Police in central Japan said Friday they have launched a probe into a man who was infected with the novel coronavirus on suspicion of interfering with business activities, after he went to local eateries expressing his desire to “spread the virus.” (Japan Times)

A man was killed and three commuters injured after he apparently leaped in front of a passing train at a station in Kawasaki City on Thursday, police said, reports Nippon News Network (Mar. 12). (tokyoreporter.com)

The number of coronavirus infections in Japan increased to 676 on Thursday with 56 new cases confirmed. The data was compiled by local governments and the health ministry. (NHK)

The Olympic flame has been lit in Olympia, southern Greece, marking the start of the Tokyo 2020 Games torch relay. (NHK)

Preventing Japanese from gathering to enjoy cherry blossom season because of coronavirus would be like "taking hugs away from Italians," the governor of Tokyo said on Thursday. (Japan Today)

SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son took to Twitter on Wednesday to offer a million free coronavirus tests, only to get hit by a barrage of criticism that he risked overwhelming medical facilities, prompting him to say he might reconsider the plan. (Japan Times)

The coronavirus outbreak is affecting the operation of elderly daycare centers in Japan as infections spread among staff and clients. Some facilities have been forced to suspend their services. (NHK)

At 2:46 p.m., a siren sounded to mark the exact time the quake struck ... as people across Japan paused to observe a moment of silence for the thousands lives lost nine years after a major earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident struck the country's northeast. (NHK)

Some major theme parks in Japan have decided to extend their closure period due to the spread of the new coronavirus. (NHK)

The Japanese government has decided to provide subsidies to help companies boost production of sterilizing alcohol, which is in short supply amid the coronavirus outbreak. (NHK)

Japan's newly approved 1 trillion yen ($9.6 billion) bailout for companies impacted by the novel coronavirus arrives as most small businesses limp along on just a month's worth of cash. (Nikkei)

Japan's lawmakers are deliberating a bill that would allow the prime minister to declare a state of emergency to tackle the coronavirus. It has passed one stage in the approval process. (NHK)

From “We built this city on sausage rolls” to “All the lonely Starbucks lovers”, we’ve all been guilty of mishearing a song lyric every now and then. (soranews24.com)

Toyota Motor will not raise base pay this year, the company told its union Wednesday, joining the ranks of Japanese companies freezing or limiting wage hikes to cope with the U.S.-China trade war and the coronavirus outbreak. (Nikkei)

The Japanese government is set to deny entry to visitors from the northern area of Italy which is the latest hot spot in the coronavirus crisis. (NHK)

A Japanese government survey shows that business sentiment among workers sharply dropped in February due to the outbreak of the new coronavirus. (NHK)

The Chinese government is suspending the visa-free privileges of Japanese who visit China for a term of no more than 15 days for sightseeing purposes. (NHK)

A growing number of Japanese stores and restaurants are having to shut their doors temporarily as employees become infected with the new coronavirus. (Nikkei)

Travelers arriving to Japan from two neighboring countries are now facing stricter controls. The tight restrictions are part of the government's efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus... but they've left some passengers confused. (NHK)

Ibaraki Prefectural Police have arrested a 41-year-old employee after he seriously injured a male colleague with an air compressor in Kamisu City, reports the Asahi Shimbun (Mar. 7). (tokyoreporter.com)

The health ministry said Monday it has urged local governments to prepare their hospitals for an influx of people infected with the new coronavirus, and has provided metrics that can be used to calculate the numbers expected at the outbreak’s peak. (Japan Times)

By harnessing the opportunities in unregulated markets across Europe, the small Mediterranean island of Malta rose to prominence in the iGaming industry. However, recent developments in the online gambling space are posing concerns for Malta's future prospects. (newsonjapan.com)

The Yamanote Line’s first new station since 1971 was unveiled to the media on Monday, with East Japan Railway Co. showcasing robots and other “futuristic” features to help people find their way around. (Japan Times)

A local politician in Japan has apologized for selling thousands of face masks via online auctions at a time when they are in short supply due to the coronavirus outbreak. (NHK)

Police in Shikama, Miyagi Prefecture, said Sunday they have arrested a 15-year-old boy over a fire that destroyed a house where he lived with five other family members, two of whom died in the blaze. (Japan Today)