Society

Tokyo reports 28 new coronavirus cases Thursday

Jun 05 (Japan Times) - Tokyo confirmed 28 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, two days after Gov. Yuriko Koike issued a Tokyo Alert in a sign of a possible resurgence of infections in the capital.

The alert serves as a call for caution. But if the number further increases, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government plans to issue requests again to businesses and people that would halt social and economic activities.

Tokyo reported 34 cases on Tuesday, the highest since Japan fully lifted its state of emergency last week and the first time since May 14 for daily infections to top 30. On Wednesday, 12 new cases were reported.

Koike has warned that Tokyo is seeing an increase in infections among those who go to or work in nightlife districts, especially in the Shinjuku area this week.

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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Six Police Officers Injured After Man Sprays Liquid at Station

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