The Tokyo Metropolitan Government says 212 new cases of the coronavirus had been confirmed as of 3 p.m. on Sunday. (NHK)

People in the Tokyo metropolitan area say they have witnessed what appeared to be a ball of light falling from the sky. (NHK)

Work to demolish the original version of Harajuku Station, long a symbol of Tokyo's Harajuku district, a mecca for young people, is set to start Monday, bringing its 96-year history to an end. (Japan Times)

With food deliveries expanding fast worldwide as people stay home amid the coronavirus pandemic, three players' growing dominance is realigning the industry in the United States, Japan and elsewhere. (Nikkei)

As a heat wave continues to grip much of Japan and send thousands to hospital with heat-related illnesses, medical workers worry that the similarity of symptoms to COVID-19 may place extra pressure on a health care system already creaking under the strain of the coronavirus pandemic. (Japan Today)

Japan has decided to ease entry restrictions for foreign students, imposed to curb the coronavirus, possibly within this month, government sources said Saturday. (Japan Today)

Land prices fell in about 40 percent in urban areas in the second quarter, reflecting sluggish demand from hotels and merchants and a slowing of transactions caused by the coronavirus epidemic, a land ministry survey shows. (Japan Times)

The requirement by many hospitals in Japan that women wear face masks while in labor to prevent coronavirus transmission has stirred debate among new mothers online, with some saying it was distressing while others argue it is essential to reduce infection risks. (Japan Today)

Japan received an estimated 3,800 visitors in July, posting a year-on-year plunge of 99.9 percent for the fourth consecutive month as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, government data shows. (Japan Times)

Amid a resurgence in coronavirus cases, the Nippon Foundation Disaster Emergency Support Center, an isolation facility for those with mild or no symptoms, has been erected in Tokyo’s Odaiba district. (nippon.com)

As the race for the White House heats up, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has laid out a foreign policy that seeks to restore U.S. leadership on the global stage and reinvigorate ties with traditional allies including Japan. (Japan Today)

Experts advising the Japanese government say coronavirus infections may have peaked nationwide, but that vigilance is required due to the risk of a resurgence. (NHK)

Although Japan appears to have more successfully contained the spread of COVID-19 compared to many other major developed countries, Japan's economy still struggled mightily in the first half of 2020. (fxstreet.com)

The governor of Iwate in northern Japan has criticized the national government''s “GoTo” campaign to encourage travel with discounts, noting the growing number of coronavirus cases. (outlookindia.com)

The nation's minimum hourly wage will rise by Y1 from the previous year to Y902 on average in fiscal 2020, the labor ministry said Friday. (Japan Times)

Japan's department store sales in July dropped 20.3 percent from a year earlier due to the continuing impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic and the prolonged rainy season, an industry body said Friday. (Japan Today)

Tokyo to Rome, first class for $90 sounds too good to be true. (news.com.au)

As people stay home longer amid the spread of COVID-19 infections, the popularity of pets is increasing, with more people seeking out animals as a buffer against stress. (Japan Times)

The number of people from the University of Tokyo who passed the fiscal 2020 career-track civil service examination has dropped to 249, the lowest since fiscal 1998, when the data first became available, the National Personnel Authority said Friday. (Japan Times)

The number of confirmed new COVID-19 cases in Tokyo on Friday is 258.That's the second day in a row it's over 200. (NHK)

Japanese e-commerce company Rakuten has withdrawn its second application to operate a bank in the U.S. amid opposition from potential rivals. (Nikkei)

Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested three members of a criminal syndicate over the alleged fatal beating of a man in Shinjuku Ward last year, reports TBS News (Aug. 20). (tokyoreporter.com)

Shiori Ito, a journalist and symbol of Japan's #MeToo movement, sued ruling party member Mio Sugita for damages on Thursday for allegedly clicking the "like" icon on several tweets she says defamed her. (Kyodo)

Teenage shogi sensation Fujii Sota has become the youngest-ever holder of two major professional titles for the chess-like Japanese board game. (NHK)

NHK has learned that the Japanese government is planning to ease the strict re-entry ban that has been in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus. (NHK)