Two new coronavirus infections were reported in Tokyo on Saturday, the lowest single-day tally since Japan declared a state of emergency last month, as the government prepares to lift restrictions on the capital and four other prefectures. (Kyodo)

The health ministry plans to raise subsidies for governments that bolster staff at child consultation centers to help them deal with the surge in child-support demand caused by the coronavirus, informed sources say. (Japan Times)

At least one-third of 86 hospitals designated by the Japanese government to provide advanced treatment have been forced to suspend part of their services such as elective surgeries and emergency care to make room for treatment of new coronavirus patients, a recent Kyodo News survey showed. (Japan Today)

Hana Kimura, a 22-year-old female professional wrestler who was among the cast of the most recent installment of the internationally popular Japanese reality show series "Terrace House," died Saturday after having been victimized by cyber-bullying, sources close to the matter said. (Japan Today)

Japanese tennis player Osaka Naomi earned more than 37 million dollars in the past year, becoming the highest-earning female athlete ever. (NHK)

The sumo world is grappling with its latest crisis as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, which has claimed the life of a 28-year-old wrestler and forced the cancellation of the sport's showpiece May tournament. (Japan Today)

Major department stores ramped up operations Saturday following a six-week suspension for the coronavirus pandemic. (Japan Times)

The Tokyo metropolitan government reported three new coronavirus infections in the capital on Friday, the lowest since Japan declared a state of emergency last month. (Japan Today)

The Tokyo cherry blossoms bloomed in late March. The public couldn’t resist. Case numbers of COVID-19 surged, leading many Western pundits to predict that Tokyo would become the next New York. (Japan Times)

Chiba Prefectural Police have arrested a fireman stationed in Ibaraki Prefecture over the alleged possession of marijuana, reports the Sankei Shimbun (May 20). (tokyoreporter.com)

Japan on Friday included 11 more countries, including India, on its travel advisory list as part of measures against the novel coronavirus pandemic. (aa.com)

Core consumer prices fell from a year earlier in April, recording the first decline in 40 months, government data showed Friday. (Japan Times)

Japan has a little bit of a mixed history with gambling. (newsonjapan.com)

Three Japan Railways Group firms said Friday they plan to scale back cancellations of regular bullet train services ahead of a recovery in travel demand expected from the government's lifting of the state of emergency in many areas of the country. (Japan Times)

A Japanese business daily apologized Friday after it erroneously reported that this year's Fuji Rock Festival, one of the largest outdoor music events in Japan, has been canceled. (Kyodo)

The government has set an additional criterion for foreign students hoping to receiving cash handouts of up to Y200,000 ($1,900) for students struggling financially amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, making only those in the top 30 percent of grades eligible. (Japan Times)

When you open the main page of AlfCasino, you enter the fantastic world where under the open sky live incredible creatures, including aliens, warriors, princesses, etc. They welcome you to sign up and start playing. (newsonjapan.com)

Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways will make it mandatory for passengers to wear a mask aboard planes and at the airport, starting in June. (NHK)

Japan's government says it is lifting the state of emergency for three western prefectures -- Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo -- and it may do the same for the Tokyo metropolitan area and the northern prefecture of Hokkaido next week. (NHK)

The Japanese government's coronavirus advisory panel has expressed support for the administration's plan to lift the state of emergency in three prefectures in western Japan. (NHK)

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach has suggested that the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Games will have to be cancelled if they cannot be held next summer. (NHK)

Japan is preparing to gradually ease its entry restrictions on foreign visitors, with business travelers and researchers being the first to get the green light. (Nikkei)

Many Japanese local municipalities are struggling to distribute the universal ¥100,000 coronavirus cash relief due to a heavy workload resulting from handling online applications. (Japan Times)

Doctors in Japan have successfully transplanted liver cells derived from embryonic stem cells into a newborn baby, in a world first that could provide new treatment options for infants. (Japan Today)

Japan launched a rocket Thursday carrying a Kounotori unmanned cargo vessel, developed by the national space agency, on its final mission to transport supplies to the International Space Station (ISS). (Japan Times)