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July 12, 2025
 

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Ryusei Takahashi
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 2, 2022
How the pandemic changed Japan’s health care system
COVID-19 has overhauled work practices and exposed the divisions between the public and private sectors of the medical system.
Japan Times
JAPAN / FOCUS
Dec 28, 2021
Omicron offers stark reminder of human cost of Japan's border controls
The administration's response to the new variant has again shone a light on the impact of tough countermeasures, and demonstrated the country's continued willingness to pay the price.
JAPAN
Dec 23, 2021
Concern grows as highly transmissible omicron variant finds foothold in Japan
The Kyoto Prefectural Government said it has confirmed that one person has been infected with the variant, and that their infection route has not been traced so far.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 3, 2021
Japan suspends visas for would-be residents amid crackdown on inbound travel
Effective Thursday, the central government temporarily suspended for one month visas that have been issued but not used to enter Japan.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 1, 2021
Japan tells airlines to halt inbound flight bookings over omicron fears
People with existing bookings will still be able to fly into Japan despite the 'emergency measure' that came the same day the country logged its second case of the omicron variant.
JAPAN
Nov 30, 2021
Japan confirms first case of omicron coronavirus variant
Genomic screening had detected the variant in a male Namibian diplomat in his 30s who had landed in Tokyo on Sunday traveling from from Namibia.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Nov 30, 2021
Scores hoping to enter Japan in limbo — again — after latest entry ban
The country's new entry measures — which together with Israel are among the world's most stringent — mean that from Tuesday all new visitors are barred from entry.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Nov 29, 2021
Boosters, logistics and shots for kids: Challenges remain as Japan hits vaccine turning point
As the country finishes its initial rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, Japan must simultaneously gear up to distribute a third dose.
JAPAN
Nov 29, 2021
Japan to bar all new foreign visitors as omicron fears grow
The measures close the border to business travelers, foreign students and foreign interns starting Tuesday but it does not affect re-entry for Japanese nationals and foreign residents.
JAPAN
Nov 16, 2021
New normal takes shape as Japan announces 'vaccine-test package'
Those showing proof of vaccination or a negative test result would be able to enter eating and drinking establishments as normal, even under a state of emergency.
JAPAN
Nov 12, 2021
In sweeping pandemic policy bundle, free testing signals attitude change in Japan
After nearly two years of criticism that the country isn't carrying out enough tests, the measure is a subtle but strong sign of a shift toward a more proactive stance.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 11, 2021
Japan prepares for sixth wave as Kishida rolls out pandemic policy package
Proposals to be finalized Friday aim to bolster the country's hospital capacity, expand its vaccine campaign and advance treatment and testing.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Oct 15, 2021
First no Kai opts out of election amid speculation over Yuriko Koike's political ambitions
With the Tokyo governor seemingly performing a U-turn on running for the Lower House, the campaign of fledgling 'conservative centrist' party First no Kai never got off the ground.
JAPAN
Oct 8, 2021
Tokyo area quake reignites concerns over capital's seismic vulnerability
The Meteorological Agency was quick to dispel speculation that the tremor — a magnitude 5.9 earthquake that shook Tokyo late Thursday night — could be a foreshock for a larger quake.
Japan Times
JAPAN / FOCUS
Oct 3, 2021
Japan enters a new stage of the pandemic fraught with fresh challenges
Prefectural governors are set to gradually peel back virus measures, while the central government shifts its focus toward the final stages of the initial vaccine rollout.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 28, 2021
Japan leans on governors to prevent post-emergency COVID-19 rebound
Steps similar to quasi-emergency measures will be put in place by prefectural governors, who have been given the task of rolling back restrictions while maintaining certain precautions.
JAPAN / Explainer
Sep 23, 2021
Japan prepares booster shots amid worries over waning vaccine efficacy
Preparations have begun to administer additional shots to health care workers and older people, but debate still swirls around how extra doses should be given and when.
Japan Times
JAPAN / FOCUS
Sep 19, 2021
Home COVID-19 care surged as Japan's hospitals filled up, but treatment options were limited
Providing at-home treatment for coronavirus patients presents an entirely different dilemma for the nation's already exhausted medical personnel.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health
Sep 17, 2021
Japan plans to roll out booster shots by the end of the year
Japan could soon start giving COVID-19 vaccine booster shots to people who are at least eight months removed from their second doses.
JAPAN
Sep 9, 2021
Japan sets out pandemic exit strategy after emergency extended
The plan will rely on vaccine passports or some other document that verifies an individual is fully inoculated.
Tokyo hit by torrential rainfall at rush hour
People line up at Shibuya Station in Tokyo as they try to avoid the heavy rain on Thursday.
Foreign drivers in Japan to face tougher license conversion rules from October
According to the National Police Agency, there were 75,905 people who converted their foreign driver’s license to a Japanese one in 2024, up from 48,885 in 2019.
Chinese fighters came within 30 meters of Japanese spy aircraft, Tokyo says
A Chinese JH-7 fighter jet makes an near an Air Self-Defense Force YS-11EB surveillance aircraft over the East China Sea this week in this image released Thursday.
Air India crash report to offer peek into last seconds
Members of the Indian Army's engineering arm prepare to remove the wreckage of an Air India aircraft in Ahmedabad on June 14.
What Japanese politics could look like after Upper House election
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who heads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (center) waves to attendees as he departs after delivering a campaign speech in Yokohama on Sunday.
New IG Arena set to dial down temperature at Nagoya Basho, in a good way
With IG Arena getting glowing early reviews as the Nagoya Basho’s replacement venue, it may be a while before fans wax nostalgic about the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.
Once a niche, anime is now mainstream content for Netflix and other streaming services
Though Netflix remains the dominant choice globally for anime viewers, Amazon Prime Video has also invested heavily in anime, steadily adding titles to their catalogue.
NGOs condemn rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric ahead of Upper House vote
Sanseito head Sohei Kamiya holds a board that reads "Japanese First" in Tokyo on July 2. In a joint statement on Tuesday, eight human rights nongovernmental organizations described the far-right party's stance as "hate speech."
Japanese dancers find a home abroad at Houston Ballet
“Giselle” lead Yuriko Kajiya (center), performing with Connor Walsh as Albrecht, is one of six Japanese dancers at Houston Ballet.
From the Abes to the Ohtanis: How siblings shape athletic development
Olympic judoka Uta Abe (second from left) and Hifumi Abe (second from right) with their brother Yuichiro (center) and their parents. “I’m always consciously trying to be a good older brother,” Yuichiro said.

Podcast

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

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji
By Alex K.T. Martin

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