Tuesday, March 28, 2023
  • Login
198 Japan News
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • BUSINESS NEWS
  • VIDEO NEWS
  • FEATURED NEWS
    • JAPAN US TRADE NEWS
    • JAPAN EU NEWS
    • JAPAN UK NEWS
    • JAPAN INDIA NEWS
    • JAPAN RUSSIA NEWS
    • JAPAN GULF NATIONS NEWS
    • JAPAN AFRICA NEWS
    • JAPAN EGYPT NEWS
    • JAPAN NIGERIA NEWS
    • JAPAN MEXICO NEWS
    • JAPAN BRAZIL NEWS
    • JAPAN THAILAND NEWS
    • JAPAN INDONESIA NEWS
  • CRYPTO
  • POLITICAL
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • JAPAN AGRICULTURE NEWS
    • JAPAN MANUFACTURE NEWS
    • JAPAN AGRICULTURE NEWS
    • JAPAN IMMIGRATION NEWS
    • JAPAN UNIVERSITY NEWS
    • JAPAN EDUCATION NEWS
    • JAPAN VENTURE CAPITAL NEWS
    • JAPAN JOINT VENTURE NEWS
    • JAPAN BUSINESS HELP
    • JAPAN PARTNESHIPS
  • ASK IKE LEMUWA
  • CONTACT
198 Japan News
  • HOME
  • BUSINESS NEWS
  • VIDEO NEWS
  • FEATURED NEWS
    • JAPAN US TRADE NEWS
    • JAPAN EU NEWS
    • JAPAN UK NEWS
    • JAPAN INDIA NEWS
    • JAPAN RUSSIA NEWS
    • JAPAN GULF NATIONS NEWS
    • JAPAN AFRICA NEWS
    • JAPAN EGYPT NEWS
    • JAPAN NIGERIA NEWS
    • JAPAN MEXICO NEWS
    • JAPAN BRAZIL NEWS
    • JAPAN THAILAND NEWS
    • JAPAN INDONESIA NEWS
  • CRYPTO
  • POLITICAL
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • JAPAN AGRICULTURE NEWS
    • JAPAN MANUFACTURE NEWS
    • JAPAN AGRICULTURE NEWS
    • JAPAN IMMIGRATION NEWS
    • JAPAN UNIVERSITY NEWS
    • JAPAN EDUCATION NEWS
    • JAPAN VENTURE CAPITAL NEWS
    • JAPAN JOINT VENTURE NEWS
    • JAPAN BUSINESS HELP
    • JAPAN PARTNESHIPS
  • ASK IKE LEMUWA
  • CONTACT
No Result
View All Result
198 Japan News
No Result
View All Result
Home JAPAN US TRADE NEWS

Japan wary of anti-U.S. base sentiment after COVID-19 infection spike

by 198 Japan News
January 7, 2022
in JAPAN US TRADE NEWS
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
0
Japan wary of anti-U.S. base sentiment after COVID-19 infection spike
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

[ad_1]

The government is wary of public sentiment increasingly turning against U.S. bases in Japan, as military personnel are believed to have triggered a coronavirus resurgence in three prefectures to be placed under pre-emergency measures.

Many people in Okinawa, Yamaguchi and Hiroshima prefectures live in close proximity to U.S. military bases, and the infection prevention measures taken by the U.S. forces, which some have criticized as being too lax, are thought to be behind the explosion of cases there.

Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi called U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday to “strongly urge the bolstering and thorough enforcement of measures, such as introducing restrictions on going out.”

Blinken said that he would do what he can, in response to the unprecedented request by a Japanese foreign minister.

Okinawa hosts over 70% of the U.S. military facilities in Japan, including coronavirus-hit Camp Hansen. The Iwakuni base in Yamaguchi Prefecture borders Hiroshima Prefecture.

Bases in Okinawa and Yamaguchi have both confirmed infection clusters believed to be caused by the omicron coronavirus variant.

The Okinawa Prefectural Government announced Friday that a record high of 254 COVID-19 cases were confirmed in U.S. bases in the prefecture. The Iwakuni base reported 91 cases the same day.

It was revealed in December that U.S. forces had been lax in their border measures against the virus. With Japan unable to carry out quarantine checks on U.S. military personnel due to the bilateral Status of Forces Agreement, the United States had said that it would take measures consistent with those of Japan.

But it was found that the U.S. side was not conducting pre-departure and post-arrival testing, as required by Japan, and that it had shortened the period of restrictions on arriving personnel’s movement from 14 days to 10. It also allowed people in the restriction period to move freely within U.S. bases.

After the Japanese government lodged a protest on Dec. 22, the U.S. forces introduced measures, such as testing personnel within 72 hours of departure from the United States and 24 hours of arrival in Japan, by Dec. 30.

The stricter measures appear to have come too late, however, as the three prefectures were already experiencing surges in coronavirus infections by late December.

The governors of Okinawa, Yamaguchi and Hiroshima have expressed anger about the situation.

Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki told reporters on Thursday that “U.S. military bases are one of the major causes of the spread of infections,” while Yamaguchi Gov. Tsugumasa Muraoka said, “The fact that (military personnel) were not tested before departure from the United States had a big impact.” Hiroshima Gov. Hidehiko Yuzaki also called the U.S. military’s measures “extremely regrettable.”

The Japanese government is rushing to allay fears about the spread of infections from U.S. bases, as it is worried that such concerns and anti-U.S. base sentiment may grow among the general public.

