Three months before Olympics, Japan declares short COVID emergency in Tokyo
The govt will require restaurants, bars and karaoke parlours serving alcohol to close, and big sporting events to be held without spectators. Photo: Reuters
Updated: Apr 24, 2021, 12:35 PM IST
Japan declared short and powerful states of emergency for Tokyo, Osaka and two other prefectures on Friday as the country struggles to contain a resurgent coronavirus pandemic three months before the Olympics.
The government will require restaurants, bars and karaoke parlours serving alcohol to close, and big sporting events to be held without spectators from April 25 to May 11, Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said.
Scary virus development puts Olympics on edge Japan is struggling to deal with fresh outbreaks of coronavirus as the country takes drastic action that puts doubt over the upcoming Olympics.
Health by AFP 23rd Apr 2021 1:51 PM Japan s government is to declare virus states of emergencies in Tokyo and three other regions, exactly three months before the Olympic opening ceremony, as new infections surge. The measures will be stricter than Japan s last state of emergency, imposed in parts of the country from January, but still fall short of the harsh lockdowns seen in some parts of the world.
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Japan places Tokyo under month-long quasi-emergency after COVID-19 surge
In a meeting with experts, Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura proposed a month of targeted restrictions in Tokyo, like reduced business hours for bars and restaurants, along with 24 days of curbs for Kyoto and Okinawa, starting on April 12
Reuters | April 16, 2021 | Updated 07:56 IST
Japan placed Tokyo under a new, month-long state of quasi-emergency on Friday to combat surging COVID-19 infections, less than a month after the capital and host of the Summer Olympics lifted a broader state of emergency. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said the restrictions were needed to prevent regional outbreaks from turning into a nationwide wave.
Japan artisans showcase Olympic collection as pandemic leaves things on sour note
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Last Updated: Apr 16, 2021, 11:48 AM IST
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Synopsis
With just 99 days until the Olympics, a surge in virus cases has raised doubts about the Games.
AFP
In this picture taken on April 12, 2021, Kimiaki Kono, who created a special Tokyo 2020 branded shamisen, a traditional Japanese three-stringed instrument, poses at his workshop in Tokyo.
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TOKYO: Craftsman Kimiaki Kono was hoping the Tokyo Olympics would be a chance to win new fans for Japan s lute-like shamisen, but the pandemic has left things on a sour note. I want people around the world to know about this instrument, the 62-year-old told AFP at a Tokyo workshop where he builds the three-stringed shamisen, used in Japanese art forms such as kabuki theatre.
100 days to Tokyo: Pandemic takes spotlight off Olympics, which may be good news for Indian athletes
Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool Photo via AP
There used to be a general theme to the 100 days to the Olympics countdowns in the past. A couple or so weeks would have passed since the Olympic torch was lit in that slightly-absurd ceremony in Greece that s meant to link the ancient games to its modern version. Meanwhile, public enthusiasm is usually building up in the host country around this time as the Olympic torch is carried by cheerful runners amid a populace that s anticipating being on the world stage in a few months time. There s some mutual backslapping between organizers on how very special this particular edition of the games will be.