Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, right, meets with Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike on Oct. 8, 2021, for the first time since he took office. (Mainichi/Kan Takeuchi)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida vowed Friday to continue working closely with Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike in tackling the coronavirus pandemic "while assuming the worst-case scenario."

       In their first meeting since Kishida assumed office earlier this week, Koike likewise reaffirmed a cooperative relationship in areas such as disaster management, saying, "I would like to continue working with the central government to protect lives and health."

       The Tokyo metropolitan government on Friday reported 138 new daily coronavirus cases, reflecting a steady drop in the number of infections in the capital even as the cumulative death toll topped 3,000.

       The capital's seven-day rolling average stood at 145.4 per day, down 42.4 percent from the previous week. The number of hospitalized patients with severe symptoms fell by two from the previous day to 68.

       Despite the downtrend, Kishida cautioned against becoming too optimistic. "Based on this summer's experience, we must prepare in various ways, such as making arrangements to fully utilize hospital beds," he said.

       Toshiaki Endo, head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's Election Strategy Committee and a former minister in charge of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, was also present at Friday's meeting.

       Koike told reporters following the meeting that the three of them often drink together, adding that she was "happy" that Kishida was elected prime minister.

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