International

Japan wants to usher in a new era of high-speed public transport with magnetic levitation, or maglev, trains, but the billion-dollar mammoth project for the first Tokyo-Nagoya line is experiencing problems, Japanese media reported on Saturday. The maglev train plans to connect the two industrial cities by 2027 and is expected to operate at a maximum speed of 500 kilometres per hour in normal operation. The majority of the planned 286-kilometre route from the capital to Nagoya should pass through tunnels. Due to environmental concerns, however, the governor of Shizuoka province along the route has so far refused to consent to preparatory work, Japanese media reported after a meeting between Governor Heita Kawakatsu and the head of the JR Tokai rail company, thus threatening to delay the commissioning of the maglev train. Residents fear that the construction work could lead to environmental damage in Japan's southern Alps. The underground work threatens to penetrate groundwater, which could affect the flow of at least one river, they say. This in turn could affect the cultivation of green tea and oranges, for which the province of Shizuoka is known. The governor is not against the mammoth project in principle, but he is first calling for further consultations with experts, the reports said. In Germany, Transrapid projects were cancelled after long planning phases. The planned route would reduce the travel time between Tokyo and Nagoya to just 40 minutes. The Shinkansen, Japan's fastest train at the moment which is also known as the bullet train, takes twice the time. An expansion of the route to Osaka, a city of over 1 million, is expected by 2045. However, should the construction of the route to Nagoya be delayed, the schedule for the extension of the route to Osaka might also be affected, the reports said.

Japan is to disband a panel of medical experts advising Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet on the response to the novel coronavirus after criticism of its transparency and lack of independence. Japan has been spared the kind of explosive coronavirus outbreak seen elsewhere, with some 18,000 cases and 969 deaths, but it is far from over and questions about the government's response linger. The number of daily new cases in the capital, Tokyo, climbed to 55 on Wednesday, the highest tally in 1-1/2 months after a cluster of infections was found at an office. The panel's independence from government influence has come into question and Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said on Wednesday it would be disbanded and a new one created with a broader range of specialists. "About a month has passed since the lifting of the state of emergency, and maintaining a balance between infection prevention and social and economic activities has become the thrust of our responses," top government spokesman Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference on Thursday. "At this time, we've decided to review the panel that gives us expert advice." The way the panel, led by Takaji Wakita, chief of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, has been run has came under criticism after it was revealed last month that it kept no minutes of its discussions. Media has also reported that the panel refrained from saying in a March statement that the virus could be transmitted from asymptomatic people - those with the virus who do not show symptoms - as the government asked it not to do so to avoid causing panic. Wakita did not deny that but told a news conference on Wednesday the government's request was not the only consideration when deciding whether to inform the public about asymptomatic transmission in one of its public statements. "I don't remember accurately. There could have been such remark. But that's not the only factor in deciding whether or not to put in the line," Wakita said.

A former Japanese justice minister and his lawmaker wife were arrested yesterday on suspicion of vote-buying, prosecutors said, in a serious blow to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as he struggles with falling public support.  Support for Abe, who had close ties to the ex-minister, has declined over dissatisfaction with his handling of the coronavirus crisis, his attempt to extend top prosecutors’ retirement age, and suspicions of wasteful public spending in programmes to support for tourism and small companies. Tokyo prosecutors said in a statement that Katsuyuki Kawai and his wife Anri paid 1.7mn yen ($15,900) to five people last year to get her a seat in the 2019 upper house election. Separately, Katsuyuki Kawai gave about 24mn yen to 91 people to secure her election, the statement said, without identifying them. Katsuyuki Kawai on Wednesday denied wrongdoing while Anri Kawai declined comment on the advice of her lawyer. Abe apologised to the public over the arrests. “It is regrettable that lawmakers from our party were arrested and I feel strongly my responsibility for the appointment of the past justice minister,” he told a news conference.  Anri Kawai’s campaign had received a 150mn yen contribution from ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) headquarters, raising eyebrows because of its size.  Asked whether part of the money could have been used to buy votes, Abe referred to comments by the party’s secretary general that certified public accountants made strict retroactive checks on each party branch’s expenses ruling out such misuse. Katsuyuki Kawai, who previously served as a foreign policy adviser to Abe, quit as minister last October after reports of election irregularities by his wife.  “I have never engaged in political activities that are shameful in the light of my conscience, nor against the law,” Kyodo news agency quoted him as saying on Wednesday. Anri has also rejected the allegations, media reports said. Reuters could not reach either yesterday.  Lawmakers cannot be arrested while parliament is in session. The latest session ended on Wednesday. Abe returned to office in December 2012 and last November became Japan’s longest serving prime minister.  His term as ruling LDP leader, and hence premier, ends in September 2021 but there is speculation he may have to step down sooner given sagging support, which fell below 30% in two polls last month. Political sources and experts said Abe would be weakened but was unlikely to step down immediately as Japan contends with the pandemic.  “The damage will be quite big,” said University of Tokyo political science professor Yu Uchiyama. “He will be a lame duck.” Abe told the news conference he was not considering calling a snap election but would not hesitate to do so if needed. The prime minister is struggling to ease the impact of the coronavirus on the world’s third-largest economy.  He has launched two stimulus packages totalling $2.2tn but over half of the respondents to a Reuters survey were critical of the response.

