Former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo will appear at Diet committee sessions on Friday. He is expected to explain and apologize for remarks he made at the legislature in relation to parties held by his political support group for his supporters.
One of his secretaries was indicted on Thursday for allegedly misreporting income and expenditure connected to the parties.
NHK has learned that Japan's Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide plans to speak with US President-elect Joe Biden by telephone as early as Thursday.
Suga intends to directly extend his congratulations to Biden when they speak. He hopes to develop a relationship with the president-elect that is built on trust.
Astronauts heading for the International Space Station on board the first operational flight of a privately-developed space capsule have shared their thoughts ahead of the launch later this week.
Commander Michael Hopkins and two other US astronauts from NASA as well as Japanese astronaut Noguchi Soichi will be on board the Crew Dragon spacecraft, developed by SpaceX.
NHK has learned that new Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide will speak with US President Donald Trump by phone on Sunday night.
Regarding the Japan-US alliance, Suga is expected to convey his intention to continue the diplomacy of his predecessor Abe Shinzo, and work to strengthen bilateral ties.