Society

EU reimposes restrictions on travel from Japan

Sep 11 (NHK) - The European Union says it is removing Japan from its list of countries and regions exempt from restrictions on nonessential travel into the bloc.

The move comes after a recent surge in coronavirus infections from the highly-contagious Delta variant.

The EU said on Thursday that it is dropping Japan, along with several other nations, from the exemption list. Japan was added to the list in June ahead of the summer vacation season.

In principle, the EU restricts nonessential travel from outside the bloc due to the coronavirus pandemic, while allowing visitors from certain parts of the world that it considers are keeping the virus outbreak under control.

The EU notes that member states can lift restrictions on nonessential travel for fully vaccinated visitors.

Each EU member state can make its own rules on whether to actually ban travelers from Japan, as they have the authority to control their national borders.

Germany on Sunday added some countries, including Japan, to its list of areas for which short-term travelers, such as tourists, face tighter entry restrictions if they are not fully vaccinated.

The EU reimposed travel restrictions on the United States and Israel on August 30.

Tokyo Court Rules Workplace Use of Honorific 'chan' as Sexual Harassment

A Tokyo District Court has ruled that addressing a colleague using the 'chan' suffix constitutes sexual harassment, ordering a male employee to pay 220,000 yen in damages.

Knife-Wielding Man Arrested Near U.S. Embassy in Tokyo

A man wielding knives in both hands was arrested near the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo’s Minato Ward on the afternoon of October 25th after injuring a riot police officer on duty.

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.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Nagoya High Court Confirms Acquittal in Cannabis Case

A 47-year-old man accused of possessing cannabis in Nagoya has been acquitted after the Nagoya High Court ruled that the procedures used to seize the evidence were illegal. The decision, handed down on October 9th, became final after prosecutors decided not to appeal.

Man Dies Trying to Save Elderly Couple From Bear

A 38-year-old man was killed on October 24th in the village of Higashinaruse, Akita Prefecture, after attempting to rescue a couple in their seventies who were being attacked by a bear.

Families Honor War Dead from Northern Territories

A memorial service marking 80 years since the end of World War II was held in Shari, a town in Hokkaido’s Shiretoko region, on October 22nd to honor those who perished in the Northern Territories and other areas.

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.