It's hardly the stuff of little green men, but a mysterious balloon-like object seen floating across the skies of northern Japan has captured national attention, even prompting questions to the government. The unidentified flying object was first spotted on Wednesday morning when residents in northern Sendai city took to social media to post pictures and debate what they were seeing. ‘This white thing isn't moving at all. What is it? Can anyone tell me?’ wrote one user, with others chiming in using the hashtag ‘unidentified flying object’ in Japanese. Authorities said they were baffled by the object, which close-up images taken by local residents and media suggest is composed of a balloon-like object attached to crossed sticks with propellers. ‘The object looks like a balloon for monitoring weather, but it's not ours,’ an official at the Sendai bureau of the Japan Meteorological Agency told AFP on Thursday. Local police reportedly flew a helicopter to confirm the presence of the object, but also drew a blank on its identity -- even after consulting other authorities and organisations. Kyushu University's aeronautics department publicly denied the device belonged to them, after public speculation. Shinichiro Higashino, an associate professor at the department told Fuji TV that a close-up image suggested the object was equipped with solar panels. ‘It's possible it could conduct scientific observations or monitor something,’ he said. The mystery received coverage nationwide, and even prompted a question to the top government spokesman at his daily briefing. Yoshihide Suga said the government was aware of the mystery object, but batted away suggestions it might be the work of foreign governments or be capable of causing damage. The mystery may remain unresolved -- the object has now reportedly floated out to the Pacific, where authorities have lost track of it.

Fujifilm Holdings Corp's research on Avigan as a potential treatment for Covid-19 may drag on until July, the company said on Sunday, a further setback in the Japanese firm's race to find a vaccine. "There is a possibility that clinical trials will continue in July," a Fujifilm spokesman said, responding to a Nikkei report that any approval will be delayed until July or later, due to a lack of patients for trials. After the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gave up on getting approval for the drug by the end of May, the aim was to complete clinical trials this month. But researchers have only been able to get around 70% of the patients needed for the trials, and because it takes 28 days to get results, the process will continue until at least July, the Nikkei business daily said, citing an unnamed source. The spokesman said Fujifilm does not make public details of the progress of clinical trials but it has expanded the number of medical institutions that are cooperate in the trials. "We aim to complete clinical trials as soon as possible." Drugmakers around the world are scrambling to develop a vaccine for the new coronavirus, which has infected nearly 7 million people globally, while the disease it causes, Covid-19, has killed nearly 400,000. Many countries are focusing on drugs like Gilead Sciences Inc's antiviral remdesivir and some are using the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, touted by US President Donald Trump. Abe's government has championed Japanese candidate Avigan, also known as Favipiravir. Countries that have succeeded in curbing infections have sometimes paradoxically found it difficult to sustain clinical trials because of dwindling sample sizes for patients. Japan has avoided the explosive outbreaks seen in some other nations, with about 17,000 infections, and the number of daily infection has been falling, according to public broadcaster NHK and the health ministry.

* Nasal swabs currently main source for tests in Japan * New tests will reduce burden on patients, testers -health min * New tests available for those with symptoms for up to 9 days * Daily Tokyo infections topped 30 for first time in 19 days - NHK  Japan on Tuesday approved saliva-based tests for the coronavirus, offering a safer, simpler way to diagnose infection than nasal swabs as it looks to boost its testing rates. Hours after the approval, the Tokyo government issued a stay-at-home alert following an increase in infections. Currently, nasal swabs are the main source for tests in Japan, but these can expose medical workers to coughs and sneezes at the time of collection, making it necessary for them to wear full protective gear. The saliva-based tests are able to be given to those who have had symptoms for up to nine days, the health ministry said. It wasn't immediately clear how much the change would boost overall testing capacity. "This will vastly reduce burdens on patients as well as burdens that come with infection-prevention steps on the part of sample-collecting institutions," Health Minister Katsunobu Kato told reporters. Japan falls well behind other industrialised nations in terms of its number of coronavirus tests. Critics say the low rate of testing has made it difficult to trace the virus, which has led to a series of in-hospital infection clusters. As of May 20, Japan conducted 3.4 PCR tests per 1,000 people, far below Italy's 52.5 and 39 in the United States, according to Oxford University data. South Korea has carried out tests on 15 people per 1,000 people. Japan, which lifted its state of emergency last week, has escaped an explosive outbreak, with nearly 17,000 infections and 898 deaths so far, according to NHK public broadcaster. The Tokyo government issued an alert urging people to stay at home for non-essential business and to practise social distancing after 34 new infections on Tuesday, the most since May 9. The health ministry said about two dozen different test kits, including one from Takara Bio Inc, have been approved for saliva-based PCR tests. Shares in Takara Bio jumped 4% on Tuesday. Musashino Central Hospital in western Tokyo said 12 patients and three hospital workers had been confirmed with the virus, taking the total number of cases at the hospital to 31, forming the latest infection cluster. 

