National
Gov't alcohol ban blunder shows limits in anti-virus measures
The Japanese government hastily withdrew plans to pressure restaurants via lenders and liquor suppliers not to serve alcohol during states of emergency over the coronavirus, but the controversy shows how it has been relying on impromptu steps in the absence of an adequate legal framework for addressing pandemics, experts say.… Read
Typhoon Nepartak makes landfall on Miyagi Prefecture
Typhoon Nepartak skewed northward and made landfall on the coast of the northeastern prefecture of Miyagi on Wednesday morning, veering off its initially projected course that would have taken it toward the Tokyo area where the Olympics are taking place, the weather agency said. The season's eighth typhoon, which reached… Read
Japan prehistoric sites added to UNESCO list as World Heritage site
UNESCO decided Tuesday to add a group of Jomon Era prehistoric sites in northern Japan, which provide insight into the hunter-gatherer society and the spiritual culture of that period, to its World Cultural Heritage list. The area comprises 17 ancient sites across the northern main island of Hokkaido and northeastern… Read
Tokyo reports record 2,848 new coronavirus cases; nationwide tally 7,629
The Tokyo metropolitan government on Tuesday reported 2,848 new coronavirus cases, up 1,419 from Monday. It was the highest number since 2,520 cases were reported on Jan 7. The average for Tokyo over the past seven days stands at 1,762.6. People in their 20s (951 cases), their 30s (610) and… Read
Tropical storm nears Japan, disrupting Tokyo Olympics
A tropical storm churned toward Japan and the Olympic Games on Tuesday, whipping up welcome waves for surfing medal hopefuls but disrupting other events with rain and strong winds. Olympic organizers have rescheduled rowing and archery over concerns about high winds from Tropical Storm Nepartak, which is packing gusts of… Read
Tokyo Olympic-linked COVID-19 cases top 150 since start of July
Seven more people related to the Tokyo Olympics have tested positive for COVID-19, including two athletes from overseas, bringing the total since the start of this month to 155, games organizers said Tuesday. The two athletes, one of whom is a Dutch tennis player, were both staying in the athletes'… Read
Man given religiously forbidden food at Nagoya immigration center
An immigration facility in Nagoya said Monday it mistakenly gave a foreign male detainee a meal containing ingredients forbidden by his religion. The man, whose name and other details have been withheld by the facility, was given a sachet of instant soup along with a cup as part of his… Read
Visually-impaired man injured as train drags him short distance
A man with a visual impairment was injured slightly Monday after falling on a station platform southwest of Tokyo with his right hand caught in the closed doors of a commuter train that dragged him for about two meters, the train operator said. The man in his 60s hit his… Read
Southwest Japanese islands added to UNESCO World Heritage list
UNESCO decided Monday to add a chain of islands in southwestern Japan with dense subtropical forests to its natural World Heritage list, Japanese government officials said. The World Heritage Committee of the U.N. organization decided during an online session to list as Japan's fifth World Natural Heritage site the 43,000… Read
Japan starts accepting applications for 'vaccine passports'
Japan began accepting applications Monday for so-called vaccine passports for people who have been fully inoculated against COVID-19 to travel internationally, as Japanese business lobbies have called for their introduction to help facilitate business activities. So far, Italy, Austria, Turkey, Bulgaria and Poland have agreed to ease COVID-19 quarantine rules… Read
