Cooled Masks Sold in This Vending Machine Turn Out to Be a Hit
Masks have been on the tip of everyone’s tongue, here in Japan and across the larger international community. While their effect against the COVID-19 infection…
COVID-19
Japan Sees Rise in Vigilantism and Harassment During COVID-19 Outbreak
COVID-19 has brought to light the dark impulses of some people. Widespread panic buying resulted in massive hoarding while anxieties fueled xenophobic and even racist…
Spotted Eels at COVID-closed Sumida Aquarium Have Forgotten What Humans Look Like
Everyone is having a hard time adjusting to the new normal of social distancing and on-again, off-again lockdowns during the current pandemic. We’ve touched on…
Switch to teleworking prompts boom in ‘digicam-friendly’ clothing
In response to the announcement of the ‘state of emergency’ on April 7th, thousands of Japanese companies have switched from office work to telework. With…
Japanese nurse’s touching letter to daughter shows real emotions from a coronavirus frontliner
In the battle against coronavirus, healthcare workers are the ones fighting on the frontlines. Japan has over 16,000 confirmed coronavirus cases (as of May 21),…
Japanese government releases list of products containing coronavirus-killing surfactants
For those living in Japan, toilet paper and masks are starting to become more available, but disinfectants and sanitizers are still scarce. According to the…
‘No contact’ app lets you check in to hospitals and hotels with QR code
Under the ‘state of emergency’ the Japanese government is encouraging people to minimise physical contact as much as possible. Yet lots of buildings, including hospitals…
The Happy Science Religious Movement Claims to Hold the Cure for COVID-19
The religious landscape in Japan is complex. While traditional Shinto culture dates back to time immemorial, its practice is intermixed with the later-to-arrive Buddhist tradition….
How a ninja mask gave its user extra power to face the coronavirus
Demand for face masks has been outstripping supply in Japan ever since the ‘state of emergency’ was declared on April 7th. Do they really work?…
Artist pens a touching manga on trials, and joys, of being a deliveryman during COVID-19
The world feels topsy-turvy these days. Many things seem out of place. To protect the people we care about, we must keep our distance. Some…
Do you know the correct way to disinfect your hands? This tutorial may surprise you!
Even after lockdowns are lifted across the world, it’s likely many of the measures in place to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus will remain…
[Hidden Wonders of Japan] Make Your Own Flower Paper-Inspired PPE Medical Gown
(Yukari Tanaka, for JAPAN Forward) Why not add a little practical beauty to this worldwide fight against the novel coronavirus? Some countries are just now…
Service matches restaurants struggling in lockdown with jobless staff
The ‘state of emergency’ implemented to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic has hit the Japanese economy hard. One of the sectors hardest hit…
“Don’t let fear get the better of you,” Japanese Red Cross video urges
The coronavirus and state of emergency have turned the world upside down. In this state of exception, everyone is wondering if we’ll ever be able…
How is this ordinary box of masks really helping people in need?
Since the onset of the Coronavirus in Japan, face masks have become scarce and increasingly expensive in stores nationwide. The internet has been awash with…