IOC to provide Tokyo Olympic athletes with Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses
The International Olympic Committee announced Thursday it will provide athletes attending this summer's Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics with doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, developed by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE, free of charge. (Kyodo)
Japan govt. decides to extend state of emergency
The Japanese government has decided to extend a coronavirus state of emergency in four prefectures, including Osaka and Tokyo, until the end of the month, and expand its area. (NHK)
JR East cancels morning train reductions due to crowding
East Japan Railway Co., or JR East, said Thursday that it has decided to cancel coronavirus-linked train service reductions planned on some lines in the Tokyo metropolitan area during the morning commuting hours Friday, as the measure is now expected to create crowds. (Japan Times)
Japan's vaccine drive may spur economic boost from 'forced savings' -BOJ
The Bank of Japan expects the national COVID-19 vaccination programme to spur an economic boost from households venturing out, armed with $183 billion in “forced savings” accumulated last year during pandemic-busting, stay-at-home policies. (Reuters)
07 May 2021
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SOCIETY
Man suspected of drugging, raping 4 women accused in fifth case
tokyoreporter.com - May 07
TOKYO (TR) – A 30-year-old man in custody for allegedly drugging and raping four women has been accused in a fifth case, police have revealed, reports Nippon News Network.
Man arrested for torching luxury car in Kitakyushu
Japan Today - May 07
Police in Kitakyushu City have arrested a 20-year-old man on suspicion of arson after he set a high-end car on fire.
Tokyo police officer dead, another missing on east Japan mountain
Kyodo - May 05
A Tokyo police officer was found dead and his female colleague is missing on Mt. Tanigawa in eastern Japan, local police said Tuesday, two days after receiving a distress call.
World's oldest person, 118-year-old Kane Tanaka, pulls out of torch relay citing Covid-19 fears
stuff.co.nz - May 05
World's oldest person, 118-year-old Kane Tanaka, pulls out of torch relay citing Covid-19 fears
[more society news…]
BUSINESS
Nitori furniture chain opens low-price steakhouses
Nikkei - May 07
Japanese retailer Nitori Holdings is getting into the restaurant business, where it will apply the same cost-cutting model it has honed in its furniture business to steakhouses.
Japan's vaccine drive may spur economic boost from 'forced savings' -BOJ
Reuters - May 06
The Bank of Japan expects the national COVID-19 vaccination programme to spur an economic boost from households venturing out, armed with $183 billion in “forced savings” accumulated last year during pandemic-busting, stay-at-home policies.
Nissan to sell entire stake in Daimler
NHK - May 06
Japan's Nissan Motor says it will sell all of its roughly 1.5-percent stake in Germany's Daimler through a placement to institutional investors. Nissan's French partner Renault made a similar announcement in March.
Japan bans removal of prized agricultural seeds, seedlings abroad
Kyodo - May 05
Japan has recently made illegal the carrying or sending of seeds or seedlings of domestically developed farm products out of the country as it tries to protect local producers from the impacts of unauthorized overseas cultivation.
[more business news…]
POLITICS
Japan govt. decides to extend state of emergency
NHK - May 07
The Japanese government has decided to extend a coronavirus state of emergency in four prefectures, including Osaka and Tokyo, until the end of the month, and expand its area.
Japan and U.S. foreign policy chiefs meet over China and North Korea
Japan Times - May 04
LONDON – Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and his U.S. counterpart Antony Blinken held talks on Monday in London to discuss issues related to China and North Korea, following up on their leaders’ summit last month.
Constitution day stirs debate over revision
NHK - May 04
Monday marks the anniversary of Japan's Constitution coming into effect 74 years ago. To mark the occasion, some people around the country have been calling for the Constitution to be amended -- while others favor keeping it in its present form.
Foreigners in fear of Japan's immigration proposals
NHK - May 02
Foreign communities in Japan, and their local supporters, are calling for lawmakers to scrap proposed changes to the country's immigration law. The revisions, which critics describe as inhumane, involve the forcible deportation of asylum-seekers who fail to prove a case to stay as refugees.
[more politics news…]
EDUCATION
Girl's death in Japan prompts probe of alleged bullying
ABC News - May 07
A Japanese city will reinvestigate alleged bullying that was denied by education officials two years ago after a 14-year-old girl was found dead in a neighborhood park.
More young Japanese look to Marx as pandemic, climate crisis magnify economic inequalities
Japan Today - May 06
As the global challenge of climate change mounts and the coronavirus pandemic magnifies economic inequalities, Karl Marx, who pointed to the contradictions and limitations of capitalism, is gaining new admirers in Japan, particularly among the young.
Japan's child population hits record low after 40 years of decline
Kyodo - May 04
Japan's estimated child population hit a record low after falling for 40 straight years, government data showed Tuesday, adding to the evidence of the country's aging population.
Baby Gets Vaccinated in Japan
Tokyo Zebra - May 02
Our baby finally gets vaccinated in Japan. He gets the BCG vaccine from a Tokyo clinic.
[more education news…]
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Train station lettuce: Japan railroad grows veggies indoors
Nikkei - May 07
A harried commuter rushes through a Tokyo station hoping to catch the next train home.
Japan's $100 Billion World's Fastest Train
Tech Vision - May 06
Trains can feel quite old fashioned, in a lot of ways. With long distance travel very much the preserve of the plane in modern culture, a long-distance train as a mode of public transport can be seen as quirky, rather than the go-to option. Japan, though, is determined to change that.
"Balanced Japanese diet" helps reduce COVID-19 risk
JapanNutrition.com - May 05
There are concerns over the link between obesity and the severity of COVID-19 infections, with Fukushima Prefecture having 4th highest incidence of metabolic syndrome in Japan.
Forget big feet! Men with large noses tend to have bigger penises, study reveals
nation.lk - May 05
In support of the 'big nose, big hose' theory, a scientific study has found that men with larger noses do indeed have longer penises.
[more sci-tech news…]
SPORTS
IOC to provide Tokyo Olympic athletes with Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses
Kyodo - May 07
The International Olympic Committee announced Thursday it will provide athletes attending this summer's Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics with doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, developed by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE, free of charge.
‘It doesn't matter how old you are’: Japanese cheer squad with average age of 72
South China Morning Post - May 06
Fumie Takino, 89, founded the cheer squad Japan Pom Pom in 1996. While the team’s average age is 72, the women believe that age does not matter when it comes to dancing.
Japan Olympic team member Mao Ichiyama wins Sapporo half marathon
Japan Times - May 06
Mao Ichiyama won the women’s section of the Sapporo Challenge Half Marathon with a personal-best time on Wednesday, beating out fellow Japan Olympic team members Honami Maeda and Ayuko Suzuki.
Japanese NBA player Hachimura targeted with anti-black slurs
Kyodo - May 06
The younger brother of Japanese NBA player Rui Hachimura has revealed a message received online that targets the two with anti-black insults, saying in his Twitter post sharing the racial slurs that he hopes to increase awareness of discrimination faced by minorities in Japan.
[more sports news…]
TRAVEL
Japan seeks longer COVID quarantines for Indian arrivals
Nikkein - May 07
The Japanese government is considering stricter travel restrictions for incoming travelers from India as new cases swamp the South Asian country, Nikkei has learned.
Staying Overnight Inside Japan’s Largest Theme Park
I Will Always Travel for Food - May 05
Hotel Amsterdam is located inside Huis Ten Bosch, a theme park based on the Netherlands. This is the largest theme park in Japan.
Hiking In One Of Japan’s Most Spiritual Places | Mt. Kurama
WAO RYU!ONLY in JAPAN - May 02
Few places one could travel are as rich in spirituality and cultural history as Kyoto. But many people don’t know the close relationship Kyoto has with nature in its immediate surroundings. Travel just outside the city and you’ll find yourself transported to some of Japan’s most sacred sites. Mt. Kurama in the northwest is one such place.
Japan's Most Extreme North | Hokkaido Road Trip
Abroad in Japan - May 02
Cape Soya is 1,000km from Tokyo at Japan's most northern point. In the height of winter we drive across a snowy Hokkaido to discover what's up there.
[more travel news…]
FEATURED BLOGS
May 4
Kyoto families angered by new policy forcing high school students to buy tablets at own expense