* Nasal swabs currently main source for tests in Japan * New tests will reduce burden on patients, testers: health minister * New tests available for those with symptoms for up to 9 days * Daily Tokyo infections topped 30 for first time in 19 days: NHK Japan's government said on Tuesday it has approved saliva-based tests for the new coronavirus, offering a safer, simpler way to diagnose infection than nasal swabs as it looks to boost its testing rates. Currently, nasal swabs are the main source for tests in Japan, but these can expose medical workers to coughs and sneezes at the time of collection, making it necessary for them to wear full protective gear. The saliva-based tests are able to be given to those who have had symptoms for up to nine days, Japan's health ministry said. It wasn't immediately clear how much the change would boost overall testing capacity. ‘This will vastly reduce burdens on patients as well as burdens that come with infection-prevention steps on the part of sample-collecting institutions,’ Health Minister Katsunobu Kato told reporters, outlining the change. Japan falls well behind other industrialised nations in terms of its number of coronavirus tests. Critics say the low rate of testing has made it difficult to trace the virus, which has led to a series of in-hospital infection clusters. As of May 20, Japan conducted 3.4 PCR tests per 1,000 people, far below Italy's 52.5 and 39 in the United States, according to Oxford University data. South Korea has carried out tests on 15 people per 1,000 people. Japan, which lifted its state of emergency last week, has escaped an explosive outbreak, with nearly 17,000 infections and 898 deaths so far, according to NHK public broadcaster. But the epidemic has tipped the world's third-biggest economy into recession and sent Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's popularity to multi-year lows. The health ministry said about two dozen different test kits, including one from Takara Bio Inc, have been approved for saliva-based PCR tests. Shares in Takara Bio jumped 4% on Tuesday, outperforming a 1.19% rise in the Nikkei average . More than 30 new coronavirus infections were reported in Tokyo on Tuesday, NHK said, marking the first time the number of daily cases has topped 30 in 19 days. Musashino Central Hospital in western Tokyo said 12 patients and three hospital workers had been confirmed with the virus, taking the total number of cases at the hospital to 31, forming the latest infection cluster.

A new Japanese smartphone app will allow fans to send virtual cheers and jeers to sports stadiums in the hope of creating atmosphere at matches played behind closed doors due to coronavirus. Instrument maker Yamaha said its remote cheering system will let users tap buttons on the app to deliver cheers -- or boos -- via dozens of speakers placed inside grounds. Event organisers can pre-set various types of cheers and jeers, and change the intensity levels depending on the number of users pressing their buttons -- aiming to replicate the roar when a goal or home run is scored. Even when a live audience is permitted, fans may still use the app to prevent potentially coronavirus-laden droplets flying through the air through shouting. They can pick which side of the stadium to send their chosen cheer or jeer, and can remotely join chants that only designated users can begin. The company originally planned to launch the app in later this year, but accelerated its development after the coronavirus forced sporting events to be cancelled or played without fans. Yamaha said a recent test of the system at a 51,000-seat stadium produced a sound similar to that of a live crowd. The firm deployed 58 speakers at the Ecopa Stadium and invited officials from football teams Jubilo Iwata and Shimizu S Pulse to send in remote cheers and boos. "I feel that this system will encourage players on the field by making them feel like their fans and supporters are nearby," Jubilo's business strategy official Hiromi Yanagihara said in a statement issued via Yamaha. The firm said the system can also be used in the future by those unable to attend matches. Yahama spokesman Kenji Arakawa said the app could be used for other events and they were receiving enquiries from multiple fields. "This might be used at music concerts, theatres or comedy shows. Especially in comedy acts, audience reaction is essential," said Arakawa. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe recently lifted the state of emergency for the entire nation, but he still urged organisers of major events to use caution to prevent new infections. Japan's professional baseball teams are preparing to start their new season behind closed doors from June, three months later than the original schedule. Football's J-League kicked off the season for one weekend in February before suspending it, with local media speculating the season will reopen in late June or early July, with early games likely to be played without fans.

