Sources say the Olympic organizing committee panel is likely to ask Minister for the Tokyo Games Hashimoto Seiko to replace Mori Yoshiro as the committee's chief. Hashimoto is a seven-time Olympian.
Mori offered to step down last week in the wake of a public backlash over remarks seen as demeaning to women.
A Japanese prefectural governor is expected to announce that he wants to cancel a section of the Olympic torch relay scheduled for May in his prefecture.
Shimane Governor Maruyama Tatsuya has been critical of the central government and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government over their handling of the coronavirus outbreak. He has said the Tokyo Olympic Games, scheduled for the summer, should not be held unless the virus situation improves.
Retired Japanese table tennis star Fukuhara Ai has set up a company to promote the sport.
The company, omusubi, opened its office in Tokyo. Its website was launched on Wednesday.
The Japanese Olympic and Paralympic minister says International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach "understands" the apology made by the chief of the Tokyo organizing committee for a gaffe about women.
Minister for Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games Hashimoto Seiko talked by phone with Bach late on Thursday.
The world swimming body FINA says it will postpone artistic swimming's final qualifier for the Tokyo Olympics from March to May due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The qualifier would have been the first test event for the rescheduled Games since the pandemic began. Organizers had planned to go over routines for event management and measures to prevent infections.
Medical workers who will provide healthcare for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics are facing possible delays in their preparations while the coronavirus state of emergency remains in effect in 11 prefectures.
University hospitals and doctors' associations are tasked with providing on-site medical care for spectators and athletes during the Games.
Lower-ranking sumo wrestler Daieisho has won his first title in the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament that ended on Sunday in Tokyo.
The year's first tournament started without the participation of the two Yokozuna grand champions due to health problems.
With six months to go before the Tokyo Olympics, organizers are making unusual preparations as the state of emergency has been put in place in the host city.
Athletes qualified to compete in the Games are resolved to keep training, believing that the events will take place. Meanwhile, some people in and outside Japan are voicing concerns about holding the Games this summer.
The New Year Grand Sumo Tournament kicked off at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan arena on Sunday without 65 wrestlers belonging to four stables who either tested positive for the new coronavirus or were in close contact with those who did.
Yokozuna Grand Champion Hakuho was among the wrestlers who tested positive.
Japanese animation film "Kimetsu no Yaiba," or "Demon Slayer," has shattered the country's all-time box office record. It earned more than 32.4 billion yen, or about 314 million dollars, in 73 days.
The film broke the previous record of 31.6 billion yen set by the 2001 animation fantasy "Spirited Away," directed by Miyazaki Hayao.
Japanese rugby star Goromaru Ayumu is set to retire after the coming season that starts in January. He spoke about the sport and his legacy.
Goromaru said, "It is sad that I'll finish my rugby career as a player, which I started when I was 3 years old. But I have been running with all my might for 32 years."
More than 30 percent of respondents to an NHK opinion poll have said next year's Olympics and Paralympics should be canceled.
The telephone survey was conducted over the weekend. More than 1,200 people answered the questions.
More than 30 percent of respondents to an NHK opinion poll have said next year's Olympics and Paralympics should be canceled.
The telephone survey was conducted over the weekend. More than 1,200 people answered the questions.
The president of the International Olympic Committee says foreign athletes and visitors to the Tokyo Games next year should be vaccinated for the coronavirus before entering Japan if a vaccine is available.
IOC President Thomas Bach made the remark during a meeting with Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko at the Office of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government on Monday. He arrived in Tokyo on Sunday for the first time since the decision was made in March to postpone the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics to next year.