The Japanese government has decided to ease entry restrictions from October for foreigners from around the world, excluding tourists.

The decision was made on Friday at a meeting of the government's taskforce on the coronavirus response attended by Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide and other ministers.

The government of Japan may ease restrictions on entry into the country by people from around the world next month.

At present, people from 159 countries and territories are denied entry in principle. But the government is holding talks to ease restrictions with more than a dozen nations and territories where the infection is under control. The government has already resumed travel for businesspeople from Vietnam, Taiwan and elsewhere.

The governing body of Japanese professional baseball has decided to lift the upper limit on the number of spectators allowed to attend a game to half of stadium capacity in stages, from 5,000 per game.

At an online meeting of representatives of the 12 teams on Saturday, Nippon Professional Baseball decided that the cap will be gradually eased, depending on the discretion of each team. The easing of the restriction will begin on September 19.

The Japanese government may end its cap on the number of spectators at public events set at a maximum of 5,000, if new coronavirus cases are assessed to be on the decline.

Nishimura Yasutoshi, minister in charge of the coronavirus response, told reporters on Wednesday that the governing bodies of Japan's professional baseball and soccer are asking for the limit to be eased.

NHK has learned that the Japanese government is planning to ease the strict re-entry ban that has been in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The government is currently denying entry to foreigners from 146 countries and territories. The restrictions even apply to permanent residents and students. Exceptions can be made for childbirths and relatives' funerals.

Japan's government is set to begin talks with 12 countries and territories on mutually allowing entry of businesspeople.

The government task force met on Wednesday to discuss easing the entry ban on foreigners which has been in place to prevent coronavirus infections coming into Japan from overseas.

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.

The Japanese government plans to ease restrictions later this week on holding events based on experts' assessment of coronavirus infections in the country.

Members of the newly-established subcommittee on coronavirus measures met for the first time on Monday.

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.

The Japanese government has decided to ease entry restrictions from countries and territories where coronavirus infections are deemed to be under control.

The government coronavirus task force met on Thursday and decided on easing its policy, starting with business people under certain conditions.

Japan and Vietnam are in the final stage of negotiations to ease coronavirus entry restrictions and resume visits of each other's citizens on a limited basis.

Japan will first allow visits by businesspeople and technical trainees. It is targeting a resumption of travel as early as late June.

An amusement park in Tokyo's waterfront area has opened its doors for the first time in about three months. That comes after the Tokyo Metropolitan Government lifted the capital's coronavirus alert and eased restrictions on businesses.

Tokyo Joypolis, an indoor amusement park in the Daiba district, reopened on Saturday after taking steps to prevent infections. It had been closed since early March due to the coronavirus.

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.

Japan's government is strengthening its information sharing with authorities overseas to ease concerns over the domestic status on the spread of the new coronavirus.

An increasing number of foreign governments have started restricting entry of people from Japan. As of Wednesday morning, 29 countries and territories had taken such a measure, including China, South Korea, India and Israel.