-counting is still underway in an election shaped by Tokyo's response to the coronavirus.