Demonstrations against Japan's tight border restrictions on nonresident foreign nationals — implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19 — have been staged in several countries, with people urging the government to reconsider the measures they say are not based on science.

Protests initiated by "Stop Japan's Ban," a group launched on Twitter, began Tuesday, as foreign exchange students and businesspeople barred from entering the country gathered at various locations, including in front of Japanese embassies in countries such as Mongolia, Poland, India and Malaysia.

The strict entry ban has been in place since Nov. 30, with Japan confirming its first case of the omicron variant later that day. Earlier this month, the entry ban was further extended until the end of February.