Bilateral ties will almost certainly worsen if the Nippon Steel shares are sold to compensate laborers from the war, with tariffs eyed as potential retaliation.

An election win this fall could help Abe pick a successor or extend his term past 2021, but it would also prove highly unpopular in the middle of a pandemic.

Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura admits that the request was a political decision with no clear scientific rationale.

As COVID-19 numbers surge amid murky data disclosure, Hirofumi Yoshimura is gaining support for legal power to inspect and punish entertainment firms.

The plan, which has faced a barrage of criticism over the government's rollout, comes amid growing fears it could lead to increased coronavirus infections outside Tokyo.

The decision comes just four days after officials said they were not considering reimbursing the cost of canceled Tokyo trips under the troubled discount campaign.

Osaka’s leaders understand very well that their counterparts in Kanto face unique challenges that they do not.

With Tokyo, which has the largest population of all prefectures, excluded from the plan for the time being, it is unclear how much ripple effect it will have.

Local governments fear an influx of visitors from urban areas will lead to a spike in infections they are ill-equipped to handle.

The subcommittee on the novel coronavirus faces the challenge of finding the right balance between protecting health and the economy.