Japan's health authorities reported 413 new cases of the coronavirus on Friday. It's the first time since April 24 for the daily tally to exceed 400.
243 of the new cases were reported in the nation's capital, Tokyo. Neighboring Kanagawa prefecture reported 32 cases.
Nishimura Yasutoshi, Japan's minister in charge of the country's response to the coronavirus, and Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko have reaffirmed the need for more testing in the capital.
They also plan to continue easing restrictions on socio-economic activities in stages, despite a surge in cases in parts of the country, most notably Tokyo.
NHK has learned that the Japanese government plans to allow foreign nationals with certain residency statuses, including students and technical trainees, to re-enter the country despite a ban imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Those who temporarily left Japan before the restrictions were imposed will be eligible, on the condition they comply with requirements such as taking a PCR virus test.
Japanese Defense Minister Kono Taro and US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun have agreed that all North Korean missile launches violate UN Security Council resolutions.
The two met for about half an hour in Tokyo on Friday.
Localized downpours are forecast for western and eastern Japan through early Saturday. The southwestern region of Kyushu has had about half its average annual rainfall in just a week. People in affected areas are being advised to evacuate early as the situation could worsen quickly.
The Meteorological Agency says a rain front extending over the Sea of Japan and a low pressure system are destabilizing atmospheric conditions from western Japan to the Tohoku region in northern Japan. Rain clouds are developing over Kyushu and its neighboring region of Shikoku.
Officials in Tokyo are dealing with a jump in coronavirus infections. The number of new cases has now topped 200 for two days in a row. It's the first time that's happened since the start of the pandemic.
On Friday, officials reported a record high of 243 new cases. The capital recorded 224 for the previous day.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government says a record-high 243 new cases of the coronavirus were confirmed on Friday in the capital.
The figure exceeded the 200 mark for the second day in a row, surpassing the 224 posted on Thursday.
NHK has learned that more than 240 new cases of the coronavirus were confirmed on Friday in Tokyo -- a record high.
The figure exceeded the 200 mark for the second day in a row.
Officials in the city of Hitoyoshi in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, say they are unable to contact 40 people. Family and friends haven't been able to reach them. Torrential downpours have caused widespread flooding and landslides in various parts of the country. More than 60 people are dead and 16 officially missing.
The southwestern island of Kyushu has borne the brunt of the damage.
Japanese weather officials are warning of a wet and potentially dangerous weekend ahead for many parts of the country. Torrential downpours have caused widespread flooding and landslides. More than 60 people are dead, and over a dozen are missing.
The southwestern island of Kyushu has borne the brunt of the damage.
The Japanese government will go ahead with plans to ease restrictions on large events on Friday despite a surge in coronavirus cases in parts of the country, including Tokyo.
The government is raising the maximum attendance at spectator events from 1,000 to 5,000. Daily new cases continue to climb in Tokyo. The capital recorded 224 infections on Thursday, its highest daily total to date.
Japan's minister in charge of the country's coronavirus response and the Tokyo governor have met after 224 new cases were recorded in the capital. They agreed to step up measures in nightlife areas to prevent a further increase in infections.
Minister Nishimura Yasutoshi and Governor Koike Yuriko spoke to reporters after their meeting on Thursday.
Japan's nuclear regulator has demanded Tokyo Electric Power Company clarify the responsibilities of its president in the event of a nuclear accident.
Three years ago, the Nuclear Regulation Authority endorsed safety measures at TEPCO's two nuclear reactors at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant in Niigata Prefecture.
The Japanese government plans to tighten conditions to export coal power generation systems. It will only allow export of systems that meet the strictest environmental standards.
The government compiled an outline of its new strategy to step up infrastructure related exports on Thursday.