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November 22, 2024
 

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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 Times
JAPAN / Explainer
Feb 21, 2022
What you need to know about Japan's upcoming eased border restrictions
March will bring sweeping changes to the country's border rules — covering quarantines to those eligible for entry — but navigating government websites for answers can be tricky.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 17, 2022
It's official: Japan eases entry restrictions for foreign students, business travelers and other nontourists
The move comes amid growing concerns over economic and reputational costs, and as Kishida indicates exiting the sixth wave.
Japan Times
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 Times
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 Times
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 Times
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 Times
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 Times
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 Times
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 Times
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 Times
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 Times
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 Times
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 Times
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 Times
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.
Two of America’s biggest debt holders are dumping Treasurys
The U.S. Treasury building in Washington. Investors in Japan and China sold a pile of U.S. debt in the last quarter, just before the U.S. presidential election.
Ishiba aggravates his own political failures with diplomatic faux pas
Prime Minster Shigeru Ishiba is greeted at the APEC summit in Lima by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. The Japanese leader was criticized for remaining seated while meeting several world leaders at the event.
Japan's 3.31 million visitors in October set monthly record
Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in December 2023. Famous autumn leaf colors contributed to increased tourism demand last month from many markets across Asia, Europe and North America, the Japan National Tourism Organization has said.
Japan ranks last in romance satisfaction for second straight year
In a survey of 31 countries, Japan ranked last in terms of those who felt loved, with just 51% of respondents saying so.
Ruling coalition and DPP strike last-minute deal over economic policy
DPP policy chief Makoto Mahaguchi speaks at the party's policy gathering in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Japan, U.K. and Italy discuss inviting more countries to joint fighter project
A new concept model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is on display in Farnborough, Hampshire, in July.
Haruki Murakami's 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' gives deep deja vu
For “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” translated into English by Philip Gabriel, Haruki Murakami confronts the ghosts who won't leave him alone.
Japanese expats in Asia find community through rugby
The Taiwan Fivewoods celebrate their victory at the 2023 Asian Japanese Rugby Cup in December of last year.
In Fukushima, a weekend of prose, poetry and translation
Aomori-based writer JJ Carter presented on tabletop gaming as creative inspiration for building characters and narratives.
For Dr. Nakamats, aging is just experience in action
Though he didn't win the recent gubernatorial election in Tokyo, the 96-year-old Dr. Nakamats' run was seen as inspirational in Japan's aging society.

Podcast

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

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?
By Kathryn Wortley

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