Japanese financial institutions are offering support for victims of the heavy rains that have battered southwestern and central Japan. Four major banks say they will lend money at reduced interest rates to people who need their homes rebuilt or renovated.
The banks are Sumitomo Mitsui, Mitsubishi UFJ, Mizuho, and Resona.
A lingering seasonal rain front may bring torrential downpours in western and eastern Japan through Friday.
Japan's Meteorological Agency says warm, damp air is flowing toward the seasonal rain front, destabilizing atmospheric conditions and causing rain clouds to develop in Shikoku, Kinki and elsewhere.
A magnitude 4.7 earthquake struck the Kanto region around 6:05 a.m. on Thursday, local time.
There is no risk of tsunami.
The Japanese government has instructed the country's 47 prefectures to take due measures as it approves a further easing of restrictions on events on Friday as planned.
The government maintains medical resources are available despite a surge in the number of coronavirus infections in Tokyo and its neighboring prefectures, and says a state of emergency need not be declared.
Japanese authorities reported Wednesday that 157 more people have been infected with the coronavirus.
That includes one person in the southwestern prefecture of Okinawa, which hadn't confirmed any cases in more than two months.
Tokyo prosecutors have indicted former Justice Minister Kawai Katsuyuki and his lawmaker wife Kawai Anri on charges of buying votes for an election.
Prosecutors say Kawai Katsuyuki handed out a total of around 270,000 dollars to about 100 people, mainly local politicians and supporters. They say he tried to secure votes for his wife's successful bid for the Upper House last July.
Torrential rains are swamping parts of Japan. The extreme wet weather has moved into the central and eastern part of the country, after causing widespread damage in the southwestern region of Kyushu. More than 55 people have died, and over 15 others are missing.
The Meteorological Agency has switched a heavy rain emergency warning for Gifu and Nagano prefectures to a warning. But officials are telling residents to stay vigilant as the water is still rising in local rivers.
Japan's top spokesperson has expressed hope to continue cooperating with the United States over the coronavirus and other global health issues. The remark follows Washington's official notification to the United Nations of its intent to withdraw from the World Health Organization.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide said he is aware of the move. He also said he understands that the withdrawal will take place in one year.
Torrential rain in western Japan has left dozens of hospitals and welfare facilities flooded, without power, or lacking water.
The health ministry says, as of 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday, at least 23 hospitals were affected by flooding, power outages, and disrupted water supplies in the southwestern prefectures of Kumamoto, Fukuoka and Kagoshima, as well as in the western prefecture of Shiga. Officials say water trucks have been sent to the areas. They also say patients are being moved to nearby facilities.
The heavy rain that's been swamping the southwestern region of Kyushu has now extended into the central and eastern part of the country. The Meteorological Agency has switched a heavy rain emergency warning for Gifu and Nagano prefectures to a warning. But officials are telling residents to continue to watch out as the water is still rising in local rivers.
The areas are experiencing rainfall that hasn't been seen in several decades. Officials say the average rainfall for the month of July has already been exceeded.
The torrential rain that's been swamping the southwestern region of Kyushu has now extended into the central and eastern part of the Japanese archipelago. The Meteorological Agency has switched a heavy rain emergency warning for Gifu and Nagano prefectures to a warning. But officials are telling residents to continue to watch out as the water is still rising in local rivers.
The areas are experiencing rainfall that hasn't been seen in several decades. Officials say the average rainfall for the month of July has already been exceeded.
Japanese weather officials warn that continuing heavy rain in some parts of the country may trigger disasters. Click to watch our NHK World meteorologist provide the latest details and the rain forecast.
Authorities in the southwestern Japanese region of Kyushu, which has had record rainfall, are offering multilingual consultation services for foreigners visiting or living in Japan.
In Fukuoka Prefecture, Fukuoka Multilingual Assistance and Information Center is offering telephone consultations in 18 languages: English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Nepalese, Indonesian, Tagalog, Thai, Malay, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Portuguese, Myanmar, Khmer, and Mongolian.
The torrential rain swamping Kyushu has now hit central and eastern parts of the Japanese archipelago. Japan's Meteorological Agency has issued a heavy rain emergency warning for parts of Gifu and Nagano prefectures. The warning is the highest level of alert on the agency's scale. The areas are experiencing rainfall that hasn't been seen in several decades.
Nakamoto Yoshihisa at the Japan Meteorological Agency told reporters, "Cities and towns that have issued emergency warnings are experiencing unprecedented heavy rain. It's highly likely that some kind of disaster, such as landslides or flooding, has already occurred in landslide disaster caution zones and flood forecast zones. The situation is equivalent to the highest alert level 5. It is high time for people in affected areas be on alert and take every measure to protect their lives."