The Japanese government has decided to suspend new entries of all non-resident foreign nationals following the detection of variants of the coronavirus outside the country.
The government will implement the measure between December 28 and January 31.
A bus service has been launched to transport international travelers from Haneda and Narita airports directly to hotels in Tokyo, as part of an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The Airport Transport Service started offering the direct bus routes on Wednesday. It is providing three trips a day from the airports to 12 hotels in Tokyo. Travelers who will stay at the hotels are eligible to use the service. Advance booking is required. Fares cost about 39 dollars from Narita and about 14 dollars from Haneda.
Japan's Self-Defense Forces have invited members of the media to observe drills to rescue nationals in the event that they get caught in emergency situations overseas, including terrorist activities.
About 270 SDF members took part in the exercises on Wednesday. The drills were conducted at Camp Asaka which straddles Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture, and at Hyakuri base in Ibaraki Prefecture.
The president of the International Olympic Committee says foreign athletes and visitors to the Tokyo Games next year should be vaccinated for the coronavirus before entering Japan if a vaccine is available.
IOC President Thomas Bach made the remark during a meeting with Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko at the Office of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government on Monday. He arrived in Tokyo on Sunday for the first time since the decision was made in March to postpone the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics to next year.
A survey has found that many Japanese nationals living overseas are being severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
A Japanese company, Locotabi, conducted a survey earlier this month of around 44,000 Japanese who live abroad and are registered with the firm as local guides. A total of 2,155 people from 94 countries and territories responded.
The Japanese government has decided to ease entry restrictions from countries and territories where coronavirus infections are deemed to be under control.
The government coronavirus task force met on Thursday and decided on easing its policy, starting with business people under certain conditions.
Wentz Eiji (34), who temporarily halted his activities in 2018 to study abroad in London, has returned and appeared on the variety program 'Kayou Surprise 2-Hour Special' on March 10. It was announced that he would be returning to the program as an MC beginning its April 7 broadcast.
It's been about a year and a half since Wentz left the program. Hiromi, who took over Wentz, grew impatient and went to London to find out what Wentz was really doing there.