New measures come into effect for 3 prefectures.
Rising coronavirus cases in parts of the country are triggering worries amid reflection one year after the government announced its first state of emergency. The authorities are tackling the latest spikes, while hoping the vaccine rollout will help stem the surge.
Osaka and Hyogo prefectures in the west, and Miyagi in the north have been given the green light to strengthen anti-virus measures. The new designation came into effect Monday, and will remain in place for a month.
Officials with the central and local governments made the decision in response to another surge in local cases.
Beach season starts on one of Okinawa s islands
A beach opening ceremony has taken place in the southern Japanese prefecture of Okinawa, but the event was smaller than usual, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Yonaha Maehama Beach is located on the island of Miyakojima. It opened on Sunday. The beach is a popular tourist destination. It is known for its white sands and blue waters.
Representatives of the island s tourist industry declared the beach open. Hula dances and traditional local eisa dances were performed.
Fewer people participated in the ceremony this year. Tourists are usually permitted to wade into the water and take the first dip during the event, but this year they were not allowed to do so, due to the pandemic.
Japan consumption index continues to slide
New data continues to show just how much consumer habits have changed in Japan since the pandemic started.
Credit card company JCB and research firm Nowcast analyzed customer transactions for the first half of March.
Their consumption index dropped 9.2 percent compared to the same period in 2019, well before the coronavirus started to spread.
Spending on travel plunged 45.9 percent, while for accommodation there was a drop of 43.8 percent.
Transportation was down 32.9 percent and dining fell 28.5 percent.
But online businesses saw a significant boost. Spending on content distribution soared about 64.5 percent and internet shopping increased 26 percent as many people continued to stay home.
Tsunami-hit police substation rebuilt in Miyagi
A police substation has been rebuilt in Miyagi Prefecture more than 10 years after it was destroyed by a massive tsunami.
A ceremony was held on Monday to celebrate the completion of the facility in Ishinomaki City. The area was devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in 2011.
A police officer put up a doorplate, and pledged to work hard to keep the area safe and help rebuild the local community.
The two-story wooden building, with living quarters for the officers, is further away from the coast than the one that was destroyed by the tsunami.
Japan firms to boost pulse oximeter production
Medical equipment makers in Japan are ramping up production of a device that can be a life-saver for COVID-19 patients.
The firms are being swamped by demand for pulse oximeters, which measure oxygen levels in blood.
The devices can be used by people with light cases of COVID to monitor their health while they are in quarantine. They are advised to seek help immediately if they observe a sudden drop in oxygen, which is potentially a sign of a rapidly worsening condition.
Konica Minolta is one firm that is planning to increase output. The company says that from May, it will boost production to 20 times the pre-pandemic level.