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The Japanese government announces that it will place Tokyo and 12 other prefectures under a quasi-state of emergency from January 21 to February 13 amid an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases due to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, with the country reporting a record for the second consecutive day of 41,487 new cases of COVID-19.
2022-01-19

The Japanese government extends the existing state of emergency in Tokyo, Osaka, Okinawa, Kanagawa, Saitama, and Chiba, and also expands it to seven other prefectures from August 20 to September 12.
2021-08-17

Japanese health minister Norihisa Tamura says that the country has entered an "extremely frightening" stage of the pandemic as the number of cases increases in Tokyo. The government also extends the state of emergency in the capital and expands it to three surrounding prefectures and the city of Osaka from August 2 to August 31.
2021-07-30

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announces that the state of emergency will be lifted in nine prefectures on June 21. However, the government will maintain its quasi-emergency measures in seven prefectures, including Tokyo and Osaka.
2021-06-17

The government approves the use of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 12 and 15, becoming the first vaccine to be approved used for children in Japan.
2021-05-31

The government expands the state of emergency to seven prefectures, including Aichi, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Kyoto, as the country surpasses 300,000 cases of COVID-19.
2021-01-13

Japan sends a destroyer to the Gulf of Oman amid heightening tensions in the region. The government says it is prepared to authorize the use of force to protect Japanese interests if needed.
2020-02-2

The Kofu District Public Prosecutor’s Office in Japan announces nobody will be prosecuted over the collapse of the Sasago Tunnel, which killed nine and injured three. Officials say the collapse would have been difficult to predict.
2018-03-24

The Government of Japan summons the ambassador from the People's Republic of China after a flotilla of Chinese ships sail near the dispute Senkaku Islands.
2013-04-23

Using H-IIA rocket, Japan launches two spy satellites to collect sharp imagery for the government's defence and intelligence agency.
2013-01-27