Society

Tokyo Aug. virus infections reach monthly record with 8,126 cases

Sep 01 (Kyodo) - Tokyo confirmed on Monday a monthly record 8,126 new cases of the novel coronavirus in August, exceeding the 6,466 infections logged in July.

The metropolitan government reported 100 new cases the same day, bringing the capital's cumulative total to 20,817. August saw Tokyo hit daily cases in triple digits on every day bar one, marking a record 472 on Aug. 1.

The single-day increase in the capital compares with the 148 cases confirmed on Sunday.

The daily figures from the metropolitan government reflect the most recent totals reported by health authorities and medical institutions.

Nationwide, 437 new infection cases were confirmed Monday, bringing the accumulated number of infections in Japan to 69,147 including about 700 from the Diamond Princess, a cruise ship that was quarantined in Yokohama in February.

The number of coronavirus-related deaths in the country totaled 1,313, with 14 deaths confirmed Monday.

Do Bears Prefer Acorns or Berries?

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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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