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.
This comes as the number of infections reported in the nation climbs above 1,000... including over 700 from the Diamond Princess cruise ship.
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has sought opposition parties' cooperation to enact legislation that would enable him to declare a state of emergency if the coronavirus spreads further.
Abe met leaders of the five opposition parties individually on Wednesday, and asked them to cooperate in passing the legislation through the Diet as soon as possible.
Japanese weather officials are forecasting blizzards for the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido from Thursday to Friday.
Japan Meteorological Agency officials say a rapidly developing low-pressure system is expected to reach off Hokkaido, and another is approaching northeastern Japan on Thursday.
Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways will slash domestic flights from Friday due to a drop in travel demand amid the outbreak of the new coronavirus.
The two Japanese airlines will for the first time curtail domestic services in the face of an increase in new infections.
Officials with Japan's biggest trade union group say the coronavirus outbreak is causing a great deal of anxiety for workers. They say that in response to the growing number of inquiries they've been getting on the matter, they've set up a dedicated hotline to answer questions.
The officials say in recent weeks they've been receiving more and more calls, mainly from contract and part-time staff.
The number of coronavirus cases in Japan has ticked up to 1,000 as of 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, local time. That figure includes 706 people from the Diamond Princess cruise ship. The vessel is moored at Yokohama Port, near Tokyo.
The tally is based on data compiled by the health ministry and local governments.
An evacuation order that's been in place since the 2011 nuclear accident has been lifted in some parts of Futaba Town, Fukushima Prefecture.
The order was lifted on Wednesday for nearly 5 percent of the town that co-hosts the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
Japan's government is planning to cancel its national memorial ceremony for the victims of the March 11, 2011, earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident because of the coronavirus outbreak.
The annual ceremony was due to take place on Wednesday next week, the ninth anniversary of the disaster.
Seven new cases of the coronavirus have been reported in Japan on Tuesday, bringing the total to 987. That includes more than 700 from a quarantined cruise ship docked near Tokyo.
Cases are surging in Hokkaido. The governor of the northern prefecture declared a state of emergency last week.
Japan's Olympic and Paralympic minister says the end of May would be an important time for the International Olympic Committee in deciding whether to hold the 2020 games as planned, amid concerns over the new coronavirus outbreak.
An IOC member said last week that the decision on whether the games will go ahead could be put off until late May.
Face masks have been in short supply in Japan amid the coronavirus outbreak as well as hay fever.
The industry ministry says domestic mask makers are operating around the clock to triple their outputs to about 100-million masks a week.
Businesses in Japan are adjusting to a new reality as they face the fears and risks created by the coronavirus outbreak.
Gym operator Central Sports says almost all of its 240 outlets will be closed until March 10. Other gym companies have taken similar measures.
Nearly 20 percent of facilities in Japan that provide nursing care have run out of surgical masks amid the new coronavirus outbreak.
More than 1,000 care facilities across Japan responded to a survey over the weekend by the Nippon Careservice Craft Union.
Three aides to former Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai and his lawmaker wife Anri Kawai, have been arrested on suspicion of violating the election law.
Hiroshima district prosecutors arrested Shinsuke Takaya, a policy secretary to Katsuyuki Kawai, on Tuesday. They also arrested Hiroshi Tatemichi, a second secretary to Upper House member Anri Kawai, and Yugo Waki, a senior official of her campaign team.