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Pandemic hits sweet potatoes in Japan, prices rise and social potato distancing advised

Of all the potatoes, it had to be the sweet ones…

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New COVID-19 delta variant discovered in Japan, believed to be domestically mutated

But what this means for the pandemic is yet to be determined.

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Search is on for COVID-19 patient who escaped out a sixth-floor window of Osaka hotel

Patient possibly infected with the “Spidey” variant of COVID-19.

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Japanese government places entire world on “Please don’t travel to” list for citizens

Ministry of Foreign Affairs raises all countries’ travel danger levels in historic first.

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Japanese yokai starts appearing on Twitter to prevent the spread of COVID-19

People in Japan are turning to the mysterious Amabie to help us through the coronavirus pandemic. 

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Japanese government enacts mask resale ban, sets prison time penalty for violators

Ban replaces opportunity to make a profit with chance to end up behind bars.

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325 cruise participants diagnosed with coronavirus have recovered, were released from hospital

And Japanese citizens wonder why no news stations were reporting the good news. 

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Japanese government may encourage people to reuse masks as coronavirus-caused shortage continues

If people can’t buy new masks, is using old ones more than once the next best option?

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IOC member says decisions on Tokyo Olympics must be made by late May due to coronavirus fears

Postponing Games due to coronavirus is not an easy option, official says.

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As Japan suffers through nationwide mask shortage, people in one of its biggest cities are offered some for free.

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Kyoto starts new “Empty” tourism campaign to attract tourists during coronavirus outbreak

Visitors to Kyoto have plummeted, prompting a new series of ads showing sites like the Arashiyama bamboo forest totally devoid of people.

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First coronavirus death in Japan confirmed by Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare

Victim had never traveled outside of Japan.

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Kyoto tourist crowds disappearing due to coronavirus outbreak, creating travel crisis/opportunity

Local shopkeeper says drop in tourist traffic is most dramatic in over 30 years.

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Japanese candy shop bans all Chinese customers over coronavirus fears

Owner also claims his store has been “ruined by Chinese people with bad manners.”

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Measles confirmed in Justin Bieber concertgoer, Japan now worried about possible epidemic

Worries increase that some of the 25,000 people that attended Bieber’s concert in Chiba Prefecture may have brought back an unpleasant “souvenir” with them.
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Research from Japanese university claims kissing pets can cause stomach cancer

Who doesn’t love animals? They’re cute, funny, and sometimes you can even use their poop to keep your skin clean!

But now, thanks to a study by a Japanese university, we may want to re-think that last one a bit. According to their research, contact with pets’ bodily fluids, either by kitty kisses or scooping up puppy poops, can significantly increase your risk of stomach cancer.

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Korean Officials to foreign tourists: “If you contract MERS, we’ll give you $3,000!”

As you may have heard, there’s an epidemic in South Korea. Since last month, more than 150 people have contracted the deadly MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) virus, among whom 19 have died.

As a result, foreign tourists in South Korea have been leaving the country in droves, and the usually-thriving tourism industry has been suffering. To try and help alleviate matters, South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has made a somewhat unusual decision: they will pay tourists US$3,000 if they contract MERS while in South Korea.

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