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July 12, 2026
 

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Satoshi Sugiyama
JAPAN
Apr 2, 2020
Japan education officials divided on reopening schools amid COVID-19 outbreaks
A panel composed of infectious disease experts said that extending school closures in areas particularly hard-hit by COVID-19 could be an option.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 1, 2020
Amid shutdowns elsewhere, government plans to continue Diet business as usual
While Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike has urged residents in the capital to work from home, and the nation appears to be inching toward declaring a state of emergency over rapid spread of COVID-19, the government seems set to maintain business as usual — at least for now.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 29, 2020
Steps limited for Japan’s government even if it declares coronavirus emergency
With a skyrocketing number of new COVID-19 patients over the last few days, Japan appears to be edging closer to declaring a state of emergency, a measure the central government has characterized as a last resort in the battle against the deadly virus.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 28, 2020
Abe urges vigilance to avoid COVID-19 spike and vows extraordinary steps to aid economy
The prime minister said the virus battle would be a long one, especially if people drop their guard, but pledged economic relief surpassing that for the 2008 financial crisis.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Mar 26, 2020
Tokyo Olympics delay rekindles debate over Abe’s political future
Speculation over when Abe might dissolve the Lower House for a snap election has resurfaced.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Mar 26, 2020
Japan coronavirus task force may set stage for state of emergency
The government on Thursday set up a special task force to combat the spread of the coronavirus, clearing an important prerequisite toward any declaration of a state of emergency.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 14, 2020
Abe seeks to calm a nervous nation, vowing new steps amid coronavirus outbreak
In a nationally televised news conference, Abe aimed to placate concerns about newly enshrined powers to declare a state of emergency.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Mar 13, 2020
Japan’s Diet unites, on surface at least, to pass coronavirus emergency bill
The state-of-emergency legislation is an amendment to a law covering influenza and new infectious diseases passed in 2012.
Japan Times
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Mar 6, 2020
With Xi visit now delayed, coronavirus threatens to spoil Abe’s 2020
The prime minister’s big plans for 2020 — hosting China’s president, the Olympics and amending the Constitution — have been undercut by Japan’s muddled response to the coronavirus outbreak.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 4, 2020
Abe reaches across aisle for COVID-19 emergency law as Japan cases top 1,000
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met separately with top opposition leaders Wednesday, seeking nonpartisan cooperation to swiftly enact a special emergency law.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 3, 2020
Abe eyes release of all emergency funding to deal with COVID-19 economic impact
Abe assured that the plan would include funding to subsidize working parents who must take time off to care for children affected by school closures.
JAPAN
Mar 2, 2020
Abe to hasten legal preparations for declaring state of emergency over COVID-19
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed Monday to expedite the enactment of legislation needed to declare a state of emergency, in order to “minimize the impact on Japanese citizens’ livelihood” from the rapid spread of COVID-19.
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Mar 1, 2020
Abe uses news conference to battle criticism — and coronavirus
In a rare weekend broadcast, Abe made an unusually emotional appeal for public cooperation and attempted to soften the blow of his government’s containment measures.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health
Feb 29, 2020
In dramatic broadcast, Abe asks public to fight virus and announces steps to ease pain of school closures
Addressing a nation gripped by uncertainty, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Saturday made a televised appeal for public cooperation in the “fight against the invisible and unknown virus” and tried to soften the blow from his government’s abrupt and disruptive containment measures.
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Feb 28, 2020
Abe’s bold school closure move appears spurred by criticism of virus response
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s abrupt move appears aimed at containing not only the virus, but also criticism of his handling of the growing Olympic and economic threat.
BUSINESS
Feb 28, 2020
Japan’s record fiscal 2020 budget clears Lower House
The u00a5102.66 trillion fiscal 2020 budget denies extra funding for COVID-19 but addresses soaring welfare costs and promotes free education and cashless purchases to offset last year’s tax hike.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 26, 2020
Japan’s opposition ramps up attacks on Abe’s administration over handling of COVID-19 outbreak
Health minister Katsunobu Kato was put on the defensive Wednesday as he drew heavy flak from opposition lawmakers over the government’s response to the rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Feb 25, 2020
Japan rolls out policies aimed at containing mass infection
The health ministry on Tuesday rolled out a basic set of policies on handling COVID-19 infections as the government tries desperately to curb the spread of the disease within the limited window available.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 17, 2020
Japan issues guidelines to prevent rush on hospitals as COVID-19 cases surge
The health ministry releases guidelines on how people should react if they fear infection with the coronavirus.
JAPAN
Feb 14, 2020
From Tokyo to Wakayama to Okinawa, Japan on edge as COVID-19 spreads
Japan was on high alert Friday due to the rising number of confirmed COVID-19 cases nationwide, including that of two taxi drivers and a doctor, as well as the nation’s first death blamed on the virus.
China’s demand for Soviet-style apartments shows limits to revival
Apartments built during a Soviet Union-inspired construction drive in the 1970s and 1980s tend to suffer from poor insulation and outdated plumbing, but they are seeing a revival in interest due to their attractive locations.
Japanese scientists identify neural mechanism that may explain why we dislike people
The aggressive mouse (left) used in the experiment and a mouse defending itself
Japanese payment processor’s collapse hits banks and restaurants
Zentoshin served around 200,000 shops, many of which rely on early payments to maintain cash flow, raising concerns over their financial stability following the disruption.
Over 70% of accommodations in Japan say they are understaffed amid tourism influx
The number of foreign visitors to Japan reached a high of 42.68 million in 2025.
Lenders seek $700 million after Japanese payments firm’s collapse
The financial failure of Osaka-based Zentoshin has left 63 creditors with claims totaling ¥115.16 billion, according to Tokyo Shoko Research.
Japan’s largest exhibition of women photographers rights a wrong in cultural history
Miwa Yanagi’s “Elevator Girl House” series skewers the superficiality of gender roles through staged images.
Over 70% of accommodations in Japan say they are understaffed amid tourism influx
The number of foreign visitors to Japan reached a high of 42.68 million in 2025.
‘Princess Mononoke’ comes alive in Super Kabuki staging
The “Princess Mononoke” adaptation was created under Shochiku’s Super Kabuki initiative, a modern form of kabuki with more technology in staging and open to pop culture collaborations.
The beating heart inside ‘Human Vapor’
Different forms of love and connection form the emotional backbone of Netflix’s “Human Vapor,” says actor Shun Oguri, who plays troubled detective Kenji Okamoto.
Japan bets on character IP to drive global growth
Born on social media platforms in 2022, Opanchu Usagi has become a major hit, especially among Generation Z.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

The Terasaka Rice Terraces are seen with Mount Buko in the background.
What Yokoze can teach Japan about rural revival
By Alex K.T. Martin

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