Japanese weather officials are warning of possible landslides and flooding in low-lying areas of southern Kyushu as torrential rain is forecast through Sunday.
In one hour through 8 p.m., 35.5 millimeters of rain fell on Ibusuki City in Kagoshima Prefecture. Miyazaki City had 27.5 millimeters.
The Tokyo metropolitan government says it confirmed 57 new cases of the coronavirus infections on Saturday in the Japanese capital.
The figure is the highest single-day count since the state of emergency was lifted on May 25. Saturday also marked the second straight day that the daily number in the capital has topped 50.
Japan's health ministry says the number of people seriously ill with COVID-19 peaked about one month after the country registered its highest daily tally of new cases.
The ministry compiled data from 6,462 hospitals that accepted coronavirus patients in April and May.
New cases of coronavirus are once again rising in Japan including among young adults. The nation's daily tally surpassed 100 on Friday for the first time since early May.
More than half the cases came from Tokyo. It confirmed 54 infections, marking the second time the number has topped 50 this week.
The Japanese government has lodged a protest with Russia over a geological survey in waters near the islands controlled by Russia and claimed by Japan.
Japan's foreign ministry says Russia had notified the Japanese side of a plan to carry out the survey from June 18 to September 18 in wide areas of the Sea of Okhotsk.
NHK has learned that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has given up on his plan to attend a ceremony in Hiroshima City, western Japan, to mark the 1945 US atomic bombing of the city.
Sources say the decision is due to the coronavirus pandemic. Japan has banned entry by foreign nationals from the United States. Even if the UN chief were allowed to enter Japan, he would be asked to self-isolate for 14 days after arriving.
Japan's railway operator is concerned that the planned opening of a super-fast magnetically levitated train system may be delayed due to a dispute with a local government.
Central Japan Railway, or JR Tokai, is planning to launch the next-generation railway service between Tokyo and Nagoya in 2027. It will later be extended to Osaka.
Sources say former justice minister Kawai Katsuyuki and his Diet lawmaker wife Kawai Anri allegedly gave cash to 40 local politicians in the western prefecture of Hiroshima to buy votes.
The two were arrested for a suspected election law violation over last year's Upper House vote in which the wife won a seat. Prosecutors suspect they gave about 240,000 dollars to 94 people.
The Tokyo metropolitan government says 54 new cases of coronavirus infections were confirmed in the capital on Friday.
The number of people in Tokyo who have tested positive now stands at 5,997.
The Japanese government will expand the scope of a subsidy program to help small businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Owners of businesses that opened between January and March of this year will be eligible for the program which provides up to about 19,000 dollars in subsidies. Some freelance workers have also been included for the first time and may be eligible for up to 9,000 dollars.
Weather officials in Japan are warning of possible mudslides as heavy rain is expected across much of the country on Friday.
A rain front and a low-pressure system are bringing localized downpours to the Kyushu and Chugoku regions in western Japan.
A plane full of Japanese business travelers has landed in Vietnam for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic prompted each country to issue travel bans.
The countries agreed to ease restrictions since local infections appear to be under control.
Regional gaps in coronavirus infections have emerged since the state of emergency was completely lifted in Japan a month ago. Tokyo and urban areas continue to report many cases, while 17 prefectures have not had any new infections in the past month.
Thursday marks exactly one month since the emergency ended on May 25.
Japan's Defense Minister Kono Taro says the government will withdraw a multi-billion-dollar plan to deploy the land-based missile defense system, known as Aegis Ashore.
Kono said, "The National Security Council discussed the matter and decided to give up on the plan to deploy Aegis Ashore in two prefectures, Akita and Yamaguchi."