Japanese Emperor Naruhito (L) confers the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers to former House of Representatives speaker Bunmei Ibuki at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on May 10, 2022. (Pool photo) (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

<May 11, 2022>

• China on Wednesday urged the head of the World Health Organization not to make "irresponsible" remarks, a day after he cast doubt on the sustainability of the country's radical "zero-COVID" policy.
  
  
• Wearing masks outdoors to protect against the coronavirus is not necessary providing social distancing is practiced, Japan's top government spokesman said Wednesday, with the approach of summer increasing the risk of heatstroke.
  
  
• Japan's government is arranging to double the cap on arrivals from overseas to 20,000 people per day in June, government sources said Wednesday.

<May 10, 2022>

• Toyota Motor Corp. said Tuesday it will suspend operations on 14 lines at eight factories in Japan for up to six days this month as it is difficult to procure parts due to the prolonged COVID-19 lockdown in Shanghai.

<May 8, 2022>

• Around 10 percent of people admitted to hospitals due to coronavirus symptoms continued to suffer from aftereffects a year after they were discharged, a recent survey compiled by a health ministry research group showed.

<May 7, 2022>

• Japan's League One announced the cancellation of Saturday's clash between Black Rams Tokyo and Red Hurricanes Osaka shortly before kickoff following multiple COVID-19 cases among players and staff from the team based in Osaka.

<May 6, 2022>

• Japan is considering allowing some foreign tourists to enter the country again in June at the earliest, a government source said Friday.
  
  
• Japan Airlines Co. said Friday it expects to return to the black in the business year ending next March on expectations that travel demand will grow as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have begun to ease.
  
  
• The Asian Games originally scheduled to take place in Hangzhou, China in September will be pushed back due to coronavirus outbreaks around the host country, a source familiar with the matter said Friday.
  
  
• Japan will further ease in June border controls implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and bring them on par with other Group of Seven nations, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said.

<May 5, 2022>

• U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Wednesday, but is experiencing only mild symptoms and has not been in close contact with President Joe Biden, according to the U.S. government.

<May 4, 2022>

• Japan's estimated child population fell for the 41st straight year to a record low, government data showed Wednesday, as women are believed to have refrained from having children due to the expanding coronavirus pandemic.

<May 3, 2022>

• Debate is emerging in Japan over how much longer people should wear masks to combat the coronavirus.
  
  
• Major Japanese travel agency H.I.S. Co. has decided to move into agriculture to diversify its revenue sources after a tough period in which the coronavirus pandemic dealt a heavy blow to the tourism sector.

Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - April 30~May 6