Torrential rains that lashed southern Japan on Saturday began to ease in the afternoon, prompting authorities to change a heavy rain 'emergency warning' for Kumamoto and Kagoshima prefectures to a 'warning'.

Flooding continues to cause havoc in many residential areas, and Nakamoto Yoshihisa, Japan's Meteorological Agency official, urged people to remain alert, and follow any evacuation orders from their municipalities.

Japanese weather officials are warning of localized heavy rains in wide areas of western to northeastern Japan by Monday morning.

The meteorological agency says warm, damp air is flowing from the west into a front, causing atmospheric conditions to become unstable over most of the country.

Japan's weather officials are advising people to take precautions against heavy rain through Monday.

The Meteorological Agency says warm, damp air flowing toward a front over the main island of Honshu has made atmospheric conditions unstable over wide areas of western and eastern Japan.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is lifting the capital's coronavirus alert. This paves the way for step three, which allows bars and restaurants to stay open until midnight and allows amusement parks and pachinko parlors to reopen.

The metropolitan government issued a "Tokyo alert" on June 2nd following a spike in cases. The alert urged residents to remain vigilant against the virus with government buildings lit up in red as a reminder.

The Tokyo metropolitan government is moving to lift its coronavirus alert and further ease restrictions on business operations.

Tokyo officials say 22 new infections were confirmed in the Japanese capital on Thursday. Infection routes have yet to be traced for 10 of them.

NHK has learned that the Tokyo metropolitan government is moving to lift its coronavirus alert after 22 new infections were confirmed on Thursday.

Tokyo officials now plan to further ease restrictions on business operations on Friday.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is expected to lift its alert for the spread of the coronavirus unless there is a surge in infections on Thursday.

The government issued a "Tokyo alert" on June 2, citing signs of increased infections.

The Japanese government is to call on companies in Tokyo and 12 prefectures that are on a special coronavirus alert to reduce by at least 70 percent the number of their employees traveling to work.

Thursday marks exactly one month since the government declared a state of emergency in Tokyo and six prefectures, including Osaka.

Japan's foreign ministry has raised its travel alert for the entire world to level 2 on a four-level scale due to the global spread of the new coronavirus, urging Japanese people to refrain from non-essential overseas trips.

This level of alert for the entire world was issued for the first time.

Japan's foreign ministry is to raise its travel alert for the entire world to level 2 on a four-level scale due to the global spread of the new coronavirus, urging Japanese people to refrain from non-essential overseas trips.

This level of alert for the entire world would be issued for the first time.

Japan's foreign ministry has issued a travel alert for areas in South Korea that are reporting infections of the new coronavirus.

People without necessary or urgent matters are advised to stay away from Daegu City and Cheongdo County in North Gyeongsang Province.

Japanese companies operating in China are tightening measures to prevent their employees from getting pneumonia following an outbreak in the country that may be linked to a new type of coronavirus.

Japan External Trade Organization, or JETRO, says 156 Japanese firms are located in Wuhan and surrounding cities. The inland Chinese city has been hit by the pneumonia outbreak.

Honda has announced pricing details of the 2020 Clarity Plug-In Hybrid model, which will begin arriving at dealerships across the United States on January 17.