TOKYO - The novel coronavirus pandemic has been picked as the top domestic news story of 2020 by senior editors of Kyodo News and its member or subscriber newspapers and broadcasters.
(1) Gov't declares nationwide state of emergency amid virus spread in April
As the number of coronavirus infections spiked in Japan, especially in urban areas, then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared on April 7 a state of emergency for Tokyo, Osaka and five other prefectures, calling on people to reduce contact with others by up to 80 percent.
The nonbinding declaration, which did not involve the kind of hard lockdown seen in some other countries, was expanded to cover the entire nation on April 16, prompting local governments to take stronger preventive measures, such as requesting citizens to stay at home and restaurants and entertainment facilities to shut.
Although the declaration, based on a revised law on new types of influenza and infectious diseases, was lifted on May 25, infections across the country climbed again between July and August and have been resurgent again since November, with more than 200,000 cases now confirmed nationwide.
(2) Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics postponed until 2021 due to virus pandemic
Abe and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach agreed on March 24 to postpone the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics scheduled for the summer for about one year due to the pandemic.
The second Olympics and Paralympics to be hosted by the Japanese capital are scheduled to open on July 23 next year, with the central and Tokyo metropolitan governments planning to cover the anti-virus and other additional costs from postponement totaling around 294 billion yen ($2.84 billion).
(3) Japan's longest-serving PM Abe resigns, succeeded by Suga
Abe announced on Aug. 28 his intention to step down, citing a flare-up of his chronic intestinal disease. He became the country's longest-serving leader, staying in power for a total of 3,188 days, including his first tenure between 2006 and 2007.
While promoting his "Abenomics" economic policy package, Abe failed to realize many of his political ambitions, including amending Japan's pacifist Constitution.
His right-hand man, Yoshihide Suga, who supported the Abe administration as chief Cabinet secretary for nearly eight years, took over the premiership on Sept. 16.
(4) Abe asks all schools to temporarily close over coronavirus
Abe requested all elementary, junior high and high schools across the country to close from March 2 until the end of the spring break through early April amid concern over the spread of the virus.
It took about three months before school life returned to normal in some parts of the country due to the state of emergency, forcing school teachers and parents to devise ways for students to spend time at home during the closure period.
(5) Turmoil continues over gov't programs for promotion of travel, dining out
In an attempt to support the tourism and restaurant industries hit hard by the pandemic, the government launched the "Go To Travel" and "Go To Eat" subsidy campaigns in July and October, respectively.
Amid growing concerns that by spurring the movement of people the initiatives help spread the virus, Suga said on Dec. 14 the government will suspend the domestic tourism promotion program nationwide during the year-end and New Year holidays.
(6) Torrential rains claim more than 80 lives
Torrential rains hit the southwestern Japan main island of Kyushu and elsewhere in July, causing floods and leaving 84 people dead nationwide, including 14 residents at a nursing home near the Kuma River in Kumamoto Prefecture.
As summer heat intensifies year by year, the mercury soared to 41.1 C in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, on Aug. 17, making it Japan's highest ever in a tie with the temperature recorded in Kumagaya in Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, in 2018.
Powerful Typhoon Haishen, which struck the country in September, left two people dead, four missing and more than 100 injured.
(7) Gov't distributes 100,000 yen to all residents, "Abenomask" to all households
The government provided a one-off cash handout of 100,000 yen to all of the country's 126 million residents as part of measures to help cushion the economic impact from the pandemic.
It also distributed two washable cloth masks to all households, dubbed "Abenomask," or "Abe's mask," a pun in Japanese on "Abenomics." But the masks sparked criticism due to their poor quality and slow delivery, with many viewing them as a waste of taxpayers' money and symbolic of the government's inadequate response to the health crisis.
(8) Lawmaker couple Kawais arrested over election campaign scandal
Prosecutors arrested on June 18 former Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai and his lawmaker wife Anri Kawai for allegedly giving cash to local politicians as rewards for their efforts to secure votes for her in last year's House of Councillors election. The couple, who had left the ruling Liberal Democratic Party ahead of their arrest, pleaded not guilty in their trials.
(9) Suga rejects 6 science council nominees
The Suga administration rejected in September the appointment of six scholars who had been critical of his predecessor Abe's policies from among the 105 nominees to the Science Council of Japan, a government advisory body.
Although opposition lawmakers have asked him to clearly explain the reason behind the decision, Suga has declined to give details, merely reiterating it was made based on "a comprehensive and panoramic" standpoint.
(10) Abe questioned over dinner reception spending allegations
Prosecutors questioned Abe on Monday over allegations that his political group illegally covered shortfalls in the cost of dinner receptions for supporters. While in office, Abe repeatedly denied any wrongdoing after the scandal came to light in November last year.
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