Fujifilm Holdings Corp will continue research on Avigan into June, Japan's government said on Tuesday, effectively dashing hopes by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that the drug would be approved as a Covid-19 treatment this month. Abe had said he hoped the drug would be approved in May if its efficacy and safety could be confirmed. "The company will continue research into next month or so, and if an application for approval is received from the company, it will be promptly reviewed," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a regular briefing when asked about Avigan. Suga said trials of a coronavirus vaccine could begin as early as July, raising expectations about a candidate developed by Osaka University and biopharmaceutical firm AnGes Inc . Kyodo News reported late on Monday the government had given up on Avigan's May timeline. Last week, the news agency said an interim study showed no clear evidence of the drug's efficacy in Covid-19 cases. "While we continue with the ongoing clinical trials, Fujifilm will remain in close contact with the regulatory authority and work toward the application for approval at the earliest possible timing," Fujifilm spokeswoman Kana Matsumoto said on Tuesday. During an earnings briefing on May 22, Fujifilm Senior Vice President Junji Okada declined to comment on when Avigan might be approved. Avigan is the subject of at least 16 trials worldwide, though there is concern the drug has been shown to cause birth defects in animal studies. Japan's government has called on Fujifilm to triple national stockpiles of Avigan, approved in 2014 as an emergency flu treatment, and pledged to donate it to countries upon request. Dozens of clinical trials for Covid-19 treatments and vaccines are ongoing globally. The Nikkei newspaper said on Monday AnGes is set to begin a trial of its DNA vaccine in July, rather than September as initially scheduled. AnGes shares surged 11% in Tokyo on Tuesday versus the broader market's 2.6%. Fujifilm advanced 0.6%.

Japan lifted a nationwide state of emergency over the coronavirus yesterday, gradually reopening the world’s third-largest economy as government officials warned caution was still necessary to prevent another wave. “We had very stringent criteria for lifting the state of emergency. We have judged that we have met this,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a nationally televised news conference.  Compared with hard-hit areas in Europe, the United States, Russia and Brazil, Japan has been spared the worst of the pandemic, with 16,581 infections and 830 deaths.   But on April 7, with cases beginning to spike and fears for the country’s health system, Abe declared a state of emergency for Tokyo and six other regions - later expanding it to cover the entire nation.  Businesses and schools were urged to shut and people were asked to remain home, but Japan’s lockdown was far softer than in other parts of the world and there was no punishment for those flouting the rules. Citizens largely heeded the orders, however, with most of Tokyo’s famously packed streets falling quiet.   The number of new infections has fallen from a peak of around 700 per day to just a few dozen nationally.  The emergency was lifted for much of the country last week, but the government opted to wait before removing the measures in the capital and surrounding areas, as well as hard-hit northern Hokkaido.  Abe lauded Japan’s success in flattening the curve, saying the country “was able to show the strength of the so-called Japan model”.  But he warned that people wou ld have to adapt to a “new normal” and continue to avoid the “three Cs” - closed spaces, crowded places and close contact.   “If we lower our guard, the infection will spread very rapidly... we need to be vigilant,” he said. “We need to create a new lifestyle; from now on we need to change our way of thinking.” There does not appear to be a single clear reason why the pandemic has not hit Japan as hard as other comparable countries. High levels of hygiene and general health, the habit of removing shoes indoors, widespread mask usage, and bowing as a greeting rather than shaking hands or kissing: all have been advanced as possible reasons, but analysts agree there has been no silver bullet.  Japan has come under fire for a relatively low level of testing with around 270,000 carried out - the lowest per capita rate in the group of seven advanced economies, according to Worldometer. But Japanese authorities insist that mass testing was never their strategy, as cases remained low enough to rely on aggressive contact tracing to contain clusters.   Nevertheless, testing has been ramped up in recent weeks as authorities warn of a possible next wave of the virus that could overwhelm their previous strategy. Medical facilities are also being boosted after horror stories of coronavirus victims being unable to find a suitable hospital bed. Although the human toll has been less severe than in other parts of the world, the economy - already struggling from the effects of natural disasters and a consumption tax hike - has suffered.   In a bid to stem the damage, Abe has ordered a mass handout of 100,000 yen ($930) per person. Coronavirus has also taken its toll politically, with polls showing support for Abe falling rapidly. A recent survey for the Asahi Shimbun suggested his backing had dropped to 29%, the lowest since he took office in 2012.  Abe performed a rare U-turn on the cash handouts - initially announcing an entirely different policy - and is seen to have bungled another signature move to distribute masks to every household, which attracted widespread mockery.

