Japanese researchers say recent volcanic activity on Nishinoshima has caused the remote island in the Pacific to increase in size.

The activity has picked up at Nishinoshima, one of the Ogasawara Islands, since mid-June. The uninhabited island is far south of Tokyo.

The Japanese government will expand the scope of a subsidy program to help small businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Owners of businesses that opened between January and March of this year will be eligible for the program which provides up to about 19,000 dollars in subsidies. Some freelance workers have also been included for the first time and may be eligible for up to 9,000 dollars.

The Japanese government is finalizing the details of its planned extension to the nationwide state of emergency, ahead of a formal decision on Monday.

On Friday, Prime Minister Abe Shinzo said his government plans to keep the measure in place for about a month to contain the spread of the coronavirus. It was set to expire on Wednesday.

Japan's government has decided to expand the state of emergency for the coronavirus to the entire country.

The Japanese government is preparing for a possible increase in domestic violence cases, amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The government is concerned that domestic violence cases could surge, as the outbreak forces people to stay home and businesses to shut down. Such changes could heighten people's anxiety and stress levels and lead to a possible increase in domestic violence. Victims of domestic abuse are often unable to get away from their abusers.

Japan plans to ask all people arriving in the country from the United States to self-quarantine for two weeks, starting on Thursday.

People with fevers or other symptoms arriving by sea and air are to be tested for the new coronavirus at quarantine stations.

Japan plans to expand its quarantine measures on Saturday to include people entering the country from most of Europe, Iran and Egypt.

The government said on Wednesday it will start asking both foreign and Japanese nationals from 38 countries to isolate themselves for two weeks in designated places such as homes and hotels.

The Japanese government has announced the it will expand its quarantine measures to include people entering Japan from most European countries, Iran and Egypt.

NHK has learned that the Japanese government is planning to expand entry restrictions to foreigners from parts of Europe where the new coronavirus infection is rapidly spreading.

The new restrictions will apply to three areas in Spain, including the Madrid region; four areas in Italy, including the northern region of Liguria; the Ticino region of southern Switzerland; and all of Iceland.

Japan's health ministry plans to expand its scope for coronavirus tests following revelations that two people who had not been to the Chinese city of Wuhan were found to have been infected.

The ministry now carries out tests only on those who develop a fever or display symptoms of pneumonia after having traveled to Wuhan or had contact with pneumonia patients from Wuhan.