The coronavirus scare has sent shudders through the world of big business in Japan, as it undermines a broad range of economic activities.
Prime Minister Abe Shinzo says Japan has yet to reach a point where a declaration of a state of emergency is necessary to contain the coronavirus pandemic.
Japanese government has decided to ask all international travelers to self-quarantine for two weeks.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20200401200000_english_1.mp3
Key words : big business shipbuilding
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200401_18/
The coronavirus scare has sent shudders through the world of big business in Japan, as it undermines a broad range of economic activities.
The Bank of Japan's latest Tankan survey shows sentiment at large manufacturers has turned negative for the first time in 7 years.
The index stands at minus 8. That's 8 points down from the previous quarter.
A negative reading means most companies are feeling pessimistic.
The index deteriorated for all sectors, especially shipbuilding, heavy machinery, and motor vehicles.
Sentiment was also down at big non-manufacturers. But it managed to stay in positive territory. It went from plus 20 to plus 8.
Tourist numbers have fallen off a cliff. The index for accommodations, eating and drinking services plunged to minus 59. It was plus 11 last time.
The BOJ surveyed around 10,000 firms to come up with the index. It shows the difference between the percentage of firms saying business is good, and those saying it's bad.
Key words : Tokyo stock tumbled
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Key words : Shinzo says
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200401_22/
Prime Minister Abe Shinzo says Japan has yet to reach a point where a declaration of a state of emergency is necessary to contain the coronavirus pandemic.
Abe spoke at an Upper House committee meeting on Wednesday about a recently revised law that would allow him to declare a state of emergency to fight the pandemic. He said he will decide whether to issue such a declaration by putting priority on protecting the lives and health of the public.
Abe said an emergency declaration can restrict people's rights, but it would not give enhanced authority to the prime minister or state.
He also said it would instead allow prefectural governors to make necessary requests and give orders.
Abe added that a state of emergency does not mean an immediate lockdown of cities. He said it would be impossible to implement such a measure like France did.
He indicated that the government may make various demands, but they will be slightly different from those done in France.
There has been a call for the budget committees of both chambers of the Diet to deliberate before an emergency is declared.
Abe said that if the Diet decides on it, he will fulfill his obligations. He said a declaration would mean that Japan is in a grave situation and that people need to understand it must be done quickly.
Key words : decided to ask
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200401_35/
Japan's government has decided to ask all travelers entering the country to self-quarantine for two weeks, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The government made the decision at a coronavirus taskforce meeting on Wednesday.
Travelers from overseas, including Japanese citizens, are to be asked to stay at homes or hotels during the self-isolation period and refrain from using public transport to get to those places.
The measure is to be in place from Friday to the end of April.
The government also plans to expand an entry ban on foreign visitors to cover a total of 73 countries and territories.
The ban is to now include the United States and Canada as well Britain and Greece, to cover most of Europe.
The list also includes seven Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand and Indonesia, as well as remaining parts of China and South Korea.
Some countries in Africa, Latin America and the Middle East are also to be added to the ban.
Key words : health authorities Japan
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200401_05/
Health authorities in Japan reported more than 200 new cases of coronavirus infection on Tuesday -- the highest daily increase so far.
The officials say the number of confirmed cases in the country has reached 2,229. The figure does not include 712 cases from the US-operated Diamond Princess cruise ship.
The Tokyo Metropolitan government reported its largest single day increase, logging 78 infections. It also reported 7 deaths raising the national figure to 66, not including 11 from the cruise ship.
The capital has reported the most overall cases at 521. Osaka has the second highest number at 244, followed by Hokkaido with 176, Aichi at 178 and Chiba with 171.
Authorities say that as of Tuesday, 69 patients were in serious condition. Ten of whom were from the cruise ship.
They add that over a thousand people have left hospitals after recovering.
Key words : clinical trials of Toyama
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200401_14/
A Japanese pharmaceutical firm has initiated clinical trials of a drug that could potentially treat coronavirus symptoms.
Fujifilm Toyama Chemical says it will conduct tests of antiviral drug Avigan on about 100 people infected with the coronavirus. The trial will last until the end of June.
The company developed Avigan as an influenza antiviral drug six years ago. It can only be used with government permission as there's the possibility of serious side effects.
Executives plan to seek approval to use the drug in the treatment of the coronavirus if the trial proves effective and safe.
Researchers in China say they've found improvements in the lungs of coronavirus patients who were given Avigan in clinical trials.
Key words : lack of information
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200401_24/
As the new coronavirus spreads in Japan, some foreigners in the country lack information due to language barriers.
Information on containing the virus, symptoms to watch out for and how governments are helping is widely available, but mostly in Japanese. Some foreigners in Japan who have trouble understanding the language say they feel left behind.
Kobayashi International Clinic in Kanagawa Prefecture, near Tokyo, offers services in six languages including Thai and Tagalog.
