Kirk here with an update on Japan’s COVID-19 policies. As indicated in yesterday’s update from Lily McDermott & Chase Sutherland (shared by Joe), the state of emergency was extended today.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210113_31/
In NHK’s vernacular coverage, they say that foreigners will no longer be able to enter Japan unless there are extenuating circumstances such as a furneral or childbirth (?):
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20210113/k10012812201000.html
What is not clear to me is whether or not residents of Japan with foreign passports who happen to be out of the country now will have difficulty returning. NHK’s wording in Japanese makes it sound as though they will be shut out, though they don’t refer specifically to foreign nationals who are legal residents. I looked for up-to-date information on the government’s website but came up empty handed. It may be too early – the prime minister has just made his announcement.
Kumamoto was not included in the national government’s new list prefectures in a state of emergency. Unwilling to wait for permission from above, Governor Kabashima annouced Kumamoto’s own state of emergency which will last until February 7:
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20210113/k10012812701000.html
