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Pandemic deaths in Japan low, but future success uncertain
Japan has kept its deaths from the new coronavirus low despite a series of missteps that beg the question of whether it can prevent future waves of infections. Authorities were criticized for bungling a cruise ship quarantine and were slow to close Japan's borders. They have conducted only a fraction… Read
Japan's coronavirus entry ban disrupting lives of foreign residents
Kady, a 32-year-old who works as a copywriter in Osaka, flew back to her home country of Britain in December to attend to personal matters. She planned to return to Japan in mid-May and already had a flight booked. But her plans were upended when the Japanese government added Britain… Read
Tokyo shares rise for 5th straight day on global recovery hopes
Tokyo shares reversed early losses to end higher Friday, rising for the fifth consecutive day, as gains in U.S. stock futures during off-hours trading on global economic recovery hopes prompted buybacks across a broad range of issues. The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 167.99 points, or 0.74 percent, from… Read
Australian officials move to block Black Lives Matter protest in Sydney due to COVID-19 threat
Australian authorities are taking legal action to try stop a Black Lives Matter protest scheduled to take place in Sydney on Saturday, citing the risk of an outbreak of COVID-19 given the large numbers expected to attend. The last-minute move by the New South Wales state government on Friday came… Read
Organizers pull plug on Fuji Rock Festival for first time due to pandemic
Fuji Rock Festival, Japan's biggest annual music event, will be cancelled for the first time ever due to the coronavirus pandemic, organizers said Friday, disappointing thousands of fans who flock to the outdoor festivities every year. Since its inception in 1997, headiners at the event have included The Red Hot… Read
GSDF member arrested over wife’s murder
Police in Izumi, Osaka Prefecture, have arrested a 25-year-old member of the Ground Self Defense Force on suspicion of killing his 31-year-old wife. According to police, Naoki Iguchi, a sergeant 3rd class assigned to the GSDF base at Shinodayama, strangled his wife Tomoko at their apartment at around 10:30 p.m.… Read
MLB players reaffirm pay stance; no deal with teams in sight
Baseball players reaffirmed their stance for full prorated pay, leaving a huge gap with teams that could scuttle plans to start the coronavirus-delayed season around the Fourth of July and may leave owners focusing on a schedule as short as 50 games. More than 100 players, including the union's executive… Read
Fiji declares itself coronavirus free
Fiji announced it was COVID-19 free Friday after the island nation's last known infected patient was given the all-clear, continuing the Pacific's remarkable record of success against the virus. There was panic among Fiji's 930,000 population when the first coronavirus case was announced in mid-March, but strict isolation measures and… Read
Japan's low virus mortality rate reflects social manners: Aso
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso said Thursday that Japan's relatively low mortality rate from the new coronavirus reflects the country's higher "level of social manners." "I have received phone calls (from overseas) asking 'Do you have any drug that only you guys have?' My answer is the… Read
From wagyu beef to melons, Japan's ¥234 tril virus rescue piques struggling firms
As the coronavirus jolts Japan, the government's huge stimulus package has come under fire from hard-hit restaurant owners for channelling funds for items like wagyu beef, melons and tourism rather than accelerating help for firms with burning cash needs. The restaurant industry's struggles highlight a larger problem in Japan's revival… Read