The clinic has been receiving inquiries from foreign residents about the virus since the start of March.
Clinic head Kobayashi Yoneyuki says even Japanese find it hard to understand the system for testing for the virus, and that foreigners know little about it.
Japan's health ministry set up a hotline in January, but it does not accept calls in foreign languages.
A Japan Tourism Agency emergency line for foreign tourists received about 6,400 calls related to the outbreak from January 22 through March 31.
More and more foreigners have been expressing concern about the lack of information.
Tokyo-based nonprofit organization TELL Lifeline offers psychological counseling in English by phone.
The NPO used to get about 20 calls a day, but since February it has been getting at least 100, mostly about the virus.
One caller expressed concern about the overwhelming lack of information in English compared to Japanese.
Another asked about the effectiveness of wearing masks, citing contradictory views in Japan and abroad.
TELL Lifeline director Vickie Skorji said it would be helpful if some government resources were linked to organizations at the grassroots level and communities of foreigners.
She said that would help them get information and reduce their anxiety.
Key words : United Nations
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200401_17/
The United Nations Security Council held an emergency video conference on Tuesday to discuss North Korea's latest missile launches. Some members expressed concern about Pyongyang's actions, but the council did not unanimously condemn the launches.
North Korea launched what appears to be two short-range ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan on Sunday.
Zhang Jun, China's ambassador to the UN and the council's chair, and other envoys took part in the meeting from their offices.
Diplomatic sources say countries expressed concern about Pyongyang's actions, but China and Russia reiterated their call for easing sanctions against the North.
China's representative, however, reportedly expressed displeasure about the launches and called on the North to refrain from provocative actions amid the coronavirus outbreak.
North Korea launched projectiles four times last month.
But there are currently no council discussions on strengthening sanctions.
Key words : metropolitan government virtually
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200401_25/
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has put into full force an ordinance that virtually bans indoor smoking at restaurants with employees.
The ban that started on Wednesday applies to Tokyo restaurants regardless of floor size or business scale.
The ordinance still allows smoking in restaurants with no employees, but managers must report it to public health centers.
The ordinance was announced in July 2018 to tackle the health hazards of secondhand smoking ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics. It has been implemented in stages since last year.
Smokers and building managers who violate the ordinance are subject to a fine of up to about 470 dollars.
A soba restaurant in Tokyo's Koto Ward that has been in business for over 50 years divided its floor space into smoking and non-smoking areas last September.
But as of Wednesday, smoking is banned there. The restaurant put up a sign about the ban, and set up ashtrays in a backstreet.
A regular customer in his 70s said he often came to the restaurant because he could smoke there. He said there's nothing he can do about the ban but that he will miss smoking there.
The shop's owner said he's sorry for the inconvenience to smokers but hopes they will understand. He added that he wants all customers to enjoy their meals comfortably.
Key words : labor ministry survey
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200401_19/
Results of a Japanese labor ministry survey show that the average monthly wage for full-time foreign workers, excluding overtime pay, was 223,100 yen, or about 2,070 dollars. That is 84,600 yen, or about 785 dollars, less than the national average of 307,700 yen, or about 2,860 dollars.
The results are based on data collected in June of last year. The ministry surveys the wages paid by companies across the nation with 10 employees or more every year.
Last year's survey included foreign workers for the first time after Japan expanded the acceptance of foreign laborers in April last year.
The average length of employment of foreign workers was 3.1 years, far below the national average of 12.4.
Their average age was nearly 10 years younger than the overall average.
The labor ministry believes these factors are behind their wage level.
Meanwhile, the wage gap between men and women in the country was the smallest since 1976 when comparable data became available, with women earning 74.3 percent of men's wage last year.
Key words : JICA
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200401_11/
The Japan International Corporation Agency, or JICA, says in a report that South Korea is becoming more popular than Japan as a destination for technical trainees from Southeast Asian countries.
JICA issued the report on the progress of a Japanese program designed to secure more foreign workers. The program started on April 1 last year.
It includes interviews with governmental agencies in six Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam and the Philippines, in charge of dispatching technical trainees to foreign countries.
It says that Japan, South Korea and Taiwan are facing a serious labor shortage. They have been fiercely competing to secure human resources from Southeast Asian countries.
The report also says South Korea is gaining in popularity due to its efforts to improve working conditions and systems. Public organizations are taking the lead in accepting foreign workers and requiring some companies to pay higher wages.
In April last year, the Japanese government set up a new type of work visa for people who have vocational skills in an effort to expand the field for foreign workers. But experts are expressing concerns that Japan won't be able to attract skilled human resources, including technical trainees, unless it improves work environments.
JICA has begun supporting technical trainees to gain employment using the skills they acquired in Japan after returning to the Philippines and other countries, saying that it hopes to motivate people to choose Japan and secure a sustained source of workers.
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