Asian View
Key words : government emergency easing
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210318_16/
A coronavirus advisory panel for the government has agreed to a plan to lift the state of emergency for the Tokyo area. The declaration, covering Tokyo and three neighboring prefectures, has been in place for over two months.
Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has said he would like to end it, as scheduled, on Sunday.
The government told the panel on Thursday that strain on the healthcare system is easing even though the recent case numbers have been less encouraging.
The latest data for Tokyo shows cases reported during a seven-day period through Tuesday were 10 percent higher than the previous week.
Japanese Economic Revitalization Minister Nishimura Yasutoshi, who is in charge of the country's coronavirus response, said on Thursday morning, "The number of coronavirus infections has been on a slight increase, which means there could be another new outbreak. That's why we have to take measures so there won't be a major outbreak."
Even if the emergency is lifted, the government will continue to ask restaurants and bars to close early, and companies to encourage remote work.
Large-scale testing will be carried out in major cities to identify carriers without symptoms, and control the spread in urban areas.
Later on Thursday, the government will present the plan to the steering committees of both chambers of the Diet, at which point lawmakers can ask questions.
After that, the government will make a formal decision at a meeting of its task force.
Prime Minister Suga will then hold a news conference to explain the decision, and what comes next.
Key words : omi medical system panel
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210318_25/
A coronavirus advisory panel for the government has given the green light to a plan to lift the state of emergency for the Tokyo area. The declaration, covering four prefectures, is set to expire on Sunday.
Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide is scheduled to hold a news conference at around 7 p.m. on Thursday to explain the decision, and what comes next.
The government told the panel on Thursday morning that the strain on the healthcare system is easing, even though recent case numbers have been less encouraging.
The latest data for Tokyo shows the weekly average through Tuesday rose 10 percent. Experts are urging caution.
The chief of the advisory panel, Omi Shigeru, said, "We need to take thorough measures even after the declaration is lifted. In a sense, it's more important. We must avoid creating a burden on the medical system similar to what we saw in the past."
Even if the emergency is lifted, the government will continue to ask restaurants and bars to close early. Companies will still be asked to encourage remote work.
Large-scale testing will be carried out in major cities to identify carriers without symptoms. There are also plans to better detect variant strains.
Key words : learned
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210318_02/
NHK has learned that the Japanese government plans to step up coronavirus examinations to better detect mutant strains.
NHK obtained a draft revision of the government's basic policy against infections after the coronavirus state of emergency, which is currently in place for Tokyo and its three neighboring prefectures, is lifted.
The draft says the government will take measures to prevent a resurgence of the virus while maintaining social and economic activity.
To improve the monitoring of variants, the government plans to raise the rate of examination of samples from newly infected people to about 40 percent of them as soon as possible. The current target rate is 5 to 10 percent.
The government will also step up genome analysis of the virus detected in the samples, seeking further cooperation with universities and private-sector testing institutions.
To detect signs of infection at an early stage, the government intends to ask Tokyo and nine prefectures -- including six, among them Osaka and Fukuoka, where a state of emergency has already been lifted -- to carry out virus tests at facilities for the elderly around this month.
The government will also ask the local authorities to conduct regular intensive tests in entertainment districts from next month to June.
The government plans to urge local authorities to inspect restaurants and bars to check whether they are following the guidelines to prevent infection.
In the event of a resurgence of infections, the government will also call on local governments to ask restaurants and bars to shorten business hours and consider intensive measures that are allowed even when a state of emergency is not in place.
Key words : creative director resigned
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210318_24/
The chief creative director for the Tokyo Games ceremonies has resigned over a derogatory remark he made about a female entertainer.
It's just the latest setback for the delayed Olympic and Paralympic Games, which is facing the unprecedented challenge of hosting the world's largest sporting event during a coronavirus pandemic.
Sasaki Hiroshi was the chief creative director for the opening and closing ceremonies.
Bunshun Online reported on Wednesday about a chat message Sasaki sent to his team about a year ago. In it, he suggested that the female comedian should wear a pig costume.
Sasaki admitted making the suggestion, adding that the staff were extremely offended.
Tokyo Games chief Hashimoto Seiko said, "The reported comments were inappropriate and deeply regrettable. Since I took office as the chief of the committee, I have been promoting gender equality as a main policy to regain people's trust and I have tried to swiftly implement it. Such a thing should never happen."
Hashimoto added that she would accept Sasaki's resignation.
Hashimoto, who was the former Olympics Minister, took on the role last month, after the previous head, Mori Yoshiro, sparked an international firestorm by saying women talk too much.
