US Advises Citizens Against Traveling to Japan... What About the Tokyo Olympics?

Potential Burden Despite Hosting Tokyo Olympics
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On the 23rd, two months before the opening of the Tokyo Olympics, protesters in Shinjuku, a bustling district in Japan's capital Tokyo, held signs demanding the cancellation of the Olympics. According to a recent local media poll, 43% supported 'cancellation' of the Tokyo Olympics, 40% called for a 'further postponement,' and only 14% supported holding the event this summer. The Tokyo Olympics are scheduled to open on July 23. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The U.S. government has advised its citizens against traveling to Japan. This measure, coming ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, is expected to place significant pressure on the Japanese government. In contrast, the U.S. has maintained a Level 2 (Enhanced Caution) travel advisory for South Korea, highlighting the difference in situations between the two countries.

On the 24th (local time), the U.S. Department of State upgraded its travel advisory for Japan from Level 3 'Reconsider Travel' to Level 4 'Do Not Travel.'

The Department of State's travel advisories for U.S. citizens are divided into four levels: Level 1 - Exercise Normal Precautions, Level 2 - Enhanced Caution, Level 3 - Reconsider Travel, and Level 4 - Do Not Travel.

The Department of State explained that the upgrade in travel advisory "(reflects) a very high level of COVID-19 in Japan."

After announcing last month that it would expand the list of countries under travel restrictions to cover 80% of the world, the Department of State also advised travel bans for allied and neighboring countries such as Canada, France, Israel, Germany, and Mexico. The total number of countries for which the U.S. has advised travel bans now reaches 151. China falls under the Level 3 'Reconsider Travel' category.

Recently, Japan's daily new COVID-19 cases have surged to the 4,000 range. The current cumulative confirmed cases stand at 722,938, with total deaths reaching 12,420. The third state of emergency has been declared to curb the spread of infections.

Despite the burden of the upcoming Tokyo Summer Olympics, the U.S. government's recommendation to avoid travel to Japan appears to be based on the assessment that the COVID-19 situation in Japan has not improved. The Tokyo Olympics are scheduled to open on July 23.

Consequently, attention is focused on whether the U.S. will decide to send its Olympic team to Tokyo. Should the U.S. decide to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics, other countries around the world may follow suit.

Although facing domestic and international pressure to cancel the Tokyo Summer Olympics, the Japanese government and Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide remain steadfast in their decision to proceed.

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