Society

Abe: Need to brace for 2nd, 3rd wave of infections

May 16 (NHK) - Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo has renewed his call to keep thorough measures in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, after lifting the state of emergency in 39 prefectures.

Abe spoke at a plenary session of the Upper House of the Diet on Friday.

The prime minister said the country needs to prepare for a long battle against the virus until effective treatments and vaccines are developed. He said the virus is still a threat despite the state of emergency being scaled back. And he warned that people need to prepare for a possible second and third wave of infections.

Abe said that if there is a spike of infections, the state of emergency may need to be declared again in affected areas.

He once again urged people to adhere to a new lifestyle that incorporates social distancing, and to follow guidelines issued for each industry.

Abe pledged to improve the country's system for coronavirus testing, including antibody testing and PCR testing using saliva. He also said that he will make changes to the health care system so that it is better equipped to handle the pandemic.

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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