Joe Tomei here. Just in time for the long holiday, Bilal Khan & Lily McDermott, the JET Prefectural Adivisors, share their email to the JET participants. As always, I’m really grateful to them for letting me post it here. I’ve slightly edited some sections, marked with square brackets [xx]. I’m also going to post separately the information they shared about volunteering.

A note about the worsening infection situation The Covid-19 cases are beginning to rise in Japan again, and Kyushu is no exception. Here is a related news article in English below: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/07/21/national/tokyo-coronavirus-deaths/#.XxeFaeSCiM8

Fukuoka Prefecture recorded its highest daily increase yesterday (July 21) with 53 cases, with 39 being in Fukuoka City: https://www.nishinippon.co.jp/item/n/628406/ (Japanese)

It is now three days in a row that over 20 cases per day have been recorded.

Tokyo is on a level-four coronavirus alert, the highest on its rating scale) and Governor Koike is advising residents to avoid unnecessary outings. https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/tokyo-raises-its-coronavirus-alert-to-the-highest-level-due-to-a-recent-spike-in-cases-071520

Today, Osaka confirmed 120 new cases of coronavirus, the highest number since the start of the pandemic. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20200722/k10012528251000.html?utm_int=news_contents_news-main_001

Three additional COVID-19 cases in Kumamoto Prefecture (17-21 July)　 Even closer to home, there have been three new cases recorded in Kumamoto over the past week.

On 17 July, a journalist dispatched to the Kuma Area from Yokohama was confirmed to be infected with COVID-19. All 3 of his close contacts (a colleague, another journalist and a taxi driver) all subsequently tested negative. https://this.kiji.is/656830947007202401?c=92619697908483575 https://www.pref.kumamoto.jp/common/UploadFileOutput.ashx?c_id=3&id=32300&sub_id=41&flid=243947

On 20 July, a male resident of Minami-ku, Kumamoto City tested positive after developing a light cough and fever on 14 July. He apparently had contact on 11 July with someone in Fukuoka Prefecture who later tested positive. He went to work on the 13th and 14th, then started trying to recover at home from the 15th. His family are being treated as close contacts. https://www.city.kumamoto.jp/common/UploadFileDsp.aspx?c_id=5&id=27681&sub_id=140&flid=212756 https://this.kiji.is/657887158093431905?c=92619697908483575 https://this.kiji.is/657915151006811233?c=92619697908483575

Yesterday (21 July), a woman in her twenties tested positive after developing a fever and cough on 20 July. She was contacted by the Health Centre in Fukuoka Prefecture after they determined she had been in contact with someone in Fukuoka on 15 July, who later tested positive. The woman went to work from the 17th to the 20th, then stayed at home on the 21st to recover. Her family are being treated as close contacts and the existence of any other close contacts is under investigation.
https://www.city.kumamoto.jp/corona/hpkiji/pub/detail.aspx?c_id=5&type=top&id=28973

This brings the total of confirmed cases in Kumamoto Prefecture to 52.

“Go-To Campaign” General Information You may have heard that the Japanese government has set up the Go to Travel campaign, to promote domestic travel and to help boost local businesses. The campaign subsidises up to 50 percent on your costs for transportation, hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions and shopping, all within Japan. The campaign begins today (trips taking place from today onward are eligible). Trips to and from Tokyo are excluded from the subsidy.

For day trips, the maximum eligible amount is ¥10,000 per day, while for overnight and longer trips, the maximum is ¥20,000 per night.

To receive the discount, you’ll need to book your trip with businesses that are registered with the campaign (most major Japanese travel agencies are included in the promotion and it is integrated in their booking systems. You’ll pay the discounted price when booking directly through a travel agency.)

You can read more about the campaign here: https://www.tokyoweekender.com/2020/07/japans-go-to-travel-campaign-what-you-need-to-know/

There is also an additional subsidy available for residents of Kumamoto who are planning to stay at hotels/ryokan within Kumamoto Prefecture (up to 5000 yen per night). Read more here (in Japanese) https://kumamoto.guide/kumamoto-cpn2020/

[All tax paying residents of Japan, are eligible to make use of either campaign if they wish.]

Uber Eats to launch in Kumamoto City Uber Eats will begin service in parts of Kumamoto City starting 11 August. The delivery fee is set at 320 yen and will operate from 9am to 12am. https://www.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/1266843.html

Tsujunkyo bridge releases water for first time since Kumamoto Earthquakes Some more good news in these turbulent times, the popular tourist destination Tsujunkyo in Yamato Town has begun releasing water for the first time in 4 years and 3 months since the Kumamoto Earthquakes. Construction was well underway until two years ago, at which time heavy rains caused significant damage again. Repairs were completed this April but the release of water from the bridge was delayed due to COVID-19. https://mainichi.jp/articles/202040721/k00/00m/040/134000c

JR Hohi Line between Higo Ozu and Aso stations set to re-open In related earthquake recovery news, the first test run of the JR Hohi Line from Ozu to Aso was completed yesterday. The line is set to completely re-open for the first time after the Kumamoto Earthquakes on 8 August. https://toyokeizai.net/articles/-/364102