The novel coronavirus or COVID-19 is raging around the planet, affecting everyone’s lives. With the virus still being researched as it spreads, information and measures are quickly changing, depending on the data. Here are some official resources: The World Health Organization JNTO Advisory regarding COVID-19 – useful and constantly updated information on visa policy changes,…

Japan is enacting its toughest travel restrictions since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. In March, Japan announced that it would deny entry to any foreigner who has been to Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Iran, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, and the Vatican 14 days prior…

by Zoria Petkoska The Novel Coronavirus pandemic is disrupting every facet of life around the globe, and humanity is scrambling to react and adapt our fragile systems. Japan is behind countries like its neighbours China and South Korea, as well as countries in Europe, both in covid-19 cases but also in taking measures to contain…

Is Tokyo heading a heading for a lockdown? That’s the question that many Tokyoites are struggling with this week. However, for many weeks, Tokyoites had been living their lives as if the coronavirs pandemic were not affecting many countries and overwhelming their health care systems; and while cases skyrocketed in countries like South Korea, Iran,…

It’s official, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will not be taking place in 2020. Still, the Olympics will be moved to summer 2021 at the latest. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Prime Minister Abe Shinzo reached the decision on Tuesday. The unprecedented move comes as the world deals with the COVID-19 pandemic that has locked…

Information as of March 24th 2020. Updates will be added to this article. UPDATED March 24th 2020 by Zoria Petkoska The coronavirus or COVID-19, as it is known in the science community, has led to an unprecedented lockdown of many Chinese cities, followed by safety measures undertaken in Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, South Korea…

Dick Pound, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has told USA Today that the Olympics will indeed be postponed because of the coronarvirus pandemic. Pound’s statement came after Prime Minister Abe Shinzo publicly said that the Olympics could not be held under the current circumstances, for the first time implying that the Olympics…

A recent telephone poll conducted by Kyodo News found out that 69.9% of those surveyed did not believe that the Tokyo Olympics would be held as scheduled. That number reflect the general mood in Japan surrounding the games amidst the global coronavirus pandemic, and despite Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stating that the Group of Seven…

The Tokyo Disney Resort has just announced that both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea will remain closed for the duration of March, and are expected to resume operations in early April. Universal Studios Japan has also announced that they will close until March 22, 2020, but the re-opening date could change depending on the situation…

Interesting developments have been taking place ever since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced that elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools across Japan were going to close from a long period of time starting Monday, March 2, as a way to try to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the country. by Martin Danker View…