"Japan State of Emergency May Be Extended Until One Month Before Olympics"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] The Japanese government is considering extending the state of emergency issued in response to the spread of COVID-19 until late next month.

On the 21st, the Japanese government decided at a COVID-19 task force meeting chaired by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to declare a state of emergency in Okinawa Prefecture from the 23rd of this month until May 20th. With this, the number of regions under a state of emergency in Japan has increased to 10 prefectures.

According to Asahi Shimbun on the 22nd, voices within the government are growing that it is inevitable to extend the deadline (May 31) for the existing nine prefectures under the state of emergency, including Tokyo and Osaka. Yomiuri Shimbun also reported on the same day that if the state of emergency is extended, the government is considering aligning the deadline with that of Okinawa Prefecture.

Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura also indicated the possibility of requesting an extension from the government during a press conference on the 21st, saying that the COVID-19 situation "remains very difficult, and at this stage, it is not a situation where lifting the emergency can be discussed." The Japanese government is expected to decide next week whether to extend the state of emergency for regions excluding Okinawa Prefecture.

With the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games opening on July 23, just two months away, the spread of COVID-19 in Japan is not subsiding, and public opposition to holding the Olympics is expected to grow. Asahi Shimbun reported that a public opinion poll conducted on May 15-16 among Japanese voters aged 18 and over showed that 83% believe the Olympics should be canceled or postponed again.

In this situation, John Coates, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) coordination commissioner overseeing preparations for the Tokyo Olympics, stated that the Olympics could be held in July despite the state of emergency, which sparked criticism within Japan. After deciding to expand the state of emergency areas, Prime Minister Suga also told reporters at the Prime Minister's Office, "We want to hold a 'safe and secure Games' by thoroughly implementing infection prevention measures for athletes and related personnel."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.