Abe's Secretary Likely To Face Summary Indictment

Abe's secretary likely to face summary indictment

Tokyo prosecutors are expected to bring a summary indictment soon against a secretary of former prime minister Abe Shinzo over alleged political funding violations involving his support group.

It has been revealed that Abe's office had covered part of the cost of dinner parties for his supporters at Tokyo hotels. They were held on the eve of government-funded cherry blossom viewing events while Abe was in office.

5 Prefectures Face Severe Shortage Of Hospital Beds

5 prefectures face severe shortage of hospital beds

Japan's medical systems are increasingly under strain as the number of cases of coronavirus continues to rise.

On Tuesday, Hokkaido, Tokyo, Osaka and two other prefectures were at Stage 4, the worst of the four-level alert scale, in terms of hospital bed availability. The scale was set by a government advisory panel to assess the severity of an outbreak.

Hospitals Face Shortage Of Medical Gloves

Hospitals face shortage of medical gloves

A nationwide survey shows that hospitals and clinics in Japan are experiencing shortages of disposable medical gloves.

In the spring, amid the initial spread of coronavirus infections, nurses and other healthcare professionals faced severe shortages of personal protective equipment.

Workers In Critical Retail Sector Face Harassment

Workers in critical retail sector face harassment

A survey by a labor union has found that workers in the critical retail sector, including supermarkets and drugstores, have been subject to abusive customer behavior stemming from the new coronavirus outbreak.

Industrial union UA ZENSEN polled its members in the retail and service industries between July and September. About 27,000 responded.

Face Shields Ensure Safe Karate Tournaments

Face shields ensure safe karate tournaments

A karate championship was held in Tokyo with new guidelines to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

In June, the Japan Karatedo Federation called on karate athletes to refrain from uttering kiai shouts at tournaments in order to prevent infections through the spread of droplets.

Japan To Boost Supply Of Face Masks

Japan to boost supply of face masks

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide has said the government will step up efforts to secure face mask supplies in case of a further spread of the coronavirus in the country.

Suga told reporters on Wednesday that about one billion face masks were available in Japan in August, and roughly half were produced domestically.

Tokyo Paralympics Face Hurdles With One Year To Go

Tokyo Paralympics face hurdles with one year to go

Monday marks one year until the postponed Paralympic Games are scheduled to open in Tokyo. But the coronavirus pandemic is posing challenges for the athletes and the organizations that support them.

The head of the International Paralympic Committee is determined that the Games will go ahead. IPC President Andrew Parsons says the Paralympics will be even more important after the pandemic than before the pandemic.

Students Face Shortened Summer Vacations In Japan

Students face shortened summer vacations in Japan

Students in Japan are having a much shorter summer break this year to make up for classes that were cancelled in the spring due to the coronavirus pandemic.

While August is usually a month off for students, the education ministry says more than 1,700 boards of education across the country plan to shorten summer holidays to offset the lost time.

Japanese Abroad Face Money Problems Amid Pandemic

Japanese abroad face money problems amid pandemic

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.