Children in Tokyo sampled so-called "inclusive food" for those with chewing or swallowing difficulties at an event on Sunday.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has been developing meals of this type for children in a joint project with the University of Tokyo and Tokyo Medical and Dental University.

We know there are plenty of people out there with more than enough money in the bank to surprise their significant other with a brand-new car for Christmas. And we're also sure that Lexus' annual "December to Remember" sales event must be successful enough that the automaker commits to running it each and every year. But for the vast majority of Americans, the idea of slapping a big red bow on a crisp white Lexus remains little more than a pipe dream.

Apparently, we're not the only ones wondering who is surprising their loved ones with new cars. The crew from Saturday Night Live — Beck Bennet, Heidi Gardner and host Timothée Chalamet — put together a very humorous skit that reminds us of the fact that this December is a wee bit different than past Decembers, and that maybe an expensive purchase could have negative side effects. And in fact, end-of-year sales campaigns from many industries have been reframed as the pandemic rages on.

Organizers of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympic have announced new schedules for the Games' test events.

The organizing committee for the Games made the announcement on Friday. The games had been rescheduled for next year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A wintertime illumination event has started in Kabukicho, a nightlife district in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward that was hit hard by the economic impact of the coronavirus.

About 120,000 LED lights on roadside trees were lit on Monday evening in front of the Shinjuku ward office to kick off the event.

An illumination in the shape of Shuri Castle's main hall has been set up in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan, as part of a project to rebuild the monument that was destroyed in a fire nearly one year ago.

Senior high school students led the countdown for the unveiling of the LED-illuminated structure at a commercial complex in Naha City on Wednesday night.

Tokyo will host an international gymnastics event next month. It will be the first competition of an Olympic sport to be held in Japan since the outbreak of the coronavirus.

The president of the International Gymnastics Federation, Watanabe Morinari, made the announcement on Monday.

Japanese swimming star Ikee Rikako delivered a speech at an event marking the start of the one-year countdown to the Tokyo Olympics.

The Tokyo organizing committee held the closed-door event on Thursday at the National Stadium, the main venue for the games.

Japan's minister in charge of the coronavirus response has asked a government subcommittee on the virus for its views on easing restrictions on events.

Economic Revitalization Minister Nishimura Yasutoshi made the request at a meeting of the subcommittee in Tokyo on Wednesday. Other participants included health minister Kato Katsunobu and subcommittee chair Omi Shigeru.

Japan's minister in charge of the coronavirus response says the government will seek expert advice on whether to further ease the restrictions on public events.

Nishimura Yasutoshi took up the issue during a video conference with the leaders of three major business organizations.

An event to pray for the safety and success of the July Grand Sumo Tournament was held on Saturday at an arena in Tokyo. Only a limited number of sumo officials were allowed to attend due to the coronavirus threat.

Japan Sumo Association Chairman Hakkaku and other stable masters were among those who showed up at the Ryogoku Kokugikan hall.

NHK has learned that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has given up on his plan to attend a ceremony in Hiroshima City, western Japan, to mark the 1945 US atomic bombing of the city.

Sources say the decision is due to the coronavirus pandemic. Japan has banned entry by foreign nationals from the United States. Even if the UN chief were allowed to enter Japan, he would be asked to self-isolate for 14 days after arriving.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he wants organizers of large-scale events to continue exercising caution by assessing the risk of coronavirus infections.

Abe spoke at a meeting of the government's task force on Friday, a day after a panel of experts came up with a set of proposals to contain the spread of the virus.

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.

A test event for the Tokyo Paralympics will be scaled down and held without spectators due to the coronavirus outbreak in Japan.

The Japanese Para-Sports Association says the boccia tournament will not be held as an international event.