Health

Japan took another step toward building technology-enabled "super cities," with legislation set to pass that will help advance local plans by lowering regulatory hurdles.

Japan hopes to test 400,000 people per week for the novel coronavirus, with the health ministry planning to approve the nation's first antigen test kit for COVID-19 on Wednesday.

Fujifilm Holdings has developed a chemical that makes possible automated coronavirus testing in just 75 minutes by eliminating a process performed by experienced lab technicians.

Shares of Japanese household goods maker Kao rose on Thursday after the company said it has jointly developed an antibody that suppresses new coronavirus infections.

Japan's major shipbuilders have been maneuvering behind the scenes to win a contract to build the country's first hospital ship as the coronavirus pandemic threatens to create a shortage of patient beds on land.

A machine that uses ultraviolet light to disinfect hospitals has been shown to deactivate the novel coronavirus in just two minutes, providing a potentially effective method of removing the virus from public spaces.

Okayu cared deeply about her job in IT sales -- and also about the fertility treatment she was having. Eventually the 30-year-old decided it was impossible to reconcile both and unwilllingly resigned after concluding that her workplace could not accommodate her need to attend the fertility clinic at short notice.

Japanese electronics manufacturer Omron has begun laying the groundwork for growth after the coronavirus as telemedicine looks poised to become part of the medical sector's "new normal."

Japanese biotech company Takara Bio said Thursday it has developed a new reagent which allows coronavirus infections to be determined in about an hour, slashing the required testing time by more than half from existing methods.

About 20 Japanese companies, including Toyota Motor and Canon, will release patents and other intellectual property held in Japan and overseas for free to help fight the new coronavirus, Nikkei has learned.