The Ministry of Finance raised its economic forecast for three of the country's 11 regions, including the Tokai region, while leaving its forecast for the other regions unchanged. Regarding the future, the ministry said, "We need to pay close attention to the impact of the new coronavirus on the regional economy," in light of the situation where the infection of the new coronavirus is spreading.
The Consumer Attitude Index for July, which indicates consumers' willingness to shop, improved for the second consecutive month, up 0.1 points from the previous month. However, the increase in the index was only modest and is believed to have been affected by the rapid spread of the new coronavirus infection in Tokyo and other areas
Japan's coronavirus state of emergency has taken effect in Osaka and three prefectures neighboring Tokyo due to a surge in new cases in those areas. The state of emergency that has been in place in Tokyo and Okinawa was expanded to include the three prefectures and Osaka on Monday.
The organizers of the Tokyo Olympics reported 16 new cases of the coronavirus on Monday among people connected to the Games. That brings the total to 148 cases this month, including 16 athletes, and underscores the size of the challenge of keeping the world's biggest sporting event "safe and secure" in the midst of a pandemic.
A typhoon is expected to approach east and northeastern Japan from the Pacific around Tuesday and may make landfall in areas including Tokyo that is hosting the Olympics, the weather agency said Sunday, as it warned of heavy rain, stormy winds and high waves.
The International Olympic Committee has allowed medal winners at the Tokyo Games to remove masks for up to 30 seconds while physically distanced on the podium for photo opportunities.
Central and local governments are at odds in Japan, where a vaccine shortage has municipalities across the country canceling people’s reservations.
When his clinic in Tokyo’s Toshima Ward received a shipment of coronavirus vaccines earlier this month, Yamashita Iwao had been preparing to open up bookings to younger people. But the delivery only included enough doses for 60 people—just one-fifth of what Yamashita had requested. He was forced to suspend new appointments.
Tokyo’s Olympic Village has been dubbed a "bubble" because of the raft of anti-virus measures implemented there. But after two competitors and an official tested positive in the first week, is the bubble about to burst?
The Tokyo organizing committee confirmed on Sunday that two members of South Africa's men’s soccer team and one member of staff had tested positive for COVID-19 at the village.
The committee says 18 people – mostly members of the South African team – have been identified as close contacts. All tested negative on Sunday.
Two South African soccer players and an official of the team staying at the Tokyo Olympics athletes' village have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the organizing committee said Sunday.
The infections are the first confirmed cases among athletes in the village, fueling concern about the anti-virus measures being taken ahead of the opening of the games on Friday.
A children's mobile library run by a Japanese expat in northern Thailand has become more important than ever during the coronavirus pandemic.
Horiuchi Yoshimi sees books as "friends" for the youngsters in the remote, rural areas she visits. The 37-year-old remembers how reading shaped her own childhood. Born with weak eyesight, Horiuchi became blind during high school. She had always loved books, thanks to her grandfather who read to her as a child. So Horiuchi taught herself Braille so she could continue to read. She says this helped her to learn about the world.
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