Toyota is on track to introduce an electric prototype powered by state-of-the-art battery technology in 2021, but its chief executive warned that banning the internal combustion engine too quickly is a short-sighted decision. He explained that blanket bans could trigger job losses and electricity shortages while making cars more expensive.

"When politicians are out there saying, 'let's get rid of all cars using gasoline,' do they understand this?," said Toyota president Akio Toyoda during a Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association news conference. He's the organization's chairman, and his comments were first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

A group of European companies operating in Japan has called on the Japanese government to ease travel restrictions with Europe as soon as possible.

Michael Mroczek, the Chairman of the European Business Council in Japan, was speaking at a news conference in Tokyo on Monday.

A Japanese government panel of experts has given proposals on nationwide voluntary cancelations and postponements of events to help contain the spread of the new coronavirus.

The panel compiled the proposals on Thursday. It was headed by the director-general of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Takaji Wakita.

Yahoo Japan plans to ban sales of face masks on its auction site starting on March 14, as a severe shortage of masks due to the coronavirus outbreak drives up prices.

Yahoo Japan said on Thursday that the ban will be in place until further notice. The firm is to delete listings of face masks as soon as it finds them, at the request of the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry.