Yoshihide Suga
Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hashimoto speaks during a five-party online meeting at Harumi Island Triton Square Tower Y in Tokyo Monday, June 21, 2021. The Tokyo Olympics will allow some local fans to attend when the games open in just over a month, Tokyo organizing committee officials and the IOC said on Monday. (Rodrigo Reyes Marin/Pool Photo via AP)
Tokyo Olympics to allow local fans — but with strict limits

By Stephen Wade Jun. 21, 2021 04:47 AM EDT

Violinist Antonio Hernandez plays for the relatives of COVID-19 victim Miryam Rodriguez, while they are gathered for prayer by the hearse that carries her remains to Serafin Cemetery, before cremation in Bogota, Colombia, Friday, June 18, 2021. Due to regulations to contain the new coronavirus, relatives cannot enter the cemetery. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)
The Latest: Protests decry Brazil policies as toll tops 500K

By The Associated Press Jun. 19, 2021 05:46 AM EDT

People walk by posters to promote the Olympic Games planned to start in the summer of 2021, in Tokyo, Wednesday, June 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
Japan announces easing of virus emergency ahead of Olympics

By Mari Yamaguchi Jun. 17, 2021 12:38 AM EDT

FILE - In this April 12, 2021, file photo, the Olympic rings floating in the water in the Odaiba section are seen from a window of a water bus, in Tokyo. Public sentiment in Japan has been generally opposed to holding the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. This is partly based of fears the coronavirus will spike as almost 100,000 people — athletes and others — enter for both events.(AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
Why are Olympics going on despite public, medical warnings?

By Stephen Wade Jun. 17, 2021 12:20 AM EDT

People wearing protective masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus walk along a pedestrian crossing Wednesday, June 16, 2021, in Tokyo. The Japanese capital confirmed more than 500 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan looks to ease virus emergency ahead of Olympics

By Mari Yamaguchi Jun. 16, 2021 09:23 AM EDT

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga attends a plenary session, during the G7 summit in Carbis Bay, England, Sunday June 13, 2021. (Phil Noble/Pool via AP)
The Latest: COVID-19 cases rise in Missouri tourist areas

By The Associated Press Jun. 16, 2021 01:25 AM EDT

Covid 19 Vaccine Minister Taro Kono, center, and Masayoshi Son, chief executive of technology company SoftBank Group Corp., left, speak to media after visiting an inoculation site set up by Japanese technology company SoftBank Group Corp. at a WeWork office Tuesday, June 15, 2021, in Tokyo. Japanese companies have joined the effort to speed up the country’s lagging coronavirus vaccine rollout before the Tokyo Olympics begin next month. (AP Photo/Yuri Kageyama)
Vaccine laggard Japan steps up shots with company efforts

By Yuri Kageyama Jun. 15, 2021 07:31 AM EDT

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, right, walks with US President Joe Biden during his visit to Windsor Castle, near London, Sunday June 13, 2021. (Chris Jackson/Pool Photo via AP)
After G-7, Biden says he's reestablishing US credibility

By Jonathan Lemire, Aamer Madhani And Zeke Miller Jun. 13, 2021 10:15 AM EDT

German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives at an official welcome at the G7 summit in Carbis Bay, Cornwall, England, Saturday, June 12, 2021. (Leon Neal/Pool Photo via AP)
Biden urges G-7 leaders to call out and compete with China

By Jonathan Lemire, Aamer Madhani And Jill Lawless Jun. 12, 2021 02:00 AM EDT

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato speaks during a committee at the lower house in Tokyo, Friday, June 11, 2021. Kato told a regular news conference Friday that “Japan’s position is to maintain relations with Taiwan as those of practical  and non-governmental” as stated in the 1972 Japan-China joint declaration. As China increases its influence in the region and tension rises, Taiwan has become a sensitive topic, especially as Japan, the U.S. and other democracies move closer to Taipei. (Toshiyuki MatsumotoKyodo News via AP)
Japan says ties with Taiwan are only unofficial

By Mari Yamaguchi Jun. 11, 2021 12:15 AM EDT

FILE - In this May 26, 2021, file photo, Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street to attend the weekly Prime Ministers' Questions session in parliament in London. Helping countries recover from the coronavirus pandemic will be at the top of the agenda for the Group of Seven summit when Johnson welcomes President Joe Biden and the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Canada to the cliff-ringed Carbis Bay beach resort in southwestern England on Friday, June 11. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, File)
Leaders head to COVID-themed G7 summit with vaccine pledges

