As of 10:45 p.m., Saturday, July 25 (Japan time)

• The Japan Sumo Association had some harsh words on Saturday for 26-year-old wrestler Abi for eating out with backers in violation of guidelines meant to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
  
  
• Japan's coronavirus infections topped 30,000 on Saturday, with 295 new cases confirmed in Tokyo, as the country continues its fight against the pandemic amid a spike in infections in urban areas, authorities said.
  
  
• The Vietnamese government said Saturday it has confirmed the first locally transmitted coronavirus case in roughly three months, according to state media.
  
  
• About 70 percent of husbands in Japan felt more positive about child-rearing during the stay-at-home period advised by the government due to the new coronavirus pandemic, but 40 percent of wives felt stressed at having to be with their kids and husbands all the time, a private survey showed.
  
  
• A bridal company in western Japan is providing free venues, outfits and planning support to couples whose wedding ceremonies were canceled due to coronavirus-related bankruptcies.

As of 11 p.m., Friday, July 24 (Japan time)

• The Tokyo metropolitan government reported on Friday 260 new daily coronavirus cases, down from the previous day's record figure but still at a high level, as the capital maintained its guard amid over 760 infections reported nationwide, including a record high in Osaka.
  
  
• Fireworks lit up the skies across Japan on Friday to mark one year to go until the start of the postponed Tokyo Olympics and lift the country's mood amid the new coronavirus pandemic.
  
  
• An antinuclear group on Friday livestreamed a 30-minute English tour of the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum to reach out to people overseas as the coronavirus pandemic has sharply reduced the number of foreign visitors to the facility.
  
  
• American swimming superstar Katie Ledecky has been staying focused during the global coronavirus crisis and does not intend to let any minutes go to waste, as she says thinking about the Tokyo Olympics next year gives her "goosebumps."
  
  
• Japanese apparel companies hit by the new coronavirus pandemic have been tapping artificial intelligence technology to boost sagging sales, using it to predict the designs and colors that will come into trend.
  
  
• The number of people in extreme poverty across the world is expected to rise this year for the first time in 22 years due to the new coronavirus pandemic, the United Nations said in a recent report.

Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - July 11-17

Useful resources for foreign residents and visitors in Japan

• Tokyo Metropolitan Government's "Tokyo Coronavirus Support Center for Foreign Residents (TOCOS)" multilingual hotline
  - Available in Simple Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Nepali, Indonesian, Tagalog, Thai, Portuguese, Spanish, French, Khmer, and Burmese, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays except national holidays. 
  0120-296-004 (toll free)
  
  
• AMDA Medical Information Center's "Multilingual Consultation Service Regarding COVID-19"
  (April 10~May 20, 2020)
  - Available in English, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends and national holidays. Also available in Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, Thai, Spanish, Vietnamese and Portuguese on designated weekdays. Check schedule here.
  03-6233-9266 
  - Available in English and Chinese on weekdays only, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  090-3359-8324 
  
  
• Tokyo Metropolitan Government's COVID-19 info
  https://stopcovid19.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/en/flow/
  
  
• Tokyo Metropolitan Government hotline
  - Available in English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
  0570-550571
  - Available via fax for those with hearing impairments
  03-5388-1396
  
  
• Japan National Tourism Organization's "Guide for when you are feeling ill"
  - Multilingual clinic/hospital search available in English, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese
  https://www.jnto.go.jp/emergency/eng/mi_guide.html
  
  
• JNTO's "Japan Visitor Hotline"
  - Available in English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese 24 hours a day
  050-3816-2787 
  +81-50-3816-2787 (from overseas)
  http://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/content/001328767.pdf
  
  
• Japan's health ministry hotline
  - Available in Japanese only, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
  0120-565653
  
  
• World Health Organization's "Q&A on coronaviruses"
  https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses

 

Few people are seen at Senso-ji temple in Tokyo's Asakusa, a popular sightseeing area, on July 23, 2020. (Kyodo)