day in a row the figure has fallen below 100. translator: we had a string of public holidays until wednesday. we will carefully analyze whether this figure accurately reflects the current situation. people across the country were asked to stay at home and refrain from nonessential travel during the holidays. officials say there has been a 70% to 80% drop in the number of visitors at sightseeing spots. a nationwide state of emergegen was originally due to expire on wednesday, but it has been exextended to may 31st. the central government wants tokyo and 12 other prefectures under a special coronanavirus alert to continue minimizing person-to-person contact. the tokyo government is asking shops, restaurants, and entertainment facilities to remain shut or maintain shortened business hours until the end of the month. public schools in the city will also remain closed. meanwhile, some prefectures where the spread of the virus is limited are gradually easing stay-at-home measur
small and medium-sized comompans affected by the antivirus measures. they condition receive up to 2 million yen, or about $19,000 if their monthly revenue has dropped more than 50% compared to last year. about half a million companies, business owners and freelancers had applied for the subsidy as of thursday. around 23,000 of them received the money on friday. translator: i really appreciate it because this gives me some time to think about what to do nenext. but i m a afraid the money won last long. if the current situation continues, i hope i can get more financial help. the government is also providing all residents with cash handouts of about $940. the whole country is under a state of emergency until the end of may. but government officials plan to hear from experts every week as they consider when to lift that measure in each prefecture. translator: we are particularly focused on how the number of new cases has decreased over the last two weeks. in other words,
struck while people paused to observe a moment of silence for the thousands that died. the march 11, 2001, disaster left 18,428 people dead or missing, including the okubo family s only daughter, maki. the 27-year-old was swept away by the tsunami. last summer part of her remains were finally found off the coast of miyagi prefecture. translator: this year is different. we can feel my daughter close to us. translator: she finally came back to us, even though our sorrow will never be erased. another 3,739 deaths have been attributed in the years that followed. the magnitude 9 earthquake generated a tsunami 9 meters tall and triggered one of the worst nuclear accidents. 3/11 is synonymous with the daiichi nuclear power plant. it suffered a triple meltdown. as a result, tens of thousands were forced from their homes because of the radiation. almostst a decade later, severa areas remain blocked off. leaving many evacuees waiting to go back home. life has returned to some com
reminder of the tsunami s toll. the united states and south korea have started their annual military drills. this year s come in the wake of north korea s fourth rocket launch. the show of military might has pyongyang threatening preemptive action. nhk has more. reporter: the united states and south korea started their annual joint military exercise, with a total of over 300,000 south korean and u.s. troops taking part. it s the largest yet. reaction from north korea came before the drill even started. translator: our forces are closely monitoring u.s. moves for the possibility of nuclear attacks. if the slightest move is detected, our hearts will be burning to reduce american territory to ashes. reporter: north korea s opposition to these drills is nothing new. for the past two years, pyongyang test fired missiles in response. so far this year, a threat to carry out a preemptive military strike. a joint drill is usually conducted at this time of year in the south s