* Japan lifts emergency for 5 remaining prefectures * PM Abe's support rate at multi-year lows * Stimulus plan to be funded by 2nd extra budget: Nikkei * Package to consist mostly of financial aid programmes Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe lifted a state of emergency for Tokyo and four remaining areas on Monday after the number of infections fell across the country, but warned that it could be reimposed if the virus started spreading again. The move meant that the whole country would now have the social distancing curbs loosened, after an initial lifting of restrictions for most areas on May 14. Abe said that the total amount of stimulus from two economic packages would exceed 200 tn yen ($1.86 tn) but it would still take considerable time to get back to normal life while controlling infection risks. ‘Today we are taking a firm step towards the next stage following the removal of the state of emergency,’ the visibly relaxed prime minister told reporters gathered in Tokyo. Abe acknowledged Japan has faced some problems with its response and promised a review once the outbreak was over. But he also praised the ‘Japan model’, in which it brought the outbreak under control in six weeks without strict lockdowns imposed in other countries. However, he warned that, ‘in the worst case scenario, there may be the unfortunate possibility of reimposing the state of emergency if the speed of infections rises again,’ adding that he would like to avoid asking people to stay indoors. The world's third-largest economy has escaped an explosive outbreak with more than 16,600 infections and 839 deaths so far, according to NHK public broadcaster; however, the epidemic has tipped it into a recession and plunged Abe's popularity to multi-year lows. An Asahi newspaper poll conducted at the weekend showed Abe's support rate at 29% — the lowest since he returned to power in late 2012 — and disapproval at 52%.The results mirrored a Mainichi newspaper survey published on Saturday. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike has previously said the capital would move into ‘stage one’ of loosening restrictions, once the state of emergency was removed. That would allow libraries and museums to reopen, and restaurants to stay open until later in the evening. Subsequent stages would see theatres, cinemas and fairgrounds reopen. Tokyo reported 8 new infections on Monday, media said. TWO-FIFTHS OF GDP To support an economy on track for its deepest slump in postwar history, the government is considering fresh stimulus worth 100 tn yen ($930 bn), mostly comprising financial aid for companies, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Monday. The package, to be funded by a second supplementary budget, would follow a record 117 tn yen spending plan deployed last month. ‘The government and the Bank of Japan will continue to work as one to resolve the situation by adopting all necessary steps...we will underpin corporate financing of Japan firms by mobilising an overwhelming amount of funds in an 'all Japan' fashion,’ said Abe. The combined stimulus would bring the total spending in response to the pandemic to about 40% of Japan's gross domestic product. The new package would include 60 tn yen to expand loan programmes that state-affiliated and private financial institutions offer to firms hit by the virus, the Nikkei said. Another 27 tn yen would be set aside for other aid including capital injections for ailing firms, the paper said. The government is expected to approve the budget, which will also include subsidies to help companies pay rent and wages, at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. Japan's economy slipped into recession in the last quarter, and analysts expect another 22% contraction in April-June.

The climbing season for Mount Fuji, Japan's highest peak, is cancelled for this year, after local officials announced on Monday that the mountain trails leading up to the summit will stay closed throughout the summer due to the novel coronavirus. Shizuoka Prefecture, which manages three of the four trails that lead to the peak, made the announcement on Monday, following a similar announcement made by a neighbouring prefecture that manages the fourth trail. Shizuoka made the decision to keep the trails shut because ‘we cannot guarantee the safety of the climbers’, as mountain lodges and first-aid centers will be closed to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, said Yoshinari Nushida, a section chief for the Mount Fuji public work office. This is the first time since record-keeping started that Shizuoka did not open its trails for the climbing season, he added. Located about 130 km (81 miles) west of Tokyo, Mount Fuji rises to 3,776 meters (12,388 feet) and attracts multitudes of hikers and tourists during its climbing season, which runs from July to September. Some 236,000 people climbed the mountain last year, according to the Environment Ministry. Japan has seen about 170,000 cases and 769 deaths from the novel coronavirus as of Monday. The daily number of new cases has dropped in recent days, with new cases in Tokyo down to the single digits. The government lifted its state of emergency last Thursday for most of the country, save for eight prefectures including Tokyo, but is still urging people to remain vigilant against spreading the virus.

