TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — A Japanese naval destroyer and a Chinese fishing boat have collided in the sea off Shanghai but there were no injuries, Japanese media reported early Tuesday. The destroyer Shimakaze, from Japan’s Maritime Self-Defence Force, received damage to its port side, Kyodo news agency said, citing the Ministry of Defence. Both the naval ship and the fishing boat, with a crew of 13, were still able to sail under their own power, […]
Tag: Japan
Tokyo urged to stay home at weekend as virus cases climb
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Tokyo’s governor urged residents to stay home this weekend, warning of a possible “explosion” of the coronavirus with a record 41 new cases discovered on Wednesday. Yuriko Koike said the Japanese capital, so far spared the draconian measures seen in other major global cities, was at a “critical stage” in containing the virus that has confined one-third of the planet to their homes. “We urge people at all costs to refrain […]
Virus-striken Diamond Princess leaves Yokohama
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AFP) — The Diamond Princess, a coronavirus-hit cruise ship off Japan that saw 712 passengers and crew contracting the disease with 10 deaths, left its moorings in Yokohama Wednesday, a city official said. The ship, which originally carried some 3,700 passengers and crew members, dominated international headlines as Japan’s clumsy handling of its quarantine made it at one point the biggest cluster of coronavirus carriers outside China. “Disinfection work has been finished. Quarantine […]
In Japan, disappointment but understanding over postponed Olympics
by Harumi OZAWA TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japanese citizens reacted with bitter disappointment Tuesday at the news their Olympics were postponed after years of preparation but many said they understood the move in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Tokyo’s famous Shibuya crossing was thronged with late-night crowds of young people following the announcement, as Japan has not been subject to the same movement restrictions imposed on much of the rest of the world. Earlier in […]
Tokyo Olympics postponed to 2021: IOC
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AFP) — The 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been postponed to no later than the summer of 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe, the International Olympic Committee announced Tuesday. The Games were scheduled for July 24-August 9, but after telephone discussions between IOC president Thomas Bach and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a historic joint decision was taken for the first postponement of an Olympics in peacetime. Abe had earlier said […]
Fate of Olympic torch relay in balance as virus worsens
TOKYO, Olympics (AFP) — The Olympic torch relay, due to begin Thursday from a symbolic site in Fukushima, will proceed as scheduled but organizers said they would re-assess in the coming days given the “worsening” coronavirus situation. “The torch relay will start on March 26 in Fukushima, the plan has not changed,” Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto told reporters, a day after the International Olympic Committee said it was considering postponing the Games due […]
‘Joy of spring’: Japan fetes cherry blossoms despite virus
by Shingo ITO TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — The crowds might be thinner and parties smaller, but warnings from officials over the coronavirus have done little to stop Japanese celebrating as the country’s famed cherry trees explode into bloom. Over a warm long weekend in Tokyo, people packed into traditional blossom hotspots, many not even wearing face masks, to admire the fluffy white and pink flowers hanging from delicate stems. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike admitted that […]
Japan’s northern Hokkaido lifts state of emergency over virus
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan’s northernmost main island of Hokkaido on Thursday lifted a state of emergency declared last month over the new coronavirus, saying it sees signs of the outbreak tapering off. The governor of Hokkaido prefecture announced the emergency measure on February 28, as infections in the region grew. The call urged residents to avoid unnecessary outings, though it did not come with aggressive enforcement measures of the sort being implemented now in […]
Japan expands entry ban, quarantine over virus
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan’s prime minister said Wednesday the country will expand quarantine measures and a ban on entry from parts of countries including Italy and Spain affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The announcement by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe adds parts of Italy, Spain and Switzerland and all of Iceland to existing rules banning the entry of foreign travelers coming from hard-hit parts of China, South Korea and elsewhere. The new measures also expand […]
Bank of Japan unveils emergency measures over virus
by Richard CARTER / Miwa SUZUKI TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — The Bank of Japan on Monday unveiled a series of emergency monetary policy measures to shore up the world’s third-largest economy, as the coronavirus pandemic threatens a global recession. In a meeting brought forward by two days, the BoJ said it would double its annual capacity to purchase exchange-traded funds and Japan real estate investment funds, the latest global central bank to take emergency action. […]
Japan bars children from Olympic torch ceremonies over virus
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan has been forced to scrap plans to involve children in the Olympic torch handover and arrival ceremonies because of fears over the new coronavirus, Tokyo 2020’s chief organizer said on Friday. Organizing committee head Yoshiro Mori called it a “heartbreaking decision” to cancel a performance of 140 children at the handover ceremony in Athens. The announcement comes after organizers said they may have to scale back the torch relay and […]
S. Korea threatens retaliation over ‘irrational’ Japan virus quarantine
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — Seoul threatened to retaliate Friday over what it called Tokyo’s “irrational” plan to quarantine arrivals from South Korea over the coronavirus outbreak, turning the scientific issue into a diplomatic row. The two countries have close economic ties and are both major US allies, democracies and market economies faced with a rising China and nuclear-armed North Korea. But their relationship continues to be heavily affected by Japan’s colonial rule of the […]
