Universal Studios Japan attempt to reopen from June 19th
Early this year, venues across the country made the tough decision to close their doors temporarily to the public in an attempt to help prevent…
COVID-19
Seven rules to follow in order to keep safe whilst cycling after lockdown
As the state of emergency is lifted across several prefectures and lockdown measures are relaxed, we’re seeing more and more of the world go back…
My Hello Work Diary: Filing for Unemployment in Japan
(Maureen Stone, for JAPAN Forward) One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned during this global pandemic is that nothing is as stable as it seems….
Japanese KFCs dress Col. Sanders in armor to show gratitude and resistance to COVID-19
Kentucky Fried Chicken is celebrating half a century of business in Japan this year. © PR Times, Inc. And as they’ve done since 1984, KFC…
Pandemic Patrol Vigilante Goes Too Far
On May 25, 2020, Japan lifted the government’s emergency declaration for the last 4 prefectures in the Kanto and Hokkaido, due to the continued low…
Q&A COVID-19: The Various Drugs Being Researched in Japan
Arielle Busetto, JAPAN Forward You might have heard the mantra, “We don’t have time to develop something new, let’s use medicines we already have.” Many…
Cooled Masks Sold in This Vending Machine Turn Out to Be a Hit
Masks have been on the tip of everyone’s tongue, here in Japan and across the larger international community. While their effect against the COVID-19 infection…
Japan Sees Rise in Vigilantism and Harassment During COVID-19 Outbreak
COVID-19 has brought to light the dark impulses of some people. Widespread panic buying resulted in massive hoarding while anxieties fueled xenophobic and even racist…
Spotted Eels at COVID-closed Sumida Aquarium Have Forgotten What Humans Look Like
Everyone is having a hard time adjusting to the new normal of social distancing and on-again, off-again lockdowns during the current pandemic. We’ve touched on…
Switch to teleworking prompts boom in ‘digicam-friendly’ clothing
In response to the announcement of the ‘state of emergency’ on April 7th, thousands of Japanese companies have switched from office work to telework. With…
Japanese nurse’s touching letter to daughter shows real emotions from a coronavirus frontliner
In the battle against coronavirus, healthcare workers are the ones fighting on the frontlines. Japan has over 16,000 confirmed coronavirus cases (as of May 21),…
Japanese government releases list of products containing coronavirus-killing surfactants
For those living in Japan, toilet paper and masks are starting to become more available, but disinfectants and sanitizers are still scarce. According to the…
‘No contact’ app lets you check in to hospitals and hotels with QR code
Under the ‘state of emergency’ the Japanese government is encouraging people to minimise physical contact as much as possible. Yet lots of buildings, including hospitals…
The Happy Science Religious Movement Claims to Hold the Cure for COVID-19
The religious landscape in Japan is complex. While traditional Shinto culture dates back to time immemorial, its practice is intermixed with the later-to-arrive Buddhist tradition….
How a ninja mask gave its user extra power to face the coronavirus
Demand for face masks has been outstripping supply in Japan ever since the ‘state of emergency’ was declared on April 7th. Do they really work?…