Japan's government will postpone a bid to raise the retirement age of public prosecutors, media said on Monday, given an intense public backlash fuelled by fears for judicial independence. Opposition to a bill raising the retirement has been among the top-trending topics on social media this month, with singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and other celebrities adding their voices. NHK public broadcaster said the decision to put off the bid to raise the retirement age was made in a meeting between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Toshihiro Nikai, secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. ‘I have agreed with the prime minister that it's difficult to move forward the discussion without public understanding,’ Nikai told reporters after the meeting with Abe. Under the bill, prosecutors would retire at 65 instead of 63, and the cabinet would be able to defer the retirement of senior prosecutors for a further three years. But critics say the law would jeopardise the independence of the judiciary by allowing government-friendly prosecutors to be kept on. ‘Forcing this bill through would unleash public fury,’ an unidentified lawmaker was quoted as saying in the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper. Abe had hoped to pass the bill during this session of parliament, which runs until June 17. Its withdrawal would mark a rare instance in Japan of public opinion swaying political deliberations. The controversy has been a new blow to Abe, whose support has dropped after what many saw as his administration's slow response to the novel coronavirus outbreak. An opinion poll in the Asahi newspaper on Monday showed 64% of respondents opposed the bill and 15% in favour. The same poll had Abe's approval rating at 33%, versus 41% a month ago. Earlier, government spokesman Yoshihide Suga sidestepped questions on the issue at a news conference saying he was aware there were ‘various opinions’ about the bill. In a rare move, a group of former prosecutors has also protested to the justice ministry, saying ‘prosecutors wouldn't be able to keep the trust of the people’ if they could not maintain their independence. Abe also faced criticism this year when the chief of the Tokyo High Public Prosecutor's Office, seen as close to the premier, was allowed to stay on after turning 63. Debate on the bill has stalled in parliament after opposition parties submitted a no-confidence resolution on Friday against the minister overseeing the legal revision.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe lifted a state of emergency in large parts of the country yesterday but said it would remain in place in Tokyo until the novel coronavirus is contained. Abe lifted the emergency in 39 of Japan’s 47 prefectures but left it in force in the capital and in the second-largest urban area of Osaka, as he tries to cushion the economic blow while stopping the virus. Abe said he would begin work on a second extra budget and as part of the economic stimulus, the government would take more steps to ease corporate funding strains, if needed. “While controlling the spread of the virus as much as possible by acting on the premise that the virus is all around us, we will restore ordinary work and daily life,” Abe told a news conference. The world’s third-largest economy declared the nationwide state of emergency a month ago, urging citizens to reduce person-to-person contact by 80% to slow the spread of the virus and ease pressure on medical services. Economists said normalisation would be gradual as the government keeps a wary eye on the possibility of a second wave of infections, as seen in countries such as South Korea and China. The emergency gives governors more authority to tell people to stay at home and to close schools and businesses, but there is no penalty for non-compliance. Some non-essential businesses, even in areas hit hard by the coronavirus, have started to reopen, even before Thursday’s announcement, and the scope of restrictions has varied across the country. Osaka’s governor has announced criteria for gradually lifting some restraints on businesses including eateries and bars. The 39 prefectures in which the emergency has been lifted account for 54% of Japan’s population but the greater Tokyo area accounts for a third of the economy.  “Tokyo is the heart of the Japanese economy. It’s like driving a car with three wheels,” said Jesper Koll, chief executive of asset manager WisdomTree Japan. The government is set to add four economists to its advisory panel for combating the epidemic and a review will be conducted again in about a week. Fast Retailing Co, owner of casual clothing chain Uniqlo, which has started to reopen outlets, said it planned more reopenings from Friday after the state of emergency is lifted. In Ina city, Nagano – among the 39 prefectures where the emergency was lifted -- Kazue Tominari said earlier she would wait and see before re-opening her restaurant, which is now offering take-out only. “It depends on how everyone feels,” she said by telephone. “If news comes out about more infections, people will probably go back to self-restraint mode. Until there are effective drugs or vaccines, I don’t think we will be able to go back to the way we were before.” Japan has reported 16,120 cases of the coronavirus, not counting infections on a cruise ship that was quarantined in Yokohama port, and 697 deaths, according to public broadcaster NHK. While Japan has avoided the kind of explosive outbreaks seen in the United States and elsewhere, its testing has also been among the lowest, at 188 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests per 100,000 people, compared with 3,159 in Italy and 3,044 in Germany. Hardest-hit Tokyo has conducted just 50,000 tests, of which about 5,000 were positive. Although Japan’s emergency lacks enforcement powers, mobility data has shown a marked drop in the movement of people. The government this week reported a 20% fall in the number of hospitalised Covid-19 patients in the nine days to May 7, to 4,449. In Tokyo, new cases fell to just 10 on Wednesday.

A 28-year-old sumo wrestler infected with the novel coronavirus has died, becoming the first sumo wrestler to die from the deadly virus, the Japan Sumo Association announced on Wednesday. Wrestler Shobushi, whose real name is Kiyotaka Suetake, was hospitalised last month, died on Wednesday in a Tokyo hospital due to multiple organ failure related to the coronavirus, Japanese public broadcaster NHK said. Shobushi made his professional debut in 2007 out of the Takadagawa stable and his best career ranking was No. 11 in the sandanme division, the fourth highest division. In April, the JSA announce that five wrestlers at the Takadagawa stable had tested positive for the virus. It is not clear whether the other wrestlers have made a full recovery. Last week the JSA announced that the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament, scheduled to take place May 24 - June 7 at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan, had been cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak. Osaka's Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in March was held behind closed doors but the JSA decided that was not possible for May's tournament after Japan extended the nationwide state of emergency until at least the end of the month. As of Tuesday, 16,759 people have been infected with coronavirus in Japan, leading to 691 deaths.

