• Is Japan's pandemic response a disaster or a success?

    Is Japan's pandemic response a disaster or a success?

    Jun 17, 2020 10:40 PM EDT

    Grace Lee: Drew is a long time Japan resident who lives on the northern island of Hokkaido. He's asked to stay anonymous due to the stigma surrounding the virus in Japan. After exhibiting symptoms for more than two weeks, his doctor recommended he call the hot line and get ...

  • Japan's state of emergency is no lockdown. What's in it?

    Japan's state of emergency is no lockdown. What's in it?

    Apr 08, 2020 12:53 PM EDT

    A. Japan’s history of repression under fascist governments before and during World War II has left the public wary of government overreach. The country's postwar constitution lays out strict protections for civil liberties. Abe's government was reluctant to risk severe economic repercussions from more severe measures. Q ...

  • Japan declares state of emergency, ramping up virus battle

    Japan declares state of emergency, ramping up virus battle

    Apr 07, 2020 01:28 PM EDT

    ... is true in many places, there are fears over shortages of beds and ICU units for patients with severe symptoms.Osamu Nishida, chairman of the Japanese Society of Intensive Care Medicine, noted that Japan has only five ICU beds per 100,000 people, compared to 12 in Italy and about ...

  • Japan's prime minister to declare state of emergency as early as Tuesday

    Japan's prime minister to declare state of emergency as early as Tuesday

    Apr 06, 2020 12:10 PM EDT

    TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that he will declare a state of emergency for Tokyo and six other prefectures as early as Tuesday to bolster measures to fight the coronavirus outbreak, but that there will be no hard lockdowns. Abe also told reporters Monday that his government ...

  • Olympic flame lands in Japan as doubts grow over Tokyo Games

    Olympic flame lands in Japan as doubts grow over Tokyo Games

    Mar 20, 2020 12:28 PM EDT

    ... give some athletes advantages over others. Worldwide the death toll surpassed 10,000 and infections topped 240,000, including 86,000 people who have recovered. Japan has reported about 900 confirmed cases.The Japanese news agency Kyodo released a survey on Monday showing 69.9% of those questioned did not ...

  • National Symphony cancels Japan concerts due to virus

    National Symphony cancels Japan concerts due to virus

    Feb 28, 2020 07:23 PM EDT

    WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Symphony Orchestra canceled the five remaining performances in Japan of its Asian tour because of a new virus epidemic. The orchestra originally was to play eight concerts in its first international tour with music director Gianandrea Noseda. On Feb. 4, the NSO called off shows in ...

  • Japan to close schools nationwide to control spread of virus

    Japan to close schools nationwide to control spread of virus

    Feb 27, 2020 02:21 PM EDT

    ... every day.” The decision comes amid growing concern about the rise in the number of untraceable cases of the virus in northern Japan and elsewhere. Japan now has more than 890 cases, including 705 from a quarantined cruise ship. An eighth death from the virus was confirmed Thursday in Japan ...

  • Japan health officials say coronavirus ship quarantine was not perfect

    Japan health officials say coronavirus ship quarantine was not perfect

    Feb 24, 2020 07:17 PM EDT

    TOKYO (AP) — Japanese health officials and experts on a government panel acknowledged Monday that the quarantine of the virus-hit cruise ship Diamond Princess was not perfect, but defended Japan's decision to release about 1,000 passengers after 14 days. The officials said Japanese health authorities faced tough challenges ...

  • Americans in Japan to trade one quarantine for another

    Americans in Japan to trade one quarantine for another

    Feb 16, 2020 03:45 PM EDT

    ... the ship for the (virus), so I think its time to go. I think its time to cut our losses and take off," she said. Japan on Sunday announced another 70 infections on the Diamond Princess, raising the ship's total number of cases to 355. Overall, Japan has 413 ...

  • Japan reports 1st death from novel coronavirus, 44 more cases on ship

    Japan reports 1st death from novel coronavirus, 44 more cases on ship

    Feb 13, 2020 03:39 PM EDT

    TOKYO (AP) — Japan announced Thursday its first death from a new virus from China, hours after confirming 44 more cases on a cruise ship quarantined near Tokyo as fears of the spreading disease mount in the country. Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said the first fatality is a woman in her ...