Japan to allow Omicron carriers to isolate at home
nippon.com -- Jan 06
Japan's health ministry Wednesday notified the local governments that people infected with the omicron coronavirus variant can isolate at home instead of being hospitalized, if local medical systems become strained.
The ministry also said that isolation at home or designated accommodation facilities will be granted on condition that resources necessary for at-home treatment, such as oral COVID-19 drugs, are available, health minister Shigeyuki Goto told reporters.
The previous policy required all people with the omicron variant to be hospitalized.
The ministry also eased the policy of asking all omicron close contacts to stay at designated lodging facilities in principle, now allowing them to isolate at home.
Local governments will be allowed to apply the relaxed rules if the occupancy rate of local hospital beds or accommodation facilities for COVID-19 patients is expected to exceed 50 pct in three weeks.
Biden arrives in Japan for summit, Quad meeting
Japan Today - May 22
U.S. President Joe Biden arrived in Japan Sunday, his first trip to the Asian country since taking office, hoping to bolster the bilateral alliance amid China's assertiveness and reaffirm cooperation over Russia's war in Ukraine.
Japan protests China development of ocean gas field
NHK - May 21
Japan has lodged a protest with China after detecting construction work for a new structure near the two countries' median line in the East China Sea.
Kyoto, Japan's beautiful old imperial capital, is going broke fast
cbsnews.com - May 21
The glorious ancient monuments, Zen temples and soaring pagodas of Kyoto have made it a major tourist draw for decades.
Japan to offer 4th coronavirus vaccine shots from May 25
NHK - May 20
The Japanese government has decided to provide a fourth shot of coronavirus vaccine for people aged 60 or older and others with higher risks, starting on May 25.
Japan to make big companies report gender pay gaps
Nikkei - May 20
Japan plans to start requiring large companies to disclose their gender wage gaps as early as this year as part of efforts to address systemic disparities in the workplace.
Japan to extend another 300 million dollars in loans to Ukraine
NHK - May 19
The Japanese government has decided to grant Ukraine an additional 300-million-dollar loan to support the country, which continues to resist Russia's invasion.
Food security bill targets wheat and soybean production
newsonjapan.com - May 17
TOKYO, May 17 (NewsOnJapan) - The draft of measures to strengthen Japan's food security compiled by the Liberal Democratic Party will include increasing production of wheat and soybeans that rely on imports as a countermeasure against soaring raw material prices and to promote a switch to domestic production.
Japan signs 13 bilion yen loan deal to rescue Ukraine economy
Kyodok - May 17
Japan signed a 13 billion yen ($100 million) loan agreement with Ukraine Monday, offering financial assistance as the country faces an economic crisis due to Russia's invasion.
Yoon rushes to improve ties with Tokyo
asiasentinel.com - May 16
South Korea’s new President Yoon Suk-yeol is rushing to mend years of troubled relations with the country’s key neighbor Japan, but the road ahead to reconciliation is littered with detritus of history that won’t be easy to negotiate.
Okinawa marks 50th anniversary of its return to Japan
NHK - May 15
Okinawa marks the 50th anniversary of its return to Japan from US rule on Sunday.
Peace march held ahead of 50th anniversary of Okinawa's return to Japan rule
NHK - May 14
People have taken part in a peace march in Okinawa and called for a reduction of US military facilities in the southern prefecture, ahead of the 50th anniversary of its return to Japan from US rule.
Japan parties OK outline of porn victim protection bill
Jiji - May 14
Major Japanese ruling and opposition parties Friday agreed on an outline of a planned bill to protect people who ended up appearing in pornographic videos against their will.
Fears Japan's Okinawa will become a front line again
Reuters - May 13
Japan's Okinawa is set to mark 50 years since the United States ended its occupation, but there are renewed fears the East China Sea island chain will become a battlefield again.
Japan defense minister: 3 N.Korean missiles landed outside Japan's EEZ
NHK - May 13
Japan's defense minister says North Korea fired three ballistic missiles on Thursday evening.
Japanese government debt hits record Y1 quadrillion as leaders struggle to correct course on spending
yahoo.com - May 11
The Japanese government's long-term debt has hit a record Y1 quadrillion (approximately $7.6 trillion) for the first time ever.
Japan grants emergency food aid to Yemen
arabnews.com - May 10
The Japanese government on May 10 extended an Emergency Grant Aid of $10 million, in response to the food crisis in Yemen, and said this assistance was expected to be delivered to approximately 2.5 million people.
