Japan expands state of emergency
Japan plans to significantly expand a state of emergency as the country racks up more than 300,000 total Covid cases.
It will expand it to seven more prefectures after the governors of Osaka, Kyoto and other prefectures requested it.
It comes as public sentiment toward going ahead with the Tokyo Olympics this year continues to fade.
In a recent survey by broadcaster NHK, just 16% said the Games should go ahead while 77% said it should be cancelled or postponed.
The state of emergency will be extended to Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Fukuoka, Aichi, Gifu and Tochigi prefectures and is set to last until at least 7 February.
"A declaration of a state of emergency is a powerful means, based on the law, for tackling the spread of infections, but it also places big restrictions on people’s lives," Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said at a news conference.
"A very careful decision is therefore required of the government," he said.
The PM has been criticised for a slow and disjointed approach to the pandemic, choosing to protect the economy and staking his reputation on going ahead with the Olympic Games.
Now, even his economic adviser Takeshi Niinami said the hosting of Olympics is looking increasingly unlikely this year.
Written by Ray Montgomery, Asia Editor
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt