For Magdalena Osumi's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Authorities will name and shame returnees who breach quarantine restriction, and rescind the residency status of foreign nationals if they fail to adhere to controls.
The change to the travel policy is part of the government’s new measures in response to a surge in coronavirus cases across the country and around the world.
At least 73 countries are tightening their border control measures for travelers from Japan, where cases of the mutated virus have been detected.
Chaos, lack of debate and fears of public backlash are thought to have been behind unequal treatment of foreign nationals residing in Japan.
Technicalities in the revised policy have sparked confusion among new visa applicants and residents over whether they need to scrap plans to leave or return to the nation.
Although treatment options and access to care have expanded, the stigma associated with infertility has for decades made women keep their struggles under wraps.
The "Three Cs” approach to the pandemic, popularized by Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, refers to avoiding closed spaces, crowds and close-contact situations.
Japan is cautiously relaxing its strict border control policy to start allowing more foreign nationals to enter the country.
Even with the most recent changes to border control measures that came into effect Sunday, there are growing concerns over strict and unclear requirements for re-entry.
The change will only apply to residents of Japan who are planning to spend no more than seven days at their overseas destinations.