Kyoto's mandate seems to be one of the most burdensome on families in light of national directives for equipping students with electronic devices.

Beginning with the 2022 academic year, the Kyoto Prefectural Board of Education will require st...

May 3
Japan has $10 bananas from the coldest prefecture in the country, but how do they taste?

Tropical fruit from Japan's frosty north.

Bananas aren't rare in Japan, in the sense that you can find them in any supermarket and also just about any home, as they're one of the most commonly eaten fruits in the country. However, bananas in ...

May 3
Japan’s Constitution Memorial Day: A Holiday Dedicated to Peace

We all know that Golden Week is filled with holidays, some more grandiose than others. Japan's Kenpō Kinebi or Constitution Day is one of those that often get overshadowed by the rest even though it signifies an important date in history.

Histor...
May 3
Golden Week: What Are These Holidays?

Golden Week (ゴールデンウィーク) is Japan's longest and much-needed string of national holidays starting from April 29 through early May. Although there are only four holidays, most people use their allotted paid vacation days to take the...

May 2
Japanese schoolgirl and karate teen subdue violent shoplifter

Martial artist happy to be able to put skills to use.

In a Japanese city, you're never very far from a vending machine or convenience store. Those who are both thirsty and savvy, though, will skip them and instead head for a supermarket, where t...

[more blogs…]