Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide met with Bank of Japan Governor Kuroda Haruhiko on Wednesday. It was their first meeting since Suga took office last week.
The two exchanged views on the country's economy amid the global coronavirus crisis, as well as the bank's monetary policy.
The president of the Japanese Olympic Committee has welcomed a message by the president of the International Olympic Committee about holding the Tokyo Games even under coronavirus restrictions.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, JOC President Yamashita Yasuhiro said he concurs with IOC President Thomas Bach.
People along the Japanese Pacific coast are bracing for powerful winds and downpours. Severe Tropical Storm Dolphin is set to close in on eastern and northern Japan on Thursday or Friday.
The storm is currently in waters south of Tokyo and heading northeast.
The developer of the influenza treatment Avigan says the drug's efficacy in treating COVID-19 patients has been confirmed in a clinical trial.
Fujifilm Toyama Chemical, which is part of the Fujifilm Holdings group of companies, developed the drug. In the observational study, Avigan was given to coronavirus patients with mild symptoms.
Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has instructed his Cabinet to accelerate work to submit a bill to set up a new government agency in charge of digitalization during the Diet session that opens early next year.
The first meeting on one of the prime minister's signature policies was held on Wednesday. All the Cabinet ministers took part.
The Tokyo Metropolitan government says it confirmed 59 new cases of coronavirus infection on Wednesday.
The preliminary figure reported at 3 p.m. brings the total number of confirmed infections in the capital to 24,453.
Japan's top government spokesperson says easing of entry restrictions must be compatible with measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
The government is gradually reopening Japan to foreigners from countries and territories where the outbreak appears to be under control.
The US magazine Time has included tennis star Osaka Naomi on its list of the 100 most influential people for the second year in a row.
Osaka recently won her second US Open title. She was included among the "Icons" on the list for 2020 released on Tuesday.
Severe Tropical Storm Dolphin is now heading toward Japan and could affect eastern and northern Japan on Thursday or Friday. Weather officials are warning that the country's Pacific coast could be in store for powerful winds and heavy downpours.
The Meteorological Agency says the storm was 230 kilometers south-southwest of Hachijojima Island at noon Wednesday. It was moving northeast at about 20 kilometers per hour.
Please click to watch our NHK World-Japan meteorologist provide the latest details on the Severe Tropical Storm Dolphin.
Japan's Pacific coast is expected to see powerful winds and heavy downpours as Severe Tropical Storm Dolphin approaches. The meteorological agency is warning of landslides and flooding in low-lying areas along the coast.
The agency says the storm was over waters south of Japan at 3 a.m. on Wednesday. It was moving north-northeast at about 15 kilometers per hour, packing maximum winds of over 108 kilometers per hour.
Four endangered snow grouse chicks have made their public debut at a zoo in Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo.
The protected species is designated as a special natural monument in Japan.
NHK has learned that the US manufacturer of the Aegis Ashore says the land-based missile defense system will be too costly to convert to offshore use.
In June, Japan's government scrapped a multibillion-dollar plan to deploy the Aegis Ashore due to opposition from local municipalities and other reasons. The Defense Ministry is now considering creating an offshore alternative. It is seeking modifications to radars and other equipment by the manufacturer.
The president of the International Olympic Committee has shown his confidence in holding the Tokyo Games even under coronavirus restrictions.
Thomas Bach posted a message titled "Olympism and Corona" II on the IOC website after sending it to athletes, IOC members and other related parties.