Society

Coronavirus infections in Japan surpass 13,500

Apr 28 (NHK) - The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Japan increased to 13,613 on Monday as 172 new cases were reported nationwide.

The tally includes people tested at airport quarantine stations, health ministry officials, quarantine officers and individuals who returned to Japan from China on government-chartered planes. It also includes infections among the crew of the Costa Atlantica cruise ship docked at a port in Nagasaki, western Japan.

The addition of 712 cases from the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined in Yokohama in February brings the total to 14,325.

The death toll in Japan has risen to 407, including 13 from the Diamond Princess.

Listed by prefecture, Tokyo has 3,947 infections; followed by Osaka with 1,521; Kanagawa with 961; Saitama with 826; Chiba with 814; Hokkaido with 650; Hyogo with 630; and Fukuoka with 621.

Health ministry officials say 304 people are in serious condition as of Monday, including four from the Diamond Princess. A total of 3,554 have recovered and left hospital.

Typhoon No. 26 Brings Heavy Rain and Strong Winds to Okinawa

Typhoon No. 26 was located over the Bashi Channel as of 9 a.m. on November 12th, moving north at a speed of about 10 kilometers per hour. Moist air from the storm is feeding into a stationary front near Okinawa, leading to the development of rain clouds and prompting warnings for heavy rainfall in Okinawa and the Amami region.

Mother of 12-Year-Old Thai Girl Caught In Prostitution Gets Arrest Warrant

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has obtained an arrest warrant for the mother of a 12-year-old Thai girl who was illegally employed at a massage parlor in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward, on suspicion of violating the Child Welfare Act.

Suica Penguin to Retire in 2026

JR East announced on November 11th that it will retire the beloved Suica penguin mascot at the end of fiscal 2026, marking the 25th anniversary of the Suica transportation IC card service, and will introduce a new character from fiscal 2027.

Bear Attacks Car in Hokkaido

A series of bear encounters across Japan is causing growing alarm, with several prefectures reporting aggressive behavior and issuing emergency shooting orders. In one incident last week in Hokkaido, a bear charged at a car and growled as it pursued the vehicle, forcing the driver to reverse to escape, with claw marks later found on the hood.

Japan Mulls Vouchers to Ease High Food Prices

The government is moving to include the use of “okome-ken,” or rice vouchers, in its upcoming package of economic measures. The vouchers can be used to purchase rice and other food items and have already been distributed by several municipalities as part of local initiatives to offset rising living costs.

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