Society

Fourth COVID-19 vaccine shipment arrives in Japan

Mar 09 (NHK) - Japan's vaccination plan is getting a boost after nearly one million doses arrived from Belgium on Monday.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines touched down at an airport near Tokyo. Combined with three previous shipments, Japan has secured enough to fully vaccinate more than a million people. So far, just over 46,000 frontline workers have received the first jabs. The next priority group is seniors, who are slated to start getting vaccinated next month.

Meanwhile Tokyo and three neighboring prefectures remain under a state of emergency for two more weeks. The declaration was due to end on Sunday, but was extended last week.

Officials are continuing to request restaurants and bars to close early and for people to refrain from non-essential outings.

A total of 116 new infections were confirmed in the capital on Monday. The number of new cases over the past week was about 6 percent less than the preceding week -- far less than the 30 percent weekly drop officials are targeting.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu said, "It is extremely important to take steps aimed at reducing the number of people who go out dining. The government wants more cooperation from the public."

Kato says the government is planning to increase testing at nursing homes. It also wants to do random testing in city centers to assess the current situation better.

Osaka Police End 14-Hour Siege

Police in Osaka arrested a 48-year-old man on October 22nd after a tense 14-hour standoff in which he allegedly held a woman at knifepoint inside an apartment. A special tactical unit forced entry into the residence late at night, ending the standoff without injuries.

Imperial Family Pays Tribute to War Victims

The Emperor, Empress, and their daughter Princess Aiko visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Memorial Hall in Sumida Ward on Thursday afternoon, marking their first visit to the site as Japan observes the 80th year since the end of World War II. They were greeted upon arrival by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and other officials.

First Snow Caps Mount Fuji, 15 Days Earlier Than Last Year

The Kofu Local Meteorological Observatory announced on October 23rd that the season’s first snow had been observed on Mount Fuji, which stands 3,776 meters tall. Around 6 a.m., an official visually confirmed that snow had clearly accumulated near the summit.

Tokyo’s Aging Expressway Reborn After Major Overhaul

After nearly a decade of construction, the newly rebuilt Haneda Line of the Metropolitan Expressway, one of Tokyo’s key arteries linking the city center with Haneda Airport, has been unveiled to the media ahead of its official switch to a new road on October 29th.

New Cabinet Takes On 'Takaichi Color'

The newly launched Takaichi Cabinet moved into full operation on October 22nd, with early personnel decisions revealing a clear conservative tone. Satsuki Katayama was appointed as finance minister and Kimi Onoda as minister in charge of foreign resident policy, underscoring what observers are calling the emergence of a distinct “Takaichi color.”

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Families Honor War Dead from Northern Territories

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Seventh Suspect Arrested Over Tear Gas Robbery

The Metropolitan Police Department has arrested Naoki Satake, an unemployed suspect, on suspicion of robbery resulting in injury after he allegedly sprayed tear gas on a man and tried to steal 53 million yen in Tokyo’s Edogawa Ward in September.

Five Injured After Train Window Shatters Mid-Journey

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Record Bear Attacks in Japan

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Guinness-Recognized Fireworks Photo Removed After One Complaint

A photograph of fireworks soaring above the Edo River in Chiba’s Ichikawa City — forming what looked like a glowing Mount Fuji — was taken down from city hall just one day after being displayed, following a single citizen complaint.

Mako Komuro Appears in Six-Page Town & Country Feature

The October issue of the long-established American lifestyle magazine Town & Country features Mako Komuro, the eldest daughter of the Akishino family, on the cover under the headline "Princess Ingognito," dedicating a six-page spread to Komuro and her husband Kei, exploring their life in the United States.

Host Arrested for Forcing Women Into Sex Work to Repay 2 Million Yen Debt

Police have arrested a former host and several associates for allegedly coercing female customers into sex work after exploiting their romantic feelings and saddling them with massive debts.

Two Foreign Men Stabbed, One Dead in Ibaraki Town

A violent attack early on October 20th in Ibaraki Town, Ibaraki Prefecture left one man dead and another injured after they were stabbed with what appeared to be a bladed weapon inside an apartment. Police are investigating the case as a murder.

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