Japan's ruthless animated hitman has become the latest victim of the coronavirus, as the nation's longest-running manga comic announced it would take its first hiatus in its 52-year history as social restrictions to contain the virus have made it difficult to produce the hand-drawn series. The 599th instalment of Golgo 13 published in the May 25 issue of Big Comic would be its last "for the time being", the manga magazine published twice a month by Shogakukan said on Saturday, citing commuting restrictions. "Given the division of labour between the series's staff of more than 10, it has become increasingly difficult to continue producing the series," the magazine's editors said in a full-page announcement in the issue which went on sale on Saturday. "I hope you understand," Golgo 13 creator Takao Saito wrote in a signed address at the bottom of the page. "We won't give in to the virus, and we are already planning the 600th instalment. Please take care." Golgo, whose ruthlessness, ingenuity and womanising ways have earned him comparisons to James Bond and Dirty Harry, will put his revolver down for the first time since the series, one of Japan's most popular, began publishing in 1968. Since then, the brooding, hard-boiled crime series has placed its hero at the centre of scenarios often dealing with the seedy underbelly of society, from money laundering at the Vatican to the death of Princess Diana, selling nearly 300 million copies in the process. Also known by his pseudonym Duke Togo, Golgo is widely considered as a modern-day samurai warrior by manga fans and salarymen alike, and has spawned anime series, video games, and action figures, along with pachinko slot machines featuring his likeness. "It looks like Golgo is taking a break...wonder if that means that he'll contract the coronavirus in the next instalment?" a fan with the Twitter handle MARObase tweeted after the announcement. 

Japan will extend the state of emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic by nearly a month, as it is still reporting hundreds of new infection cases daily, the government said on Monday. The government will extend the nationwide state of emergency until May 31, Yasutoshi Nishimura, the minister in charge of economic revitalisation, told the lower house steering committee. The government is considering lifting the emergency ‘if certain conditions are met,’ Nishimura said. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has scheduled a news conference later in the day to report the decision. Japan on Sunday reported 199 new cases and 18 deaths from the Covid-19 respiratory disease, which is caused by the virus, according to a Kyodo News tally. As of Sunday, the country has confirmed 15,771 cases, including 712 on a cruise ship quarantined near Tokyo in February, and 548 deaths, a Kyodo tally showed. However, critics argue actual numbers are much larger, as Abe's government has intentionally limited testing. The government and Japan's media have continued to downplay such criticism. Japan conducted only 1.45 tests per 1,000 people, compared with South Korea's 12.31 and Germany's 30.4, according to Our World in Data, a research team at the University of Oxford. The number of cases has jumped since the International Olympic Committee and Japan agreed on the postponement of this summer's Tokyo Olympics on March 24. In early April, Abe declared a state of emergency for seven prefectures, including Tokyo and Osaka, that would have lasted through Wednesday, urging their residents to refrain from non-essential and non-urgent outings to contain the spread of the virus. A week later, it was expanded to the whole country, as the number of new cases had continued to rise across Japan. Even under the state of the emergency, people flooded pachinko parlours in some areas and drove to the beaches, as the measures are not compulsory. Meanwhile, 44 crew members from Indonesia on an Italian cruise ship left the south-western city of Nagasaki late Sunday. A total of 149 crew members on The Costa Atlantica tested positive for the coronavirus in late April after the Nagasaki prefectural government tested all 623 people on the ship, which had no passengers. Five of them remain hospitalized. The operator Costa Cruises said earlier it had planned to send home those who tested negative.

The postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics will have to be cancelled if the coronavirus pandemic isn't brought under control by next year, the organising committee's president said in comments published Tuesday. The pandemic has already forced a year-long delay of the Games -- which are now scheduled to open on July 23, 2021 -- but Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori said no further postponement was possible. In an interview with Japan's Nikkan Sports daily, Mori was categorical when asked if the Olympics could be delayed until 2022 if the pandemic remains a threat next year, replying: "No." "In that case, it's cancelled," Mori said. Mori noted the Games had been cancelled previously only during wartime, and compared the battle against coronavirus to "fighting an invisible enemy". If the virus is successfully contained, "we'll hold the Olympics in peace next summer", he added. "Mankind is betting on it." Masa Takaya, a Tokyo 2020 spokesman, declined to comment on a possible cancellation of the Games, telling reporters that Mori's remarks were based on "the chairman's own thoughts". Japanese organisers and the International Olympic Committee, under heavy pressure from athletes and international sports federations, agreed in March to a year-long postponement of the Games. Organisers and Japanese officials have said the delayed Olympics will be a chance to showcase the world's triumph over the coronavirus, but questions have arisen about whether even a year's postponement is sufficient. On Tuesday, the head of Japan Medical Association warned it would be "exceedingly difficult" to hold the Games next year if a vaccine has not been found. "I would not say that they should not be held, but it would be exceedingly difficult," Yoshitake Yokokura told reporters at a briefing. And last week a Japanese medical expert who has criticised the country's response to the coronavirus warned that he was "very pessimistic" that the postponed Olympics can be held in 2021. "To be honest with you I don't think the Olympics is likely to be held next year," said Kentaro Iwata, a professor of infectious diseases at Kobe University, at a briefing. But Tokyo 2020 spokesman Takaya countered that even medical experts said it was too early to make a judgement on such a possibility. In the interview, Mori also said organisers were considering holding joint opening and closing ceremonies for the Olympics and the Paralympics in an effort to cut costs. Under the plan, the Paralympics would join the Olympic opening ceremony on July 23, and the Olympic closing ceremony would be integrated into the Paralympics closing event in September. But Mori admitted that Tokyo organisers had not yet obtained the consent of the IOC and their Paralympic counterparts on that plan. "It's going to a considerable cut in costs and a big message of victory against the global crisis, but it's not easy," Mori said.

