Kyoto and Fukuoka set to reopen as Japan relaxes virus alert

May 13, 2020 | News On Japan

May 13, 2020 (Nikkei) - Japan will consider lifting its state of emergency for five prefectures previously designated as potential hot spots for coronavirus outbreaks, including popular tourist destination Kyoto, but Tokyo, Osaka and Hokkaido will remain covered by the decree, Nikkei has learned.

Kyoto, Aichi, Fukuoka, Ibaraki and Gifu prefectures are candidates to be excluded from the declaration, along with all 34 prefectures not on the alert list. Aichi Prefecture includes Nagoya, Japan's fourth-largest city.

A government expert panel and an advisory committee on the outbreak are set to meet Thursday to make a final decision.

Japan initially declared a state of emergency in seven prefectures, including Tokyo and Osaka, on April 7. The decree was expanded nationwide on April 16, with six prefectures designated alongside the original seven as requiring particular caution, and extended last week until the end of May.

The prefectures not on the alert list, along with the five under consideration, have reported declines in new COVID-19 cases and are seen as at low risk for an explosive surge in infections.

Meanwhile, although Tokyo's daily cases have been trending downward, hospitalizations are still high, and the capital could face a hospital bed shortage if infections begin to rise again. Concerns remain about a potential upswing in new cases in Osaka, while Hokkaido continues to grapple with a second wave of infections. The remaining prefectures are largely in the greater Tokyo and Osaka areas.

The government will review the state of emergency again around May 21. The declaration may be lifted before the May 31 end date if the spread of the virus slows, or expanded if there are signs of new cases rising.

The government's expert panel is drafting criteria for ending the state of emergency. A draft disclosed Tuesday sets a target of 0.5 or fewer total cases per 100,000 people over the preceding week, with some leeway if a large share of new cases can be traced.

Conditions in neighboring prefectures will also be considered given the risk of spreading the virus through travel. The government may also look at the percentage of positive tests as well as access to testing for those considered to need it.

Japan's Airports and Bullet Trains Packed as Five-Day Holiday Ends

Airports and railway stations across Japan were crowded on September 23 as travelers returned from their hometowns and holiday destinations on the final day of the five-day Silver Week holiday, with international flight arrivals reaching their peak and many afternoon Shinkansen services fully booked.

Typhoon No. 25 Leaves Major Rail Disruption Across Chiba

Extensive railway disruption continued across Chiba Prefecture on September 23 as JR East warned that several lines damaged by Typhoon No. 25 would remain closed beyond the Silver Week holiday, even as flights returned toward normal, all typhoon-related expressway closures were lifted and some highway bus services resumed. The storm has left widespread damage to railway tracks and embankments, with flooding, landslides and fallen trees complicating restoration work.

Typhoon No. 25 Death Toll Rises to 9, With 4 Still Missing

The death toll from Typhoon No. 25 rose to nine on September 23, with four people still missing in Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures, as renewed rainfall raised fears of further landslides in communities devastated by the storm.

Road to Imperial Palace's Otemon Gate Flooded by Typhoon

The road leading to Otemon Gate at Tokyo's Imperial Palace was flooded on September 22 after heavy rain from a typhoon caused water in the surrounding moat to overflow.

Japan Pushes India to Final Ball in Historic Sano Cricket Match

Japan came within two runs of producing one of international cricket's biggest upsets on September 22, pushing reigning T20 world champion India to the final ball before losing a rain-shortened match at Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Escaped Emu Captured After Report of Wandering Ostrich

An emu that escaped from the home of a traveling zoo operator was captured after wandering through a residential neighborhood in Moriyama, Shiga Prefecture, on September 23, following a police report from a resident who mistook the bird for an ostrich.

Japan's Elderly Population Hits Record 29.6%

People aged 65 and older accounted for a record 29.6% of Japan's population in 2026, the highest proportion among major countries worldwide, while the number of elderly people in employment also reached an all-time high as Japan marked Respect for the Aged Day on September 21.

Emperor and Empress Visit Ghibli Park

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako visited Ghibli Park in Aichi Prefecture on September 20, touring exhibits that recreate famous scenes from Studio Ghibli films and posing for a photograph with the character No-Face.

Four Teens Rearrested Over Fatal Assault on 17-Year-Old

Police in Kanagawa Prefecture have rearrested four teenagers on suspicion of murdering a 17-year-old high school student who died after being assaulted in Sagamihara in August.

Why Kansai People Go to Drinking Parties

Drinking parties remain a lively part of social life in Kansai even as younger generations increasingly turn away from alcohol and izakaya bankruptcies rise at a record pace, with customers describing the gatherings less as occasions to drink heavily and more as opportunities to maintain friendships, meet new people and build connections across generations.

'Tokuryu' Criminal Gangs Target Elderly Victims with Refrigerator Trick

Anonymous and fluid criminal groups known in Japan as "tokuryu" are adopting increasingly elaborate tactics, including a scheme in which elderly victims are persuaded to hide cash inside refrigerators before thieves enter their homes, as authorities struggle to combat networks whose members often have no direct contact with one another.

Scam Base Targeting Japanese Run From Lavish Bangkok Mansion

A luxury mansion in Bangkok described as resembling a palace was being used as a base for a specialized fraud operation targeting Japanese people, with Thai authorities detaining 14 people, including four Japanese men.

Copper Thieves Target Remote Nagano Shrine

Copper roofing has been stripped from Shinano-no-miya Shrine in Oshika Village, Nagano Prefecture, leaving the wooden structure exposed in the latest of a series of similar thefts reported at shrines across the prefecture.

< 2 3 4 5 >