Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu has declined to comment on media reports that Tokyo prosecutors want to question former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo about the annual parties for his supporters.

Kato said the matter is related to the activities of the investigative authorities.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu says there is no need at the moment to review the country's approval of the antiviral drug remdesivir as a treatment for COVID-19.

Kato spoke to reporters on Friday after the World Health Organization published a guideline recommending that the drug should not be used for hospitalized coronavirus patients.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu has recorded a radio message for Japanese abductees in North Korea. He pledged that the government will spare no effort to bring them home as soon as possible.

Kato, who also serves as abductions issue minister, recorded the message on Monday. It will be aired by a group investigating the whereabouts of hundreds of missing people possibly abducted by North Korea.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu says the Japanese government will keep a close eye on developments regarding China's coast guard, including a planned legal revision outlining its responsibilities.

Kato told reporters on Thursday the government is committed to defending the lives and assets of the Japanese people, including fishing boats, as well as Japan's territorial waters and air space. He pledged to continue to monitor and patrol the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea and deal calmly yet firmly with China.

Japan's top government spokesperson has expressed the government's intention to allow the resumption of business trips to and from China while implementing anti-coronavirus measures.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu referred to discussions now under way with China on whether to allow the resumption of business travel between the two countries.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu says the government will continue to work towards relocating the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Okinawa.

Kato, who is also the Minister in charge of Mitigating the Impact of US Forces in Okinawa, visited the prefecture for the first time since he assumed office on Saturday.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu says the prime minister has jurisdiction over the Science Council of Japan, and that his appointments were made legally.

Kato said at a news conference on Friday that regulatory reforms have been made so that the council can conduct its activities with a comprehensive view through which it's not bound by achievements in fields of expertise.

Japan's top government spokesperson says the suspension of trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange is regrettable.

All trading on the TSE was stopped on Thursday due to a technical problem.

Japan's top government spokesperson says arrangements are being made for a meeting between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu in Japan.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu said on Wednesday that Pompeo will take part in a four-way meeting with the foreign ministers of Japan, Australia and India during his visit to Tokyo.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu says the government is watching with concern the human rights situation of Uighurs in China.

Kato was speaking to reporters on Monday about China's policy for the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping indicated at a meeting to discuss Xinjiang policies that Beijing will continue to exercise ideological and religious control in the region.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu says the government will look into a minor collision between a Japanese patrol vessel and a Taiwanese fishing boat as necessary and deal with it in an appropriate way.

The Japan Coast Guard says the incident took place in Japan's territorial waters off the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea on Sunday afternoon. It says the Taiwanese boat was illegally operating in the waters.

Japan's top government spokesperson says easing of entry restrictions must be compatible with measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The government is gradually reopening Japan to foreigners from countries and territories where the outbreak appears to be under control.

NHK has learned that Health Minister Kato Katsunobu will become Chief Cabinet Secretary in the next cabinet.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Aso Taro will keep his posts. The cabinet will be formed on Wednesday.

The artist line up for MUSIC STATION's June 19th broadcast has been revealed.