By Jill Lawless Jun. 10, 2021 02:26 AM EDT

A plane carrying the vaccine cargo donated by Japanese government, takes off Narita International Airport in Narita, east of Tokyo, Friday, June 4, 2021. Japan is donating 1.24 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Taiwan to help the island fight its latest resurgence of the COVID-19 cases, as Tokyo, despite its painfully slow vaccine rollouts at home, tries to play a greater role in global vaccination distribution.(Kyodo News via AP)
Taiwan, feuding with China, gets vaccines from Japan

By Huizhong Wu And Mari Yamaguchi Jun. 04, 2021 04:25 AM EDT

Japan's Kaori Yamaguchi, an executive member of the Japanese Olympic Committee, speaks during an interview in Tokyo, on May 19, 2021. Yamaguchi, one of Japan's best-known Olympians and an executive member of the Japanese Olympic Committee says Tokyo has been “cornered” into holding the games in seven weeks in the middle of a pandemic. In an outspoken editorial published Friday, June 4, by Japan's Kyodo news agency, Yamaguchi said the International Olympic Committee, the Japanese government, and local organizers, are ignoring widespread opposition — 50-80% depending on the poll — to the Olympics from the Japanese public. (Kyodo News via AP)
Olympian Yamaguchi says Japan 'cornered' into holding games

By Stephen Wade Jun. 04, 2021 02:46 AM EDT

People gather on a street corner in the famed Kabukicho, a night entertainment district in downtown Tokyo, Friday, May 28, 2021, after the 8 p.m. government suggested closing time for restaurants, bars and non-essential businesses under the extended state of emergency. In Tokyo, life in the evening is continuing almost as usual as people in one of the world’s least vaccinated countries show increasing signs of frustration and defy largely toothless emergency measures. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
AP PHOTOS: Tokyo nightlife bustles despite virus emergency

By Mari Yamaguchi And Kiichiro Sato Jun. 02, 2021 09:21 PM EDT

A man receives the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at the Noevir Stadium Kobe in Kobe, western Japan, Monday, May 31, 2021. The stadium is being used as an inoculation venue for local residents over 65 years old. Japan, seriously behind in coronavirus vaccination efforts, is scrambling to boost daily shots as the start of the Olympics in July closes in. (Yu Nakajima/Kyodo News via AP)
Japan gives $800M to UN-backed COVID-19 vaccine program

By Mari Yamaguchi Jun. 02, 2021 10:04 AM EDT

FILE - In this March 25, 2021, file photo, the celebration cauldron is seen lit on the first day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic torch relay in Naraha, Fukushima prefecture, northeastern Japan. IOC officials say the Tokyo Olympics will open on July 23 and almost nothing now can stop the games from going forward. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool Photo via AP, File)
Yes. Tokyo Olympics are 'a go' despite opposition, pandemic

By Stephen Wade Jun. 01, 2021 11:04 PM EDT

FILE - In this May 9, 2021, file photo, a security guard wearing a protective mask to help curb the spread of the coronavirus walks in front of the Olympic Rings, in Tokyo. Japan, seriously behind in coronavirus vaccination efforts, is scrambling to boost daily shots as the start of the Olympics in July closes in. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
Japan's vaccine push ahead of Olympics looks to be too late

By Mari Yamaguchi Jun. 01, 2021 08:31 AM EDT

Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, right, speaks during a press conference at the prime minister's official residence Friday, May 28, 2021, in Tokyo. Japan extended a coronavirus state of emergency in Tokyo and other areas for 20 more days on Friday, with infections still not slowing as it prepares to host the Olympics in just over 50 days. (Behrouz Mehri/Pool Photo via AP)
Japan extends virus emergency with safe Olympics at stake

By Mari Yamaguchi May. 28, 2021 01:52 AM EDT

European Council President Charles Michel speaks during a media conference at the European Council building, after taking part in an EU Japan Summit via video-link with Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in Brussels, Thursday, May 27, 2021. (Kenzo Tribouillard, Pool via AP)
EU leaders express support for holding Tokyo Olympics

May. 27, 2021 06:37 AM EDT

A security guard wearing a protective mask to help curb the spread of the coronavirus walks in front of the Olympic Rings on May 9, 2021, in Tokyo. The Japanese government was quick to respond on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 to U.S. travel warning for Americans against traveling to Japan and denied impact on Olympic participants, as the country determinedly prepare to host the postponed games in two months. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Major Japan newspaper Asahi calls for Olympic cancellation

By Stephen Wade And Kantaro Komiya May. 25, 2021 09:50 PM EDT