The Tokyo Metropolitan Government on Monday confirmed 392 new cases of the coronavirus in the Japanese capital.
That is the highest figure announced on a Monday since the pandemic began. The Monday number is usually lower because many medical institutions are closed on weekends.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government on Sunday reported 556 new coronavirus cases in the capital.
That's the highest number announced on a Sunday. The daily tally has now topped 500 for five straight days.
Hospital beds in Japan are rapidly filling up as the number of cases of the coronavirus infection continue to rise.
A health ministry report shows as of Tuesday, seven prefectures were at Stage 4, the most critical of the government's four-tier alert system. Two more prefectures, Aichi and Mie, have been added to the five that were already at that stage previous week.
Tokyo's benchmark stock index rose sharply on Tuesday, closing at its highest of the year. Investors bought shares after a long weekend that delivered good news about coronavirus vaccines.
The Nikkei Stock Average ended the day at 26,165, up 2.5 percent from Friday's close. Buy orders were placed almost across the board from the opening.
Japan has broken a record for daily coronavirus cases, confirming 2,208 infections so far on Thursday.
The number has topped 2,000 for two consecutive days.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government plans to raise its coronavirus alert level to the highest of four levels on Thursday. The COVID-19 outbreak is flaring up in the Japanese capital.
Infectious disease experts and doctors are scheduled to meet on Thursday to assess the current situation.
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu says the government is on the highest alert following the recent nationwide surge in coronavirus infections and is taking steps to curb the spread.
Kato was speaking at a news conference on Wednesday afternoon.
Japan's internal affairs ministry says the number of elderly people in the nation has set a new record high. The ratio of elderly to the total population is also the highest in the world.
The ministry publicized the figures on Sunday, one day before Japan marks Respect for the Aged Day.
A powerful typhoon, possibly the strongest in decades, is battering Japan's southwest.
Typhoon Haishen is expected to draw very close to the southern main island of Kyushu through Monday morning. Authorities are calling on people to stay on the highest alert and evacuate promptly if advised to do so.
Officials in Tokyo reported 124 new coronavirus cases on Friday. It's the highest daily tally in over two months. The number is sparking concerns that the capital may be in the midst of another surge in infections.
This is the second consecutive day the number of new cases has hit triple digits.
An NHK poll shows that the disapproval rate for Prime Minister Abe Shinzo's Cabinet is at its highest since the launch of his second administration in December 2012.
The survey was conducted over the weekend. More than 1,200 people responded.
Japan's health authorities reported 25 coronavirus-related deaths on Monday, the highest daily death toll so far.
A total of 276 people have died in Japan, including 13 from the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined in Yokohama in February.
Sumo wrestler Asanoyama has been promoted to Ozeki, the sport's second highest rank.
The Japan Sumo Association made the decision on Wednesday. Representatives of the association visited the wrestler and his stable master at their lodging house in Osaka City to tell them about the promotion.