Society

Osaka reports record 1,099 new infections

Apr 13 (NHK) - Japan's western prefecture of Osaka has broken another daily record. It reported over 1,000 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, marking a four-digit count for the first time.

Authorities confirmed 1,099 new cases, a rapid surge from only 38 cases about a month ago.

The situation is straining the area's medical care system. More than 90 percent of immediately available hospital beds for seriously ill patients are occupied.

The strain has affected treatment for people with light or medium symptoms. This Osaka Gyoumeikan Hospital has 17 beds for such patients.

Last week, one patient's condition turned serious but a transfer couldn't be arranged for four days. The hospital has no choice but to halt acceptance of new patients.

Officials in the prefecture say the situation is extremely critical and unprecedented. They decided to hold an emergency task force meeting on Wednesday to decide on new anti-infection measures.

Meanwhile in Tokyo, officials are on alert against the spread of a contagious new variant with the N501Y mutation.

Officials confirmed a record high 80 cases of infection with that variant strain on Tuesday.

Nationwide, over 3,400 new cases were reported, and more than 40 people died.

Source: ANNnewsCH

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.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Garbage Burnoff Spreads to 3 Buildings in Okayama

A fire that broke out in Kagamino, Okayama Prefecture, shortly after noon on May 20th destroyed three buildings, including a home, after flames from open burning spread to dead leaves and then to nearby structures.

Gang Members Arrested After Opening Office Near Nursery

Six people, including a senior member of a group affiliated with the Sumiyoshi-kai crime syndicate's Kohei-ikka faction, have been arrested on suspicion of opening a gang office in a prohibited area near a nursery school in Tokyo's Itabashi Ward.

Six Police Officers Injured After Man Sprays Liquid at Station

A man who visited a police station in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, in the early hours of May 21st allegedly sprayed a transparent liquid inside the building, causing six police officers to complain of eye and throat pain and be taken to hospital with minor injuries.