A remote island in Tokyo has been recognized by an international organization as an "International Dark Sky Park" because of its starry night skies.
Kozushima is one of the Izu Islands. It is located 180 kilometers south of central Tokyo. The nonprofit International Dark Sky Association designated Kozushima Village as an "International Dark Sky Park." The entire village is about 18 square kilometers in size.
Japanese sushi and hamburger chains are opening new outlets in Tokyo despite the coronavirus scourge. They are counting on rising demand for quick bites and take-out food to boost revenues.
Leading chain Kura Sushi plans to open six new restaurants by next October in areas such as Shibuya and Shinjuku. They are central transport hubs with heavy foot traffic.
Japanese automakers are stepping up efforts to develop software for self-driving vehicles. Many are establishing offices in Tokyo, away from production plants, to attract the IT specialists needed for autonomous vehicles.
Subaru opened an office in Shibuya in central Tokyo this month. It will specialize in the development of artificial intelligence for their cars.
NHK has learned that Japan's government is planning to arrange buses to shuttle people arriving from overseas from the international airports in Haneda and Narita to some hotels in Tokyo.
The Japanese government is asking people who arrive from overseas to avoid using public transportation and arrange their own vehicles to leave the airport, even if they test negative for the coronavirus.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government officials say 584 cases of the coronavirus were confirmed in the Japanese capital on Saturday, a new record.
The highest figure to date was marked on Friday last week, when 570 cases were confirmed.
NHK has learned that costs of anti-coronavirus measures for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics are likely to be almost equally shared by the Japanese government and the Tokyo Metropolitan government.
The anti-infection measures for the Games are expected to be about 100 billion yen, or around 960 million dollars.
Tokyo's governor says she prioritized both preventing coronavirus infections and maintaining social and economic activity in asking some people to refrain from receiving domestic tourism campaign benefits.
On Tuesday, Koike Yuriko asked Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide to either exclude Tokyo from the government's Go To Travel campaign program or ask people to refrain from using it for travel to and from the capital. As a result, the two agreed to ask people aged 65 or older and those with underlying conditions to refrain from using the program for such travel.
Additional costs for holding next year's Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics will be shared by three parties, with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government shouldering the largest portion.
The Tokyo government, Japan's central government and the Game's organizing committee agreed on the cost sharing plan on Friday.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government says 449 new cases of coronavirus infection were reported on Friday.
This is the third day in a row that the daily case count has exceeded 400 in the Japanese capital.
NHK has learned that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is expected to pay the largest portion of additional costs for next year's Olympics and Paralympics.
The extra spending is due to be shared by the metropolitan government, the central government, and the Games' organizing committee.
Organizers of next year's Tokyo Olympics say they have received refund applications for about 810,000 tickets.
The summer games were postponed this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, but purchased Olympic tickets remain valid.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government confirmed 533 new cases of the coronavirus on Thursday.
The daily tally for the previous day was 500.
In Japan, health authorities are taking more measures against the virus as infections rise... with Tokyo reporting 500 new cases on Wednesday.
More than 41,000 people have now tested positive for the virus in the capital. Fifty-nine are currently in serious condition.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government officials confirmed 500 new cases of the coronavirus in the capital on Wednesday.
The daily tally reached 500 for the first time since last Saturday.