Japan coronavirus lockdown

Japan has put two-thirds of the country under quasi-emergency measures as it struggles to curb the latest explosion of COVID-19 infections. 

33 of Japan's 47 prefectures are now under some type of emergency measures.

Japan will step up efforts to complete the vaccination of its elderly population by the end of July.

Tokyo and Osaka face a prolonged, stricter state of emergency after an explosion of faster spreading COVID-19 variants.

Infections are rising in parts of Japan, including a worrying increase in new variants.

With Japan’s initial coronavirus response providing limited clarity, the need for long-term measures to prevent an outbreak is becoming more apparent. 

Japan’s right wing is claiming “victory” in the pandemic, but no one seems to understand what, exactly, averted disaster.

The government declares success against the coronavirus and moves to incrementally resume economic activity.

The government shifts its coronavirus response toward cluster tracing and long-term lifestyle changes.

The mental health issue is already poorly understood; now its role in the public imagination is shifting again.

As stay-at-home appeals start to take effect in Japan, alarms have been raised over a growing worldwide trend in domestic abuse cases.