Some 300,000 coronavirus masks sent to pregnant women in Japan as part of a government handout have been found to be faulty, media reports said, the latest in a string of complaints about how the government has dealt with the pandemic. The efforts of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government to distribute protective cloth masks in its fight against the coronavirus have been marred by complaints about mould, insects and stains in a number of the masks handed out so far. Just days after it began supplying every household with two washable, reusable masks at a total cost of $430 million, complaints emerged of soiled or defective products, many of them from pregnant women. By Tuesday, the number of defective masks distributed to pregnant women had risen to 300,000 out of 500,000, public broadcaster NHK reported. The masks are being sent out in order of priority, with pregnant women and care homes for the disabled at the head of the list, though private households in Tokyo are also starting to receive theirs. The Health Ministry was not immediately available for comment, but Health Ministry Katsunobu Kato told a Tuesday news conference the safety of all the masks would be verified. "It's of top priority to guarantee the quality of the masks so pregnant women can use them with relief," he said. The government asked five companies to manufacture the masks, and had originally said only three - Kowa Co Ltd , Matsuoka Corp and trading house Itochu Corp - were providing some for pregnant women. Itochu last week said it was recalling some of its undistributed face masks following reports of defects, as did Kowa, which said it would also tighten inspections at its manufacturing plants. Matsuoka Corp was not immediately able to respond to requests for comment On Monday, chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga said the government had verified that an additional company, Yusebio, had also supplied masks which were sent to pregnant women. According to Japanese media, the company, located in northern Fukushima prefecture, normally imports wood chips for use in biomass energy production and has five employees. In February, the company imported a large number of masks, originally intending to sell them locally, but was subsequently contacted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry about purchasing them, the company's president was quoted by the Asahi Shimbun daily as saying. "There is no problem with the quality of our masks," the company president was quoted by NHK as saying. The firm could not immediately be reached for contact. Asked about the procurement of the masks and how the firms had been chosen, Suga told a news conference that everything had been handled appropriately. "There was an urgent need for the masks, so the government asked around broadly," he said, without giving further details. Masks remain a sought-after item in Japan. Sharp Corp said in a statement on Tuesday that 4.7 million people applied for 40,000 boxes of face masks. Last week, overwhelming demand crashed the Japanese electronics firm's website soon after the company started taking orders online. It then changed to sell the masks through a lottery to avoid more crashes and said it was ramping up production to meet demand.

Nearly 150 cases of coronavirus infection have been confirmed among crew members of an Italian cruise ship docked in Japan after health authorities finished testing everyone on board, an official said on Saturday. The Nagasaki prefecture official said 57 more crew had tested positive, bringing the total infections on board the Costa Atlantica to 148, roughly one quarter of the vessel's 623 crew members. Authorities began testing after one crew member tested positive for the virus earlier this week. No passengers are on board the vessel, which has been docked in Nagasaki in southwestern Japan since February for repairs and maintenance after the pandemic prevented scheduled repairs in China. The official told a news conference that the prefecture was discussing with the national government how to handle the large number of positive infections on the ship. He added that there was no change in plans to send those testing negative to their home nations as soon as possible. The infection cluster on board the vessel comes as hospitals are running out of beds in some parts of Japan, where the national tally of virus cases has risen above 13,000. Some 350 people have died. Nagasaki, excluding the ship figures, has seen a relatively low number of 17 infections and one death. Of those infected on board the Costa Atlantica, only one crew member has been admitted to hospital, while others remain on board, having shown slight or no symptoms. Nagasaki authorities had quarantined the vessel on arrival, and ordered its crew not to venture beyond the quay except for hospital visits. But prefecture officials said earlier this week that some of the crew had departed without their knowledge, and sought detailed information on their movements. The cruise ship infections follow a similar incident earlier this year, when more than 700 passengers and crew tested positive for the virus on the Diamond Princess cruise liner docked in Yokohama.