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Rocky Swift
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Dec 23, 2021
Lick it up: Japanese professor creates 'tele-taste' TV screen
The device, called Taste the TV (TTTV), uses a carousel of 10 flavor canisters that spray in combination to create the taste of a particular food.
JAPAN
Dec 21, 2021
Japanese criticize vaccine passport app for lack of maiden name support
The smartphone app, downloaded more than 250,000 times since its launch on Monday by Japan's Digital Agency, works only for those who have received the so-called MyNumber identity cards.
Japan Times
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Oct 19, 2021
Lack of unified vaccination passport and testing threaten Japan's reopening
If botched, the reopening could also prove costly for new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who faces an election in under two weeks.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 5, 2021
Japan's dip in COVID-19 cases baffles experts as winter 'nightmare' remains a risk
Japan's COVID-19 case numbers have plummeted to the lowest in nearly a year just as other parts of Asia are struggling with surging infections, leaving health experts perplexed.
JAPAN
Oct 1, 2021
Japan's Takeda says 'human error' caused contamination of Moderna vaccines
Japanese authorities in August suspended the use of three batches of Moderna shots containing 1.63 million doses after being notified of the contamination.
JAPAN
Aug 20, 2021
Japan to ramp up COVID-19 tests as it battles delta-driven surge
The current wave's speed and severity are overtaking the strategy of targeted cluster tracing Japan has favored over the mass testing used by many nations.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 11, 2021
City in Fukushima uses lessons learned from tsunami to boost COVID-19 vaccine rollout
Soma's nimble, homegrown approach eschews the reservation systems and fragmented efforts common across Japan.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 28, 2021
Japan to consider sharing COVID-19 vaccines amid calls to help Taiwan
Japan approved AstraZeneca's vaccine last week, but there are no immediate plans to use the shots in the country amid lingering concerns over rare blood clots.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 27, 2021
Japan doctors union warns games could lead to 'Tokyo Olympic' virus strain
IOC member John Coates has said the Olympics could be held even under a COVID-19 state of emergency, an opinion the union's leader said was infuriating.
JAPAN
May 19, 2021
Most Japanese medical workers still not fully vaccinated as Olympics loom
Cabinet figures released this week showed that three months into the nation's COVID-19 vaccination push, less than 40% of all medical workers in the country were fully inoculated.
JAPAN
May 14, 2021
Vaccine chief blames Japan's slow inoculation drive on drug approval system
Japan's COVID-19 vaccine chief has blamed a rigid drug approval system for a slow inoculation campaign that is relying on only one approved shot, as a fourth wave of infections raises worries amid preparations for the Summer Olympics.
JAPAN
May 12, 2021
Japan's coronavirus vaccine booking system crashes
Technical problems derailed Japan's coronavirus vaccination booking system on Wednesday, compounding frustration over the government's handling of its inoculation drive.
JAPAN
May 8, 2021
Unused COVID-19 shots piling up in Japan amid slow rollout
Japan imported 28 million doses of Pfizer Inc.'s COVID-19 vaccine through late April, but has so far used only 15% of the stockpile, with the remaining 24 million doses sitting in freezers.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 29, 2021
Japan's unused 14 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines point to logistical hurdles
Japan's unused shots suggest its inoculation push is failing to gain steam, even as inbound vaccine shipments triple over the next two months.
JAPAN
Apr 16, 2021
Tokyo Olympics chief commits to games as infections surge, amid fresh calls to cancel
Japan has exhibited 'poor performance' in containing transmission, along with limited testing capacity and a slow vaccination rollout, health experts wrote in the British Medical Journal
JAPAN
Mar 29, 2021
Vaccine minister says inoculation pace to accelerate in May
Taro Kono said he expected to be able to get 10 million doses of vaccines each week in May but that the Olympics are not a factor in his scheduling.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 9, 2021
Vending machines help ease access to COVID-19 tests in Japan
Seven machines, each holding about 60 PCR testing kits have been set up around the greater Tokyo area.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health
Mar 9, 2021
Japan outpaced by South Korea on COVID-19 vaccinations
Hampered by a lack of supply and a shortage of specialty syringes, the health ministry is said to be taking a cautious approach after past criticism.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 2, 2021
Japan urged to link up private and public testing to better grasp pandemic's extent
The recommendation, included in a health ministry report, calls for the government to vet testing companies and merge their figures with those compiled by public clinics.
JAPAN
Jan 27, 2021
Dry ice, containers and staff shortages: Japan's vaccine rollout hurdles
Already the last major industrial country to start mass vaccinations, Japan is likely to be hampered by a lack of equipment and difficulties in recruiting medical workers.

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