Society

Japan's weekly COVID count dips slightly

Feb 16 (NHK) - In Japan, more than 91,000 new coronavirus cases were confirmed on Wednesday. But in the 7-day period through Tuesday, the number of weekly infections dropped for the first time in two and a half months.

Data presented at a meeting of health ministry experts showed that new infections fell by about 10 percent from the previous week. That's the first decline since December.

But deaths are on the rise. There were 230 reported across the country on Wednesday. That's the second day in a row the toll exceeded 200.

The quasi-emergency for 21 prefectures, is set to end on Sunday. More than half the prefectures, including Osaka, have asked for an extension.

On the other hand, Okinawa, Yamaguchi and Yamagata are asking that it be lifted as scheduled, as new cases in those prefectures decline.

In a similar vein, the government is arranging to begin gradually easing an entry ban and other restrictions in March.

Foreign visitors, excluding tourists, will be allowed in under certain conditions. The current entry limit will be raised from 3,500 to 5,000.

Also, the 7-day quarantine period may be shortened for those who test negative on the third day after arrival.

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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