Websites for the Tokyo and Osaka metro were purportedly attacked by a pro-Russian hacker gang.

In what looks to be a second day of cyberattacks against Japan, the websites of the Tokyo Metro Co. and the Osaka Metro Co. became unreachable on Wednesday evening. A hacker collective supporting Russia claimed credit on social media.

The assaults, which might have been carried out by K...

Australia’s Naomi Osaka Makes a Comeback

Naomi Osaka has won the Australian Open title twice. The player was on a four-month break but has returned to Melbourne to defend her title.

As the country prepares to start the tournaments this weekend, several tennis stars lobby into Melbourne and Sydney.

Dominic Thiem, 2020...

JAPAN’S STATE-RUN CENTERS TO GIVE COVID-19 VACCINES UNDER AGES 18 -64

Highlights –

• Japan’s state-run centers to give COVID-19 vaccines under ages 18 - 64.
• The centers in Tokyo and Osaka were set up last month by the Defense Ministry.
• The ministry last week expanded the scope to accept people from ...

COVID-19 QUASI-STATE OF EMERGENCY TO BE LIFTED FROM 3 PREFECTURES

Highlights –

• COVID-19 quasi-state of emergency to be lifted from 3 prefectures.
• Restrictions in Gunma, Ishikawa and Kumamoto prefecture are expected to be lifted by the weekend.
• The government is likely to make a similar call on five ...

AMUSEMENT PARKS, DEPT. STORES, CINEMAS REOPEN IN TOKYO, OSAKA

Highlights –

• Amusement parks, dept. stores, cinemas reopen in Tokyo, Osaka.
• Coronavirus restrictions on some businesses were partially eased.
• Dept. stores are now permitted to operate fully on weekdays with shortened business hours.

TOKYO TO ASK AN EXTENSION OF COVID-19 STATE OF EMERGENCY

Highlights –

• Tokyo to ask an extension of COVID-19 state of emergency.
• The infection rate in Tokyo has not subsided with the Olympics just two months away.
• Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike is hoping the state of emergency to be extended beyond...

TSE CONSIDERS EXTENDING TRADING HOURS BEYOND 3 P.M

Highlights –

• TSE considers extending trading hours beyond 3 p.m.
• Securities houses and institutional investors will discuss extending the market close.
• TSE is currently operated for five hours from 9 a.m. with an hour lunch break.

JAPAN CONSIDERS ALLOWING PHARMACISTS TO ADMINISTER COVID-19 VACCINES

Highlights –

• Japan considers allowing pharmacists to administer COVID-19 vaccines.
• The plan comes as Japan aims to boost vaccination process.
• Online bookings for inoculations for the elderly began from Monday.
• Around 30 pre...

JAPAN OPENED ONLINE COVID-19 VACCINATION SLOTS FROM MONDAY

Highlights –

• Japan opened online COVID-19 vaccination slots from Monday.
• Residents of the capital's 23 wards aged 65 and above made appointments via the Defense Ministry's website.
• Bookings for the vaccination center in the ci...

OSAKA AND HOKKAIDO UNIVERSITY FINDS A WAY TO ANALYZE COVID-19 MUTATIONS

Highlights –

• Osaka and Hokkaido University finds a way to analyse COVID-19 mutations.
• The university developed a system capable of analyzing genetic mutations of COVID-19 much quicker.
• a simple and efficient way to generate infectious...

BOJ TO EXAMINE ECONOMY IN 2 DAY POLICY MEETING

Highlights –

• BOJ to examine economy in 2-day policy meeting.
• The central bank is expected to keep its monetary policy unchanged.
• Tokyo and Osaka are under the third state of emergency currently.
• The BOJ in January predicted...

ANA EXPECTS A NET LOSS OF $3.75 BILLION IN FY 2020

Highlights –

• ANA expects a net loss of $3.75 billion in FY 2020.
• The airline company had previously estimated 510 billion yen.
• It made cost cuts with reductions in its operations of domestic and international flights.
• ANA e...

OSAKA GOV. TO ASK CENTRAL GOVT. TO DECLARE FRESH STATE OF EMERGENCY

Highlights –

• Osaka Gov. to ask central govt. to declare a fresh state of emergency.
• Osaka Prefecture has been reporting a resurgence of coronavirus cases.
• Osaka as of Sunday recorded 1,220 new coronavirus cases.
• Osaka could...

JAPAN PM ASKS PFIZER INC. TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES OF VACCINE

Highlights –

• Japan PM asks Pfizer Inc. to provide additional supplies of vaccine.
• Suga made the request to Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla in a telephone conversation.
• The govt. will expand tougher COVID-19 restrictions next week to all thre...

JAPAN PLANS TO INCREASE COVID-19 VACCINE IMMUNIZATION RATES

Highlights –

• Japan plans to increase COVID-19 vaccine immunization rates.
• The govt. plans to allow commuters to get vaccinated near their workplaces or schools.
• The priority shots for elderly residents are currently underway in Japan....

BOJ DOWNGRADED ECONMIC ASSESSMENTS OF TWO REGIONS IN THE COUNTRY

Highlights –

• BOJ downgraded economic assessments of two regions in the country.
• BOJ is worried about economic recovery from the pandemic which still remains fragile.
• The pandemic has dampened consumption, which accounts for more than...

JAPAN GOVT. TO IMPOSE STRICTER COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS IN 4 PREFECTURES

Highlights –

• Japan Govt. to impose stricter COVID-19 restrictions in 4 prefectures.
• Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, Aichi in central Japan will impose stricter COVID-19 restrictions.
• Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato is set to finalize...

JAPAN BEGINS COVID-19 INOCULATION OF ELDERLY PEOPLE FROM MONDAY

Highlights –

• Japan begins COVID-19 inoculation of elderly people from Monday.
• Japan govt. is planning to secure vaccine shots for roughly 36 million people aged 65 or older.
• Local governments in at least 39 prefectures are scheduled t...

3 JAPANESE PREFECTURES DECIDE TO TAKE STRICTER VIRUS MEASURES

Highlights –

• 3 Japanese prefectures decide to take stricter virus measures.
• Osaka, Hyogo and Miyagi prefecture have seen resurgence in new COVID-19 infections.
• The new measures will be implemented from April 5 to May 5.
• The...

JAPAN IS INVESTIGATING LINE APP OVER ACCESS OF PERSONAL INFORMATION TO CHINA

Highlights –

• Japan is investigating line app over access to personal information to China.
• PM Suga announced the investigation during the House of Councillors budget committee session.
• The government is planning to suspend recruitment...