coronavirus
Japan has had a tough past couple of years. With the coronavirus closing Japan’s borders to tourists and a series of natural disasters, a lot of places that previously were doing well have closed their doors. We previously looked at places closed or currently on hold by the coronavirus, this time we have a look at five cultural icons in Japan that you’ll never get a chance to visit again. 1. Odaiba attractionsOdaiba in Tokyo Bay and its surrounding areas have had a tough time as many of its most famous spots have fallen one after another. Mega Web Toyota City Showcase, a massive classic car mu...
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On Jan. 31, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of COVID-19 or the coronavirus a global emergency. After a surge in coronavirus cases, several prefectures in Japan have entered the fourth state of emergency. On Aug.18, 2021, it was extended for Tokyo, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Shizuoka, Kyoto, Hyogo and Fukuoka until Sept. 12. This follows the first nationwide state of emergency declared on April 16, 2020, which was lifted on May. 26, 2020, the second state of emergency declared on Jan. 07, 2021, for Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba and other prefectures which was lifted on Mar...
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A small coastal town in Ishikawa Prefecture, Noto, disturbed the wa (和, peace) after unveiling its brand new tourist attraction, a giant statue of a flying squid. The figure is an homage to the city’s delicacy. While squid isn’t to everyone’s taste, the real controversy is that the town spent 25 million yen ($230,000) from their Covid-19 relief fund to erect the 9-meter long pink cephalopod. The decision to focus on tourism when Japan still faces hardship during the pandemic provoked criticism, calling it a waste of money. The town hopes it’ll help revive post-Covid tourism. Whether it’ll work...
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The busiest vacation season of the year in Japan, Golden Week, is a string of national holidays offering the perfect break time for working folks. Last year, the Japanese government had to ask people to stay home to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Everyone grit their teeth for the sake of gaman (patience) and the greater good. Unfortunately, 2021 isn’t much different from 2020, and Japan faces yet another “Gaman Week.” Facing a dramatic surge in cases, the government had no choice but to declare its third state of emergency in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo. Bordering Tokyo to the south and...
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A state of emergency in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo will run from April 25 through May 11, 2021After yet another surge in coronavirus cases and a rapidly spreading new variant, Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo will enter a state of emergency from April 25 through May 11, 2021. The government hopes this will limit travel during Japan’s Golden Week holiday. The state of emergency does not mean a hard lockdown as seen in other countries, but it does put restrictions on the public concerning “non-essential” activities such as travel and dining out. To help foreign residents in the affected prefectu...
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Originally published March 2020. A young woman sneezed into my coffee on a Tokyo train yesterday morning. I wanted to scream and throw the steaming cup in her face as the faint droplets touched my hand. Instead, I smiled and chose to laugh at the absurdity of it all. Yes, I’m still occasionally out and about during the coronavirus pandemic. The virus wasn’t going to stop my Japanese visa from expiring so I had to renew it. Besides, social distancing is a term that really rubs me the wrong way. This buzzword has been thrown around a lot lately, especially by my friends back home in the U.S. who...
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In an average year, January is the month when new teacher recruitment would kick into high gear because January is when applicants would start to hear back about interviews for jobs they applied for in November and December. Unfortunately, thanks to the spread of the new coronavirus, the job market looks quite different in Japan in 2021. Understanding why this year’s job market is different and the best way to navigate it could be the key to landing a better job come spring. To help readers who might have questions and concerns regarding applying for or changing jobs this year, let’s address s...
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