A legal change this week will allow Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to declare a state of emergency to address the new coronavirus outbreak if he deems it necessary. (Japan Today)

Hakuho made a winning start to the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday, overpowering Endo at an empty Edion Arena Osaka. (Japan Times)

Can applying sesame oil stop the new coronavirus from entering the body? Is it true that a hot water and granite rock bath will help kill the virus? Does taking vitamin D make people less susceptible to the pathogen? (Japan Times)

Twenty-seven countries and regions are restricting the entry of visitors from Japan in response to the novel coronavirus epidemic, the Foreign Ministry said Saturday. (Japan Times)

Police in Tokyo said Friday they have arrested an 86-year-old man on suspicion of sexually molesting two sisters aged 6 and 4 at a shopping center last October. (Japan Today)

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Saturday the government will launch a scheme to extend zero interest loans with no collateral to small and midsized companies reeling from the new-coronavirus turmoil. (Kyodo)

A court ruled Friday that Tokyo Medical University, which has admitted to rigging its exams to limit the entrance of female and certain male applicants, is obligated to reimburse candidates who were penalized. (Japan Today)

One of the world's largest facilities for producing clean-burning hydrogen marked its opening on Saturday, in a demonstration of northeastern Japan's revival from the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami. (Nikkei)

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency will begin flight tests in June to develop technology for the reuse of the first stages of launch vehicles, a government source said Saturday. (Kyodo)

Online marketplace operator Rakuten Inc said Friday it has decided to effectively postpone its plan to offer free shipping from March 18 following a backlash from retailers who are to shoulder the cost of the new service. (Japan Today)

Since the debut of the luxury Seven Stars train on Japan's southwestern island of Kyushu in 2013, sightseeing trains have drawn renewed interest among travelers. These resorts on rails offer everything from fine cuisine made with local produce to opportunities to meet people along the route. (Nikkei)

Many schools in major Japanese cities are providing open classrooms for students after the government's decision to close all elementary, junior high and high schools from March 2 over coronavirus fears as a large number of parents have no other way to look after their children, a Kyodo News survey showed Saturday. (Kyodo)

The Japanese government is asking travelers from China and South Korea to self-quarantine for two weeks starting from Monday in light of the coronavirus outbreak. (NHK)

Japan's Cabinet approved a policy on Friday that enables the government to invalidate the visas of people coming from China and South Korea. The measure is among those aimed at preventing the spread of the new coronavirus. (NHK)

In line with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s request last week that schools nationwide close their doors following the COVID-19 virus outbreak, 98.8 percent of all municipally run elementary schools have started extraordinary breaks, education ministry data has shown. (Japan Times)

The Japanese government is stepping up measures to curb the new coronavirus spread. As of next Monday, the country will begin quarantining visitors from China and South Korea. (NHK)

Infected staff member served food to customers at the register without wearing a mask. (soranews24.com)

As many schools in Japan close temporarily to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, part-time teachers and other school staff face a loss of income. (NHK)

Japanese wireless carrier SoftBank Corp said Thursday it will launch its super-fast 5G services on March 27, becoming the first of the country's three major mobile carriers to release details of its next-generation telecommunications service. (Japan Today)

Yahoo Japan plans to ban sales of face masks on its auction site starting on March 14, as a severe shortage of masks due to the coronavirus outbreak drives up prices. (NHK)

Japan's government is ramping up its battle against the coronavirus. The prime minister wants opposition leaders to back plans allowing him to declare a state of emergency should that become necessary. (NHK)

The transport ministry said Tuesday that all of the country’s shinkansen trains would create spaces for wheelchair users. (Japan Times)

Entertainer Masashi Tashiro was found guilty Wednesday of using and possessing illegal stimulants last November. (Japan Times)

Japan on Wednesday lifted an evacuation order for parts of Futaba, one of two towns where the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant is located, ahead of an Olympic torch relay in the region. (Japan Times)

One of the best things about spring in Japan might be non-existent this year because of the coronavirus. (soranews24.com)