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 Tomohiro Osaki

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Tomohiro Osaki
Tomohiro Osaki is a staff writer in the Domestic News Division. A graduate of Sophia University in Tokyo, he likes to explore under-reported realities of Japanese youth, with a tendency toward the taboo.
For Tomohiro Osaki's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 21, 2021
Workplace and university vaccinations ramp up in Japan
The government had received applications from 3,479 sites to function as vaccination venues as of Friday, with nearly 14 million people estimated to be immunized under the framework.
Japan Times
JAPAN / FOCUS
Jun 20, 2021
How Japan's vaccine drive turned into a comeback story
Given the importance of vaccinations, an expert says Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's heavy-handed approach with municipalities could be credited for the accelerated pace.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 19, 2021
Plan to inoculate teens in Japan prompts deluge of angry calls and emails
The high volume of calls and emails as part of the anti-vaccination campaign have crippled some service lines and have included death threats.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 11, 2021
Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward to prioritize people in their 20s and 30s for vaccines
The policy underscores the ward's desire to curb infections among the young, many of whom don't have a family doctor.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 31, 2021
Pfizer approves COVID-19 shots for 12- to 15-year-olds in Japan
The U.S. drugmaker also enabled undiluted, thawed vials of its vaccine to be stored at refrigerator temperature for a longer period of time.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 30, 2021
Flexible approach: Japan municipalities get OK to vaccinate more than just older people
Although older residents will still be prioritized for now, municipalities have the freedom to decide how to set aside shots for other demographics and professions.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 25, 2021
Japan to let emergency medics and lab staff administer COVID-19 vaccines
“We have been hearing from municipalities that there are not enough people who can administer the vaccine shots,” the government's top spokesman said Tuesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 21, 2021
Can Japan administer 1 million vaccine doses a day? Local governments are the key.
The goal, and the extent to which the central government has cracked the whip on municipalities, are the latest manifestations of Suga's apparent frustration with the nation's campaign.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 20, 2021
Japanese companies introducing vaccine leave for workers
The idea is to ensure that employees can avoid getting shots on the weekend, when demand for vaccinations is likely to soar.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 16, 2021
Rainy season in western Japan arrives earlier than ever
The Kinki region likely entered the rainy season Sunday, 25 days earlier than last year and 21 days earlier than average.
Japan Times
JAPAN / FOCUS
May 12, 2021
How domestic clinical trials slow Japan's vaccine approval process
To achieve greater efficiency and flexibility, some have argued that Japan should institute its own version of the emergency use authorization framework seen in the U.S.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 9, 2021
Deluge of calls to Tokyo fever hotline have some fearing virus explosion
The situation is eerily reminiscent of early January, when the capital was hit by the biggest wave of cases yet, driving its medical system to the breaking point.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 27, 2021
Tokyo to get SDF-staffed, large-scale vaccination site amid slow rollout
Medically licensed SDF personnel are expected to administer Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines to about 900,000 people age 65 or older living in the capital and neighboring prefectures.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 26, 2021
They know the drill: Dentists tapped to speed up Japan's slow vaccine rollout
Their involvement will be contingent upon municipalities not being able to secure enough doctors and nurses to go ahead with mass vaccinations at public facilities.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 20, 2021
Japan's local governments get creative to incentivize vaccinations
From free bath salt giveaways to discounted taxi rides, municipalities are coming up with an array of programs, but the central government remains wary.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Apr 18, 2021
R rating for 'Demon Slayer' in U.S. highlights difference in attitudes
While Japan's highest-grossing film is accessible to all in its home country, younger viewers in the United States must be accompanied by their parents.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Apr 18, 2021
With 'Demon Slayer' rated R in the U.S., what do film ratings mean in Japan?
Eirin, Japan's film classification board, has to consider eight factors when rating a film: violence, nudity, sex, crime, drugs, terror, language and theme.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Apr 7, 2021
Japan steps up marijuana warnings following legalization in New York
The Consulate General of Japan in New York warned last week that Japanese residents and tourists can still be penalized for possessing marijuana under Japan's anti-cannabis law.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 5, 2021
School's out in much of the world, but Japanese teachers are happy to return
Japan's situation contrasts sharply with that in other countries, where the question of whether to reopen schools has become a hot-button political issue.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 4, 2021
'No singing, eat in silence': How Japanese schools have stayed open despite the pandemic
Japanese schools — which unlike many parts of the world have mostly remained open — are experimenting with various ways to co-exist with the coronavirus while keeping children safe.

Longform

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