Japan's labor and welfare ministry has started studying ways to encourage more men to take paternity leave.
A ministry survey last year showed that 7.48 percent of eligible men took paternity leave compared to 83 percent of women.
NHK has learned that two Japanese lawmakers have decided to leave the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party over alleged violations of the election law.
Kawai Katsuyuki, former Justice Minister and his wife Kawai Anri, Upper House member have told sources that they don't want to cause any more trouble for the party.
Dozens of Indonesian crewmembers of a cruise ship stricken with the coronavirus have left Japan for their home country after testing negative for the virus.
On Sunday, 44 Indonesians disembarked from the Costa Atlantica now moored at a shipyard in Japan's western prefecture of Nagasaki. They later boarded a plane bound for the Indonesian capital, Jakarta.
Nissan is laying off about 10,000 workers in the U.S. as its plants sit idle. These layoffs will largely affect folks who worked at plants in Tennessee and Mississippi, according to a report by Nikkei.
As of now, Nissan has announced plant shutdowns lasting through late April. The report says Nissan plans to rehire the workers that are being laid off once work is possible again, but they won't be getting paid in the meantime. We've asked for comment from Nissan to learn if everybody will be brought back on, or if Nissan has other plans in mind for restarting its factories.
It's been announced that comedian Buruzon Chiemi will be leaving Watanabe Entertainment on March 31.
On March 18, Buruzon revealed on Instagram, "I will be leaving Watanabe Entertainment, who has taken care of me over the past 4 years. I am grateful from the bottom of my heart to everyone at the office who supported me as Buruzon Chiemi." She continued, "From now on, as 'Fujiwara Shiori,' my real name, I will listen to my heart and live by my instincts."
About 100 more crewmembers who tested negative for the new coronavirus will disembark from the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship on Friday.
They are among the roughly 150 crewmembers who remain on board the ship docked at Yokohama Port, south of Tokyo. Many of them are non-Japanese nationals.
On February 21, former SMAP member Nakai Masahiro held a press conference where he announced that he would be leaving Johnny's & Associates on March 31.
At the beginning, Nakai immediately revealed what the press conference would be about, "Are we ready? Can we begin? Is it too soon to say that I will be leaving the company? Well, I am leaving the company. Johnny's & Associates. Today I am making that announcement." As this surprised the press, Nakai left the room to get a fresh start and returned after counting down into the microphone. He declared, "At this time, I, Nakai Masahiro, would like to hold long interview in regards to me leaving the company."
A third group of passengers are disembarking from the coronavirus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship near Tokyo.
More than 700 people have left the ship since their two-week quarantine period ended on Wednesday. Officials hope to see off another 450 passengers by the end of Friday.
A third group of passengers from the coronavirus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship near Tokyo are disembarking.
More than 700 people have left the ship since their two-week quarantine period ended on Wednesday.
A third group of passengers from the virus-stricken cruise ship in Japan will leave the vessel on Friday.
Coronavirus infection has been confirmed in 634 passengers and crewmembers on the Diamond Princess, moored at Yokohama Port, near Tokyo.
Passengers continue to disembark from the quarantined cruise ship docked at Yokohama Port.
As of Wednesday, a total of 621 passengers and crew members on the Diamond Princess had tested positive for the new coronavirus.
The second group of the passengers from a virus-stricken cruise ship will leave the vessel on Thursday.
The new coronavirus infection has been confirmed in 621 passengers and crewmembers on the Diamond Princess, moored at Yokohama Port, near Tokyo.
Japan's health ministry says about 500 passengers are expected to disembark on Wednesday from a cruise ship that has been quarantined at Yokohama, near Tokyo, because of an onboard outbreak of the new coronavirus.
The ministry says passengers who have tested negative for the virus and show no symptoms will start leaving the Diamond Princess on Wednesday following a 14-day quarantine period.
Japan's government says a charter flight will head for Wuhan, China, on Tuesday night to evacuate Japanese expatriates.
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi made the announcement earlier in the day. The government will start evacuating all expatriates who wish to leave the city, where the outbreak originated.