Experts have confirmed that more than 200 ants found at Aomi Pier on Tokyo Bay on Thursday are highly venomous fire ants.

The red imported fire ants were spotted at a container yard during a survey by Environment Ministry and other officials. The variety is native to South America.

Testing by Japan's health ministry suggests that 0.1 percent of people in Tokyo have developed coronavirus antibodies.

The ministry tested 7,950 people aged 20 or older from June 1 to 7 and analyzed their blood samples for the presence of certain proteins that indicate a past infection.

Japan's health ministry says tests suggest that 0.1 percent of people in Tokyo have coronavirus antibodies.

The ministry has tested about 8,000 people in Tokyo, Osaka and Miyagi prefectures.

Officials in Tokyo are working on preventive measures to prepare for another possible surge of coronavirus infections. They've set up a team of experts amid a recent daily spike in confirmed cases.

Monday saw 48 new cases in the capital including 20 linked to a downtown nightclub district. It's the 2nd day in a row with more than 40 positive results.

Nearly 20 people have so far announced their intention to run in Tokyo's gubernatorial election. Campaigning will kick off on Thursday.

On Monday, Yamamoto Taro, the leader of opposition party Reiwa Shinsengumi, told reporters that he will run in the election to be held on July 5th.

Authorities in Tokyo say 47 people tested positive for the coronavirus Sunday. It was the first day in six weeks the number of new infections in the capital topped 40.

32 of them were traced to nightlife entertainment establishments.

Japan's minister in charge of the nation's coronavirus response and the governor of Tokyo have agreed to cooperate on measures to curb the rising trend of coronavirus infections in the capital's nightlife districts.

Nishimura Yasutoshi and Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko met on Sunday. The mayor of Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward, Yoshizumi Kenichi, joined the meeting. Shinjuku is home to the Kabukicho district and other nightlife hubs.

An anti-racism march was held in central Tokyo on Sunday as part of the protest movement sparked by the death of George Floyd in US police custody last month.

The protesters included Japanese and non-Japanese people, who responded to calls on social media.

Officials of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government say they confirmed 47 new cases of the coronavirus in the Japanese capital on Sunday.

This is the first time since May 5 that the daily count for Tokyo has risen above 40.

An amusement park in Tokyo's waterfront area has opened its doors for the first time in about three months. That comes after the Tokyo Metropolitan Government lifted the capital's coronavirus alert and eased restrictions on businesses.

Tokyo Joypolis, an indoor amusement park in the Daiba district, reopened on Saturday after taking steps to prevent infections. It had been closed since early March due to the coronavirus.

Two of the largest venues have not yet been secured, however.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is lifting the capital's coronavirus alert. This paves the way for step three, which allows bars and restaurants to stay open until midnight and allows amusement parks and pachinko parlors to reopen.

The metropolitan government issued a "Tokyo alert" on June 2nd following a spike in cases. The alert urged residents to remain vigilant against the virus with government buildings lit up in red as a reminder.

The Tokyo metropolitan government is moving to lift its coronavirus alert and further ease restrictions on business operations.

Tokyo officials say 22 new infections were confirmed in the Japanese capital on Thursday. Infection routes have yet to be traced for 10 of them.

NHK has learned that the Tokyo metropolitan government is moving to lift its coronavirus alert after 22 new infections were confirmed on Thursday.

Tokyo officials now plan to further ease restrictions on business operations on Friday.