National
Japan's new university entrance exams begin
Japan's new unified university entrance exams started Saturday across the country as organizers took anti-coronavirus measures such as requiring test-takers to wear masks and disinfect their hands and ensuring that venues are well ventilated. The exams, which replaced the National Center Test for University Admissions, drew a total of 535,245… Read
Tokyo reports 1,809 new coronavirus cases; nationwide tally 7,014
The Tokyo metropolitan government on Saturday reported 1,809 new cases of the coronavirus, down 192 from Friday. The tally brought Tokyo's cumulative total to 83,878. The number (953 men and 856 women) is the result of 14,106 tests conducted on Jan 13. By age group, the most number of cases… Read
No. of virus patients recuperating at home tops 30,000
The number of coronavirus patients recuperating at home in Japan reached 30,208 this week, the health ministry said Saturday. The figure as of Wednesday was 1.7 times that of the previous week as the country faces a third wave of novel coronavirus infections. The figure compares to 14,806 hospitalized patients,… Read
Gov't eyes punishment for refusal to comply with COVID-19 measures
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's administration is readying legislation to punish those refusing to comply with government-mandated COVID-19 measures, as Japan on Friday marked one year since the first case of coronavirus infection was confirmed in the country. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare held a meeting the same day… Read
¥742 bil in reserve funds added to subsidies for restaurants
The cabinet decided Friday to use 741.8 billion yen in reserve funds for fiscal 2020 to increase subsidies for restaurants and bars cutting business hours following the latest emergency declaration over the resurgent coronavirus pandemic. The funding will be provided so that municipalities can offer financial support to operators more… Read
Fukuoka town erects 7-meter gorilla scarecrow as symbol of strength against COVID-19
We are soon approaching a full year since the re-emergence of the legendary yokai Amabie, whom you might recall famously said: “If an epidemic spreads, draw a picture of me and show it to everyone.” So we did. Thousands upon thousands of pictures flooded the Internet and then came the Amabie donuts, Amabie… Read
Hiroshima to conduct PCR tests for 800,000 to battle COVID-19
Hiroshima Prefecture said on Friday it will carry out large-scale polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing to curb the spread of coronavirus, a rarity in a nation that lags far behind many other countries in the number of tests conducted. The prefecture aims to conduct PCR tests for 800,000 people in… Read
Tokyo reports 2,001 new coronavirus cases; nationwide tally 7,133
The Tokyo metropolitan government on Friday reported 2,001 new cases of the coronavirus, up 499 from Thursday. The tally brought Tokyo's cumulative total to 82,069. The number is the result of 17,000 tests conducted on Jan 12. By age group, the most number of cases were people in their 20s… Read
5th anniversary of fatal bus crash in Nagano observed
Relatives of victims of a fatal bus crash on Friday marked the fifth anniversary of the accident that claimed the lives of 13 passengers and two drivers in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, on Jan 15, 2016. The group, which was fewer in number than recent years because of the coronavirus, also… Read
Saizeriya president calls requests not to eat out for lunch ‘nonsense’
The Japanese government declared a second state of emergency following a surge in coronavirus cases in Tokyo and three neighboring prefectures on Jan 7. Following prefectural governors' request, the central government extended this emergency declaration to 11 prefectures on Wednesday. Eating establishments have been asked to close by 8 p.m.… Read
