The prime minister said the virus battle would be a long one, especially if people drop their guard, but pledged economic relief surpassing that for the 2008 financial crisis.

Speculation over when Abe might dissolve the Lower House for a snap election has resurfaced.

The government on Thursday set up a special task force to combat the spread of the coronavirus, clearing an important prerequisite toward any declaration of a state of emergency. The decision reflects a recent surge of COVID-19 patients, particularly in Tokyo, which on Thursday reported ...

In a nationally televised news conference, Abe aimed to placate concerns about newly enshrined powers to declare a state of emergency.

The state-of-emergency legislation is an amendment to a law covering influenza and new infectious diseases passed in 2012.

The prime minister’s big plans for 2020 — hosting China’s president, the Olympics and amending the Constitution — have been undercut by Japan’s muddled response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met separately with top opposition leaders Wednesday, seeking nonpartisan cooperation to swiftly enact a special emergency law. The law would allow the government to dramatically expand emergency legal powers, curbing the daily activities of citizens and businesses in hope of combating ...

Abe assured that the plan would include funding to subsidize working parents who must take time off to care for children affected by school closures.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed Monday to expedite the enactment of legislation needed to declare a state of emergency, in order to "minimize the impact on Japanese citizens' livelihood" from the rapid spread of COVID-19. "It is critical to always anticipate the worst-case scenario, and ...

In a rare weekend broadcast, Abe made an unusually emotional appeal for public cooperation and attempted to soften the blow of his government’s containment measures.