Japanese Economic Revitalization Minister Nishimura Yasutoshi says the government will announce a new direction for its "Go To" travel campaign in the coming days as coronavirus cases continue to rise sharply.
Nishimura said on an NHK program on Sunday that the government will impose some restrictions on the campaign, although he thinks there is nothing wrong with the program itself.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government officials say 391 new cases of the coronavirus were confirmed in the Japanese capital on Sunday.
It is the first time since November 17 that the daily figure came in below 400.
Japan's hospitals are under strain as the number of patients with COVID-19 continues to rise.
Hospital bed occupancy rates topped 30 percent in seven of the 47 prefectures in Japan.
Officials in Japan reported a record 2,586 new cases of coronavirus on Saturday.
Twelve people in 6 prefectures died of the disease, including three in the northern prefecture of Hokkaido.
Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has announced that he's partially halting government programs brought in to boost travel and dining out.
Suga was speaking at a coronavirus taskforce meeting on Saturday. Economic Revitalization Minister Nishimura Yasutoshi and Japanese Tourism Minister Akaba Kazuyoshi were also in attendance.
A ropeway system in northern Japan was carrying more than the usual tourists on Saturday. A special gondola was packed with salmon for the furry residents of a mountainside bear park.
The ropeway in Noboribetsu City in the prefecture of Hokkaido transported 20 fish as part of a novel event that started 9 years ago to entertain visitors.
The number of new cases of coronavirus in Japan hit a record of 2,560 on Saturday including Osaka Prefecture with 415, also a record high.
Japan Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide says he is partially halting government "Go To" programs brought in to boost travel and dining out.
Tokyo Metropolitan government officials say 539 new cases of the coronavirus were confirmed in the Japanese capital on Saturday, setting a new record for a single day.
Tokyo set its earlier daily record on Thursday, when it confirmed 534 cases. The daily tally has now exceeded 500 for three days in a row.
Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has made a speech in favor of free trade in the Asia-Pacific region to an online summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
Suga told APEC leaders on Friday that an increase in free trade, investment and connectivity based on international rules will help to protect a free and open region.
Teenage shogi sensation Fujii Sota has become the youngest professional shogi player to mark 200 victories.
Fujii holds two of the traditional board game's eight major titles.
Japanese officials are looking at how to respond to the coronavirus, which is now rapidly spreading through parts of the country. Officials confirmed more than 2,400 infections on Friday -- the highest daily tally ever.
Five prefectures, including Osaka, also broke records, prompting governors to raise the alarm. Many are pointing to the risk of eating out. Officials in the western prefecture are asking residents to eat in smaller groups and for shorter periods of time.
Japan's Cabinet ministers have urged people to take utmost caution against the coronavirus.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu said in a news conference on Friday that daily national infections hit a record high on the previous day. He added that the seven-day moving average of daily cases doubled in the last two weeks.
Japan's space agency announced that two more Japanese astronauts have been scheduled for long-term stays at the International Space Station.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, said on Friday that Wakata Koichi will stay at the ISS sometime around 2022, and Furukawa Satoshi around 2023.