Tokyo heads for 4th state of emergency

Jul 08, 2021 | News On Japan

Jul 08, 2021 (NHK) - Japan's government has decided to impose a fourth coronavirus state of emergency in Tokyo, lasting through the Olympics. The state of emergency is to be in effect from next Monday to August 22.

Currently, Tokyo and nine other prefectures are under intensive restrictions that are slightly less severe than a full state of emergency.

Three of Tokyo's neighboring prefectures -- Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa -- as well as Osaka are to remain under current anti-infection measures.

Okinawa's state of emergency, now in place, is also to be extended.

Measures in other parts of Japan would be lifted on Sunday as scheduled.

A new state of emergency could be a blow to the Olympic Games, set to kick off in just two weeks. Officials and athletes have already been arriving in Tokyo.

Typhoon No. 25 Batters Tokyo and Chiba

Typhoon No. 25 was making its closest approach to the Kanto region on September 21, bringing central Tokyo into the storm-force wind zone while torrential rain caused widespread flooding, landslides and road damage across Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba and Saitama.

Typhoon Causes Widespread Transport Disruption Across Kanto

Transport disruption caused by Typhoon No. 25 is continuing into September 22 even as the storm moves away from Kanto, with major rail corridors in Chiba Prefecture still suspended, highways and local roads remaining closed and airlines working to recover from hundreds of cancellations during the previous day.

Japan Takes 12 Medals on Asian Games Day 3

Japan collected another 12 medals on Day 3 of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on September 21, with 17-year-old swimmer Shin Ohashi and karateka Kakeru Nishiyama winning gold, while the host nation also advanced strongly in women's volleyball, baseball, soccer, handball and hockey.

Japan's Elderly Population Hits Record 29.6%

People aged 65 and older accounted for a record 29.6% of Japan's population in 2026, the highest proportion among major countries worldwide, while the number of elderly people in employment also reached an all-time high as Japan marked Respect for the Aged Day on September 21.

Emperor and Empress Watch Asian Games Basketball

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako watched Japan defeat Kazakhstan in a women’s basketball preliminary-round game at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Japan's Elderly Population Hits Record 29.6%

Emperor and Empress Visit Ghibli Park

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako visited Ghibli Park in Aichi Prefecture on September 20, touring exhibits that recreate famous scenes from Studio Ghibli films and posing for a photograph with the character No-Face.

Four Teens Rearrested Over Fatal Assault on 17-Year-Old

Police in Kanagawa Prefecture have rearrested four teenagers on suspicion of murdering a 17-year-old high school student who died after being assaulted in Sagamihara in August.

Why Kansai People Go to Drinking Parties

Drinking parties remain a lively part of social life in Kansai even as younger generations increasingly turn away from alcohol and izakaya bankruptcies rise at a record pace, with customers describing the gatherings less as occasions to drink heavily and more as opportunities to maintain friendships, meet new people and build connections across generations.

'Tokuryu' Criminal Gangs Target Elderly Victims with Refrigerator Trick

Anonymous and fluid criminal groups known in Japan as "tokuryu" are adopting increasingly elaborate tactics, including a scheme in which elderly victims are persuaded to hide cash inside refrigerators before thieves enter their homes, as authorities struggle to combat networks whose members often have no direct contact with one another.