Society

Japan's total confirmed cases reaches 2,659

Apr 03 (NHK) - The number of new daily coronavirus cases reported in Japan on Thursday stood at 180 as of 6:30 p.m. This number includes a record 97 new cases in Tokyo.

This brings the total number of confirmed cases in Japan to 2,675. They include people found to have the virus during arrival checks at airports, health ministry officials involved in the quarantine of the cruise ship Diamond Princess, as well as those who returned to Japan by chartered planes from China.

When 712 passengers and crew members from the Diamond Princess are included, the total number stands at 3,387.

The number of deaths caused by the virus stands at 82, including 11 from the cruise ship.

By region, Tokyo tops the list of infections at 684 cases. Osaka Prefecture comes second at 278, followed by Chiba Prefecture at 190. Hokkaido Prefecture and Aichi Prefecture are both at 183. Kanagawa Prefecture comes next at 181, Hyogo Prefecture at 164 and Saitama Prefecture at 104.

Do Bears Prefer Acorns or Berries?

Bear sightings across Japan have already climbed to nearly twice the level recorded during the same period last year, prompting entry bans in mountain areas behind Kyoto’s Ninna-ji Temple and the cancellation of hiking events in Kansai, while new research suggests that the key to reducing encounters may lie in understanding what bears eat in each region.

Copper Thieves Target Japanese Shrines

Copper roofing panels were stolen from several shrines in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, including a city-designated cultural property, in the latest case amid a nationwide surge in copper thefts targeting shrines and temples across Japan, where soaring metal prices have fueled crimes that leave historic religious buildings damaged, exposed to the elements, and facing repair costs of millions of yen.

1200-Year-Old Temple on Miyajima Reduced to Ashes

Flames broke out on the morning of May 20th on Miyajima Island in Hiroshima Prefecture, home to one of Japan's World Heritage sites, destroying Reikado Hall near the summit of Mount Misen.

From Bento Boxes to Garbage Bags, Rising Costs Hitting Daily Life Across Japan

Uncertainty surrounding the situation in the Middle East is beginning to affect daily life in Japan, as concerns over crude oil supplies spread to restaurants, cleaning services and even household garbage disposal systems across the Kansai region.

Tochigi Robbery-Murder Suspect’s Wife Posted Dance Videos on Social Media

A 25-year-old woman arrested as a suspected ringleader in a robbery-murder case in Tochigi Prefecture once posted cheerful dance videos on social media and was remembered by those who knew her as an energetic and outgoing young woman.

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