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August 21, 2025
 

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Kanako Takahara

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Kanako Takahara
Kanako Takahara is a staff writer who has covered national politics, diplomacy, business and the economy at The Japan Times. A graduate of Sophia University, she is currently a national news editor.
JAPAN
Feb 16, 2022
Japan to shorten or drop quarantine requirements for most arrivals from March
The government is also expected to raise the cap on daily new entrants from overseas to 5,000 from the current 3,500.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 15, 2022
COVID deaths a concern in Japan even as new cases appear to be peaking
Infections are beginning to decline nationally, but experts say it is still too early for people to let their guard down — and that other virus benchmarks will continue to rise.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 12, 2022
Kishida says Japan looking to ease entry restrictions on foreign workers and students
'We will take into account the scientific knowledge we've gained about the omicron variant and changes in the infection situation both at home and abroad,' the prime minister said.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Feb 4, 2022
As COVID cases surge in Japan, is a state of emergency the way to go?
Record nationwide cases have moved the question to the top of the agenda, but some prefectures and experts are skeptical about what such a move really achieves.
JAPAN / Science & Health / EXPLAINER
Feb 2, 2022
What you need to know about recovering from COVID-19 at home
To lower the burden on health care systems, the rules for self-isolation are changing — here's a rundown of the latest from the health ministry.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / EXPLAINER
Jan 31, 2022
Looking to get your booster in Japan? Here's what you need to know.
Efforts to increase the administration of boosters are ramping up, with a mass vaccination site run by the Self-Defense Forces having opened in Tokyo.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 28, 2022
Japan to shorten isolation period to seven days for COVID close contacts
The National Institute of Infectious Diseases said that 94.5% of omicron patients tested positive within seven days of coming into contact with the virus and 99.2% within 10 days.
JAPAN
Jan 27, 2022
Okinawa may be emerging from the omicron wave. Will the rest of Japan soon follow suit?
After a surge starting around New Year's that brought the prefecture's daily case count nearly 2,000, new infections have steadily dropped in recent days.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Jan 27, 2022
Day cares struggle to stay open as COVID-19 surges across Japan
On Monday, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry announced that a record 327 licensed day care facilities nationwide were closed as of Jan. 20 due to the virus.
JAPAN
Jan 25, 2022
Japan moves to focus resources on severe COVID-19 patients
Young, low-risk patients will no longer need a doctor's diagnosis to confirm an infection as fears grow over the strain the omicron variant is putting on Japan's health care system.
JAPAN
Jan 24, 2022
As omicron spreads in Japan, business continuity plans come into focus
Companies and local governments are drawing up measures to keep business going even if many staffers can't work due to infection or being deemed a close contact.
JAPAN
Jan 20, 2022
Anti-COVID steps far from uniform for Japan prefectures under quasi-emergency
Of the 16 prefectures to be under a quasi-emergency from Friday, some will halt alcohol sales at restaurants completely, while others will impose limits on when booze can be served.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 19, 2022
Japan's weather agency to monitor long-term effects of Tonga eruption
Saturday's disaster reminded some in Japan of an eruption in 1991 — one that may have led to a colder summer and poor crop yields two years later.
JAPAN
Jan 18, 2022
Japan plans to issue quasi-emergency status for 13 omicron-hit prefectures
With quasi-emergency measures already in place in Yamaguchi, Okinawa and Hiroshima prefectures, the expansion would bring the total to 16 out of 47 prefectures.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 17, 2022
Kishida vows to lay out road map for 'new capitalism' in the spring
Covering topics ranging from COVID-19 to climate change and diplomacy, the prime minister offered a comprehensive wrap-up of his policy agenda at the start of the parliamentary session.
JAPAN
Jan 14, 2022
Japan shortens interval for COVID booster by a month amid omicron's spread
The gap for people under 65 has now been shifted to seven months, and the government has also cut the isolation time for close contacts to 10 days.
JAPAN
Dec 28, 2021
Japan narrows definition of in-flight omicron close contacts
A policy that had considered all fellow passengers as close contacts was threatening to overwhelm quarantine facilities.
JAPAN
Dec 27, 2021
Community transmission of omicron spreads beyond Japan's major cities
Community infections of omicron have been reported in Osaka, Kyoto, Tokyo, Fukuoka, Aichi and Hiroshima prefectures.
JAPAN
Dec 24, 2021
Tokyo confirms first case of omicron community transmission
Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said Friday a doctor with no recent history of overseas travel has been confirmed to have been infected.
JAPAN
Dec 22, 2021
As Japan braces for omicron, authorities prepare to quarantine close contacts
On Tuesday, the government instructed all omicron close contacts to be quarantined at a facility monitored by central or local government officials for 14 days.
JICA to designate four Japanese cities as 'hometowns' for African nations
The Japanese flag (left) with the flag of the African Union
103-year-old remembers Soviet attack right after WWII
Shoichi Takahashi holds a photo of himself when he was younger, in Otaru, Hokkaido, on May 17.
Schools get students involved in revision of unreasonable ‘black rules’
At Yawata Junior High School in Nagoya, there are no more rules on clothing and hairstyles. Students are free to wear either the school's uniform or clothes of their own choosing.
Tokyo crowned No.1 'workation' spot
Workations were a burgeoning trend in the corporate world for years before the COVID-19 pandemic turbocharged it.
Japanese man suspected of ordering double murder in Manila
Two suspects arrested over the killing of two Japanese last week are held in restraints in Manila on Tuesday.
Tokyo crowned No.1 'workation' spot
Workations were a burgeoning trend in the corporate world for years before the COVID-19 pandemic turbocharged it.
Candidates preparing to make final pitches for Sawamura Award
Hawks pitcher Livan Moinelo has a 1.13 ERA in 19 starts this season.
Winning warship bid gives Japan confidence boost as Tokyo eyes more exports
Australia’s decision to select Japan's upgraded Mogami-class warship, seen in this computer-generated image, has been “well received across Japanese industry," a Defense Ministry official said.
In Paris, chefs Chizuko Kimura and Kei Kobayashi make their mark
Chef Kei Kobayashi is France's only Japanese chef with three Michelin stars.
In preserving Japanese hospitality, ‘details are everything’
Beniya Mukayu, a traditional "ryokan" inn located in Ishikawa Prefecture, considers itself at "the heart of onsen towns, local residents, farmers, fishermen, sake brewers and artisans" — all of which need new, sustainable methods of serving visitors to survive into the future.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Members of the nonprofit group Japan Youth Memorial Association search for the remains of dead soldiers in a cave in Okinawa Prefecture in February.
The long search for Japan’s lost soldiers
By Tomoko Otake

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