Next week, AstraZeneca's vaccination program will start.

The state of emergency declared for the Tokyo metropolitan area will be lifted on the 21st of this month, but the government has decided to continue to suspend the operation of Go To Travel nationwide for the time being.

The Consumer Price Index for last month/February, which looks at the price movements of goods and services consumed by households, excluding fresh food, fell for the seventh consecutive month to minus 0.4 percent compared to the same month last year. This was due to a drop in energy prices and accommodation rates caused by the new coronavirus.

Japan want to avoid a new declaration beyond issuing request to businesses, the government says they may need to impose penalties made possible by recently revised laws. As for the boarder, Japan so far plans to keep it close with no word for when the tourists would be welcomed back.

The number of new condominiums sold in the Tokyo metropolitan area in February was more than 50% higher than the same month last year, the third consecutive month of increase.

Takashimaya, a major department store, has decided to continue to shorten business hours at its store in Shinjuku, Tokyo, even after the declaration of a state of emergency is lifted. In addition to the fact that consumers are refraining from going out at night, Takashimaya aims to improve the long working hours of its employees.

A government meeting was held to discuss how to regulate advertising on the Internet, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato emphasized the government's intention to consider regulations that respect the autonomy of businesses.

It is known that after a long holiday, COVID-19 infection tends to hike, especially the new, more infectious B117 variant.

Still adhere to COVID-19 health protocols to keep you and your beloved ones safe.

In this year's Spring Struggle, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways have decided not to respond to bonuses and lump-sum payments on the 16th, which was the unified response day for the airline industry, due to the uncertain impact of the new coronavirus on their business performance, and will continue discussions with the labor unions.

Japanese nuclear regulators have assessed a security lapse at a nuclear plant in the central Japan as the most serious level in terms of anti-terror measures. Sensors for detecting intruders in the plant may have been broken for a year.

China is streamlining visa applications for people who have received one of its coronavirus vaccines.