In a statement, Sasaki said his "idea and remarks were extremely insulting and irreversible." He went on to apologize to the comedian "and to anyone else who was offended by the comment."
Key words : myanmar ethnic
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210317_34/
In Myanmar, violent crackdowns against anti-coup protesters are continuing despite the imposition of martial law in parts of the largest city, Yangon. A body of ousted lawmakers appears to be calling for the support of all ethnic armed forces in Myanmar to fight against the military takeover.
On Wednesday, thousands of citizens in areas under martial law escaped to elsewhere. One area now under martial law was the scene of a deadly crackdown and factory fires on Sunday. Residents say some Internet access has been cut and gunfire can be heard during the day and night.
Meanwhile, a group of the ousted lawmakers, including members of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, issued a statement on Wednesday.
It announced on their own accord that it had removed all ethnic armed forces from the government's list of terrorists and unlawful organizations. Experts say the move is aimed at urging armed groups to join with anti-coup demonstrators to resist the military.
Earlier, the ousted lawmakers called on the public to resist the military saying self-defense is not criminal.
Concerns are growing over the intensifying clashes between protesters and security forces.
Key words : china denounced
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210318_01/
China has denounced a Japan-US joint statement that expresses "serious concerns" about the country's maritime activity and human rights situation.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian spoke at a news conference on Wednesday.
The foreign and defense chiefs of Japan and the United States issued the statement the previous day.
Zhao said the statement "maliciously attacks China's foreign policy, flagrantly interferes in China's domestic affairs and attempts to harm China's interests." He said China deplores and rejects the statement and has "lodged stern representations with both countries."
Zhao warned that Beijing will take "all measures necessary to resolutely defend sovereignty, security and development interests."
The spokesperson insisted that Japan, driven by the aim to check China's revitalization, "willingly stoops to acting as a strategic vassal" of the US, "going so far as to break faith" and harm relations with China. He added that such "despicable behavior" is "deeply unpopular."
Key words : Japan couple northeast
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210317_26/
Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako have made an online visit to Miyagi Prefecture, one of the three northeastern prefectures hit hardest by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
The couple talked with people of Miyagi via videolink from the Akasaka Imperial Residence in Tokyo on Wednesday.
After being briefed by Governor Murai Yoshihiro on reconstruction efforts, the couple spoke with survivors in Kesennuma City.
The emperor offered words of condolence to a 71-year-old woman who lost her husband and parents-in-law in the tsunami, but later had her totally destroyed home and liquor shop rebuilt.
The emperor told her she must have gone through great hardship to reopen her shop.
The empress commended the woman for her efforts over the past decade.
Iwate and Fukushima are the two other prefectures hit hardest by the March 11 disaster.
The couple made a virtual visit to Iwate Prefecture on March 4, and plans another to Fukushima Prefecture, which continues to struggle with the aftermath of the nuclear accident triggered by the disaster.
Key words : pandemic major impact
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210317_29/
The coronavirus pandemic has had a major impact on the annual wage negotiations in Japan. Many companies on Wednesday announced their response to demands from labor unions. They're only offering what they agreed upon with unions last year, or even less.
Employers and unions at electronics makers Fujitsu, Mitsubishi Electric and NEC all agreed on a monthly pay raise of 1,000 yen, or roughly 9 dollars. That's the same as last year.
Managers and labor at Toyota Motor agreed on an average monthly wage hike of 9,200 yen, or about 84 dollars. That includes the regular pay raise.
But Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways decided to continue negotiations with unions, saying the impact from the pandemic remains uncertain.
This year, analysts say wage hikes will likely be less than 2 percent for the first time since 2013.
That's partly because many unions gave up on asking for raises amid the pandemic.
Key words : export fell 6 trillion
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210317_28/
Japan's exports fell for the first time in three months in February, led by weaker US demand for cars.
The Finance Ministry says exports totaled just over 6 trillion yen, or about 55 billion dollars. That's down 4.5 percent in yen terms from a year earlier.
Shipments to the United States plunged 14 percent as demand for autos and aircraft parts decreased. It was the fourth consecutive monthly decline and almost three times bigger than January's 4.8 percent drop.
Exports to the European Union fell 3.3 percent due to fewer orders for aircraft-engine components and cars.
Shipments to other parts of Asia slid eight-tenths of a percent.
But it was a different picture for Japan's imports. They rose 11.8 percent last month.
Chinese goods such as cellphones and clothing more than doubled. It was the biggest increase since 1980, when comparable data became available.
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