Japan has dispatched its newest supercomputer to help combat the spread of the novel coronavirus even though it is not fully completed, moving up its scheduled launch from next year. (Nikkei)

SoftBank Group will provide Japan with 300 million protective masks a month at cost, starting next month, company President Masayoshi Son announced on Twitter on Saturday night. (Nikkei)

Millions of people will be inconvenienced by the Tokyo metropolitan government's business shutdown campaign as the city battens down against increasing numbers of coronavirus infections, but some of the megalopolis's most marginalized residents will lose their homes. (Nikkei)

Japan, with its teams of Covid-19 "cluster busters" has gained a lot of very useful information, including that only one in five infected people spread the disease, the World Health Organization said on Friday (April 10). (thestar.com.my)

In the months since the new coronavirus first arrived in Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has repeatedly clashed with medical doctors who double as health ministry bureaucrats over how best to respond, from testing to an outbreak on a cruise ship to treatment. (Nikkei)

Police in Kobe, western Japan, say officers who tested positive for the coronavirus were apparently infected at a welcome party for their new station chief. (NHK)

Japan's foreign ministry says one of its senior officials has been infected with the coronavirus. (NHK)

The government said Friday it plans to postpone this month's ceremonies to celebrate Crown Prince Fumihito's ascent to first in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne, while Emperor Naruhito described the coronavirus outbreak as "a great challenge to mankind." (Japan Today)

Data from an IT firm shows a sharp drop in night-time visitors to parts of Japanese cities that are usually bustling, after the government declared a state of emergency in the face of the coronavirus outbreak. (NHK)

The Kyoto Prefectural Government will ask the central government to add it to regions placed under a state of emergency amid the coronavirus epidemic, Gov. Takatoshi Nishiwaki said Friday. (Japan Times)

The operator of Narita airport near Tokyo said Friday it will shut one of the two runways as air travel demand has collapsed due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Japan Today)

The coronavirus outbreak has prompted a Shinto shrine in Kyoto to break away from a centuries-old tradition and set up large grass hoops that usually appear only in summer to fend off a plague. (NHK)

Japan's professional sumo association has reported the first case of coronavirus in one of its wrestlers. (NHK)

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has announced six categories subject to business closure requests to help contain the coronavirus outbreak. (NHK)

A labor union representing staff of Uber Technologies Inc's food delivery service in Japan called Friday for hazard pay and protection against the coronavirus for deliverers working on the front line. (Japan Today)

Aichi Prefecture has asked the central government to add it to regions placed under a state of emergency amid the spread of the new coronavirus, Gov. Hideaki Omura said Thursday. (Japan Times)

Cosmetics maker Kao sees brisk sales of hand soap to hygiene-minded Japanese consumers compensating for slower demand for its mainstay makeup line amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, in good news for investors anticipating higher returns. (Nikkei)

In this age of digital communication, it's hard to imagine how life was two decades ago. Japan boasts one of the highest internet penetration rates in the world, with over 117.6 million internet users. (newsonjapan.com)

The Japanese government will start mailing reusable cloth masks to all households in the country next week in a bid to address the continuing shortage. (NHK)

The Japanese economy will contract more than 11% in the April-June quarter as the coronavirus crisis intensifies, according to the latest consensus forecast of private-sector economists. (Nikkei)

A man has been arrested in Tokyo for allegedly breaking an entrance door at a sports club that remained open despite the state of emergency declared due to the new coronavirus outbreak, police said Thursday. (Japan Today)

The Osaka Evessa announced Tuesday that three more of their players have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of infected players and team officials to eight. (Japan Times)

Osaka Prefecture will launch an initiative aimed at promoting food delivery services as residents are urged to stay at home amid the coronavirus epidemic, Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura said Thursday. (Japan Times)

E-commerce giant Rakuten has become the 4th mobile phone carrier in Japan to offer nationwide service. (NHK)

The government has decided to allow school playgrounds to be open during the emergency school shutdown amid the coronavirus epidemic, so children can ease stress built up from having to stay at home, it was learned Tuesday. (Japan Times)