Japan

TOKYO (Reuters) - The Japanese government plans to keep setting aside money to promote domestic tourism and dining out in its next stimulus package, according to a draft of the upcoming package seen by Reuters, even as rising COVID-19 infections have prompted concern about the campaigns.

The draft stimulus package also included a plan to set up a fund to encourage investment in green technology.

TOKYO (AP) — The five Olympic rings are back in Tokyo Bay.

They were removed for maintenance four months ago shortly after the Tokyo Olympics were postponed until next year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The rings arrived on Tuesday after a short cruise from nearby Yokohama and are positioned on a barge in the shadow on Tokyo’s Rainbow Bridge.

The rings — painted blue, black, red, green, and yellow — are gigantic. They stand about 15 meters tall and 33 meters in length — about 50 feet tall and 100 feet in length.

TOKYO (AP) — The postponed Tokyo Olympics are getting a kickstart.

Local organizers on Friday announced a series of 18 test events set to begin in March and run into May.

The Tokyo Olympics are set to open on July 23, 2021, after being postponed eight months ago because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The announcement in an online news conference came the same day that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government reported a one-day record of 570 new coronavirus infections in the capital.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga pledged on Friday to compile a stimulus package focused on pulling the economy out of a pandemic-induced slump through green investment and digital innovation.

“We are looking into a package sufficient to underpin an economic recovery while achieving a digitalised, carbon-neutral post-pandemic society,” Suga said during a meeting of the government’s top economic council.

Suga did not offer any details on how big the stimulus package could be.

TOKYO (AP) — Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike remains firm about being able to safely hold the Olympics next year despite growing concerns about Japan’s recent resurgence of COVID-19 infections.

Japan has experienced an uptick of the infections this month with a nationwide daily total exceeding 2,000 as the government tries to balance preventive measures and business activity without further hurting the pandemic-hit economy.

“As the host city, I’m determined to achieve the games whatever it takes,” Koike told a news conference in Tokyo on Tuesday.

TOKYO, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Japan reported 2,560 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, renewing a record number of daily infections for a fourth consecutive day, according to the latest figures from the health ministry and local authorities.

The latest rise in cases brought the nation's tally to 130,915, not including those connected to the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined near Tokyo earlier in the year.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan will consider allowing companies to hold annual general meetings completely online, a government panel tasked with drafting the country’s growth strategy said on Thursday.

The development comes as COVID-19 has spurred firms to increasingly organise online annual general meetings (AGM) alongside physical ones, which are still required by law in Japan.

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s number of reported coronavirus infections hit a record high Thursday, and the prime minister urged maximum caution but stopped short of calling for restrictions on travel or business.

The Health Ministry reported 2,179 new cases, the first time Japan has seen more than 2,000 new daily cases since the pandemic began. The previous high for new cases was 1,723 on Nov. 14.

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares rose Tuesday, after the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit a record high on optimism that a vaccine may soon control the coronavirus and the economic destruction it’s caused.

Moderna said its COVID-19 vaccine appears to be 94.5% effective, according to preliminary data. It’s the second time this month that a company unveiled such encouraging numbers about a vaccine, boosting hopes that the global economy can return to some semblance of normal next year.

Tpkyo, Nov 16 (AP-PTI) Japan's economy grew at an annual rate of 21.4 per cent in the last quarter in a recovery from the shocks of the pandemic driven by both private spending and exports.

The world's third largest economy had logged three straight quarters of contraction and was already in recession by the time the crisis hit.