Apart from bases in Okinawa and Yamaguchi, the number of coronavirus infections as of Thursday stood at 82 at the Misawa base in Aomori Prefecture, 80 at the Yokosuka base and 69 at the Atsugi base, both in Kanagawa Prefecture, and 65 at the Yokota base in Tokyo.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said it is difficult to conclude that the surge in infections in Japan was caused by the U.S. forces, but added that he had instructed Hayashi to demand stricter measures at the two-plus-two talks between Japanese and U.S. foreign and defense ministers on Friday.

“We will vigorously seek action from the U.S. side and gain understanding (from the public),” Kishida said.

The U.S. forces in Japan announced stepped-up infection prevention measures on Thursday, including requiring personnel to wear masks outside their bases.

Japanese opposition parties are calling for a review of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, which has prevented Japanese control over quarantine measures for American military personnel.

“The root cause lies in the humiliating Status of Forces Agreement,” Kazuo Shii, leader of the Japanese Communist Party, said. “We strongly demand a drastic revision.”

In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.
By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

You might also like

China accuses Japan of interfering in its internal affairs on Taiwan question

Japan’s defence report identifies China, Russia as top threat

Darvish outduels Scherzer on way to 9th win for Padres

PHOTO GALLERY (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

  • The U.S. Marine Corps' Camp Hansen in the town of Kin, Okinawa Prefecture, on Thursday | KYODO

[ad_2]

Source link

Tags: antiUSbaseCOVID19infectionJapansentimentspikewary
Share30Tweet19

Recommended For You

China accuses Japan of interfering in its internal affairs on Taiwan question

by 198 Japan News
July 24, 2022
0
China accuses Japan of interfering in its internal affairs on Taiwan question

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said on July 22 that it had lodged stern representations to Japan over its smearing of China in the newly-released annual defense white paper....

Read more

Japan’s defence report identifies China, Russia as top threat

by 198 Japan News
July 23, 2022
0
Japan’s defence report identifies China, Russia as top threat

Tokyo , July 23 (ANI): A annual report released by the Japanese defence ministry has identified Russia and China as a major threat, stating that the deepening military...

Read more

Darvish outduels Scherzer on way to 9th win for Padres

by 198 Japan News
July 23, 2022
0
Darvish outduels Scherzer on way to 9th win for Padres

Yu Darvish spearheaded the San Diego Padres to a 4-1 win over the New York Mets on Friday, striking out nine in a lights-out start against the National...

Read more

A COVID tale of two presidents

by 198 Japan News
July 23, 2022
0
A COVID tale of two presidents

Washington – More than two years into the pandemic, a second U.S. president has tested positive for COVID-19. But the calmer outlook surrounding Joe Biden’s case contrasts with...

Read more

Japan to ease COVID curbs despite spike in new cases

by 198 Japan News
July 23, 2022
0
Japan to ease COVID curbs despite spike in new cases

Japan announced plans Friday to relax restrictions on close contacts of people who test positive for COVID-19, reducing the self-isolation period to as short as three days. Under...

Read more
Next Post
US, Japan collaborate on new ventures, including developing hypersonic & space-based weaponry | WION

US, Japan collaborate on new ventures, including developing hypersonic & space-based weaponry | WION

Kazakh president gives shoot-to-kill order to put down uprising

Kazakh president gives shoot-to-kill order to put down uprising

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
FTX to Help Voyager Customers, CEO Says Firm Willing to Deploy ‘Hundreds of Millions’ to Help Crypto Industry – Bitcoin News

FTX to Help Voyager Customers, CEO Says Firm Willing to Deploy ‘Hundreds of Millions’ to Help Crypto Industry – Bitcoin News

July 24, 2022
California governor declares emergency over wildfire near Yosemite

California governor declares emergency over wildfire near Yosemite

July 24, 2022
China accuses Japan of interfering in its internal affairs on Taiwan question

China accuses Japan of interfering in its internal affairs on Taiwan question

July 24, 2022
Kyodo News Digest: July 24, 2022

Kyodo News Digest: July 24, 2022

July 24, 2022
With an eye on China, Seoul seeks to prevent tech leaks

With an eye on China, Seoul seeks to prevent tech leaks

July 23, 2022
Brands of Baseball Gloves

Brands of Baseball Gloves

July 23, 2022
198 Japan News

198 Japan News will provide the latest news update as the government facing a growing challenging in preventing Japan from breaking apart along ethnic and religious lines.

198massmedia Group. USA. 3821 Dominion Drive, Dumfries, USA. 22026.

Toll Free 1 888 642 8433.
Contact: info@198japannews.com

LATEST UPDATES

FTX to Help Voyager Customers, CEO Says Firm Willing to Deploy ‘Hundreds of Millions’ to Help Crypto Industry – Bitcoin News

California governor declares emergency over wildfire near Yosemite

China accuses Japan of interfering in its internal affairs on Taiwan question

Kyodo News Digest: July 24, 2022

With an eye on China, Seoul seeks to prevent tech leaks

Brands of Baseball Gloves

UPDATE 1-France tells Iran it’s disappointed at lack of progress over nuclear talks

Neymar declares wish to stay at Paris Saint Germain

RECOMMENDED

No Content Available

Copyright © 2021 198 Japan News.

No Result
View All Result
  • Browse the latest updates from Japan
  • Landing Page
  • Buy JNews
  • Support Forum
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2021 198 Japan News.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In