Here are the latest updates from Japan and beyond on the coronavirus outbreak:
A "memorial service" is held at a Tokyo temple on Oct. 19, 2020, for "hanko" seals no longer in use by companies. Hanko seals -- traditionally used on administrative documents in Japan -- are being discarded due to growing digitalization among companies amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. (Kyodo)
As of 11 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 20 (Japan time)
- The Japanese government's "Go To Travel" subsidy campaign covered 25.18 million domestic overnight stays for about two months since its launch through the end of September, the tourist ministry's preliminary figures showed Tuesday.
- Japan's annual electronics and information technology show kicked off online Tuesday with a focus on cutting-edge technologies and solutions to help ride out the novel coronavirus pandemic.
- Japan and China are expected to agree as early as this month on resuming travel by both short- and long-term businesspeople between the two countries, Japanese government sources said Tuesday.
- Japanese comedian-turned-actor Masanori Ishii is hoping his recently opened exhibition of photos of leprosy sanatoria across Japan will serve as a reminder of the historic discrimination sufferers faced and help prevent similar prejudice against COVID-19 patients and health care workers.
As of 11 p.m., Monday, Oct. 19 (Japan time)
- The Japan Sumo Association said Monday it will host up to around 5,000 fans at the November Grand Sumo Tournament, about half of the full capacity at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - October 10~16
People watch a portable shrine being carried by a truck during the annual Sanja Festival in Tokyo's Asakusa district on Oct. 18, 2020. The festival, which normally takes place in May, took place in different ways this year, with the portable shrine being carried by the truck, rather than by a number of people, in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus infections. (Kyodo)
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"
- Available in Simple Japanese and English, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. Also available in Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese on designated weekdays. Check schedule here.
03-6233-9266 - 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
