A number of cinemas in Japan have begun seating viewers at full capacity after the government relaxed the limit imposed on big venues due to the coronavirus starting on Saturday.

Cinemas had been limiting the audience to up to half capacity. Eurospace cinema in Tokyo's Shibuya district sold tickets for all 145 seats. Audience members sat next to each other as they waited for the movie to begin.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo has announced he visited Yasukuni Shrine on Saturday.

Abe tweeted that he told the souls of the war dead that he had stepped down as prime minister on Wednesday. He also posted a photo of his visit.

NHK has learned that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will be in Tokyo early next month for talks with his Japanese, Australian and Indian counterparts.

The four also met in New York in September last year. In October, they are expected to discuss China's increased maritime activities, and reaffirm their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law.

NHK has learned that new Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide will speak with US President Donald Trump by phone on Sunday night.

Regarding the Japan-US alliance, Suga is expected to convey his intention to continue the diplomacy of his predecessor Abe Shinzo, and work to strengthen bilateral ties.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has confirmed 220 new coronavirus cases on Friday.

The preliminary figure, reported early in the afternoon, brings the total number of confirmed infections in the capital to 23,828.

Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has instructed the internal affairs and communications minister to work toward lower mobile phone charges.

Suga met Takeda Ryota at the prime minister's office on Friday.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu told reporters on Wednesday that the police will investigate the matter and that the government will examine the results of the investigation.

Kato noted that the Consumer Affairs Agency has imposed administrative penalties on Japan Life four times. He also said that strict measures have been taken against the firm's malicious business practices. He added that the agency is examining ways to protect consumers.

Tokyo police have arrested 14 people suspected of being involved in fraudulent business practices carried out by Japan Life, a failed health equipment dealer.

Those arrested include the 78-year-old former chairman of the company, Yamaguchi Takayoshi.

Lawyers for the victims say Japan Life solicited clients by displaying on company materials an invitation to a party funded by the Japanese government. The invitation was addressed to the firm's former chairman.

The company allegedly showed potential clients documents at seminars and other events in 2015. The documents reportedly said, "Chairman Yamaguchi Takayoshi has received an invitation from the prime minister" to an annual cherry blossom-viewing party.

A group of lawmakers from Japan's main ruling Liberal Democratic Party says it will urge the government to step up the function of its control over the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

Japan controls the islands. China and Taiwan claim them. The Japanese government maintains the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory, in terms of history and international law. It says there is no issue of sovereignty to be resolved over them.

Japan's new Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has discussed his key policies of regulatory reform and digitalization with related ministers. Suga wants to present his own ideas in such fields, while taking over some policies of the former government.

Suga's cabinet started working on Thursday. He said he was determined to work hard for the Japanese people and will try to live up to their expectations.

Japan's health ministry will study possible glitches in its coronavirus contact tracing app, as an increasing number of users have been complaining about it.

The ministry says the app, known as COCOA, had been downloaded more than 17 million times as of Thursday since its launch in June.

Japan's government is easing entry restrictions for travelers from Singapore on Friday to allow short-term visits by businesspeople between the two countries.

This is in line with the government's policy to allow travelers from countries and territories where the coronavirus pandemic is largely contained.

Tourism businesses in Japan are starting to sell travel packages to and from Tokyo under the government's "Go To Travel" campaign to stimulate domestic tourism.

Major travel agencies such as JTB and HIS will launch sales of such packages at noon on Friday.