Corona and Democracy - Japan

On this page, we are collecting information on the effects of the measures taken to halt the spread of the COVID-19 virus on democracy in Japan.

Information on COVID-19 measures and democracy
Type of measures Measures & sources
Limitations to freedom of movement

No mandatory lockdown nor domestic travel restrictions have been implemented. The government relies on public obedience to comply voluntarily with recommended stricter measures.

   3 February:

  • The government announced entry restrictions for all foreign citizens who had had a travel history to and from Hubei Province or had a Chinese passport issued from there.

   12 February:

  • The Government extended entry restrictions to travellers from Zhejiang Province (China).

    5 March:

  • The government announced quarantine for people coming from China and South Korea. Also, there will be a suspension of visas for Chinese and South Korean nationals until March 31.

    18 March:

  • The government imposed an entry ban for travellers from 18 European countries and Iran.

   5 April:

  • Japan expanded entry ban to foreign nationals travelling from a total of 73 countries (included countries in America, Africa and Europe)

   27 April:

  • The government extended entry ban for travellers from a further 14 countries, including Russia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

25 May:

  • PM Abe declares coronavirus emergency over, however, urges citizens to adopt "new lifestyle" and maintain among other things social distancing measures.

27 May:

  • Extensive travel restrictions and quarantine measures upon arrival still apply.
Limitations to electoral rights

On April 26, Shizuoka by-election for a Diet seat saw a record low turnout of just 34.1%. The debate over how to ensure that upcoming elections have a high turnout if the state of emergency is still going.
Limitation to civil rights  
 
Risks to data security

The government is set to launch a full-scale initiative to utilize personal data to track down the routes of novel coronavirus infections. In May, a tracing-app is expected to be launched. Concerns have been raised on the use of the collected data, which under certain circumstances can be provided to third parties without users consent.

The Japanese LGBT+ community is concern that the contact tracing will expose their sexual orientation and/or gender identity against their will.

 

13 May:

  • Japan will introduce an online system to collect and share coronavirus information, particularly of infected people. Who will have access to this information and how it will be stored is unclear
Limitations to freedom of information
  • Japan's coronavirus special measures law allows the government to give “instructions” to a number of designated companies and associations, included the media. Concerns have been raised regarding the media’s editorial independence.
Emergency powers for government

   5 March:

  • The government revised influenza law to allow Japan PM to declare the state of emergency over coronavirus. In the revision, the PM did not request to add compulsory power to the law.

   7 April:

  • The government declared the state of emergency for Tokyo, Osaka, Saitama, Kanagawa, Chiba, Hyogo and Fukuoka prefectures from 8 April to 6 May. The PM asked people to avoid crowded areas, practice social distancing and wear masks. Under the state of emergency, the government has more legal authority to take what measures they deem necessary to prevent more widespread infection. The declaration gives prefectural governors the authority to call on people to stay at home and for non-essential businesses to close. Citizens are asked for complying with social distancing and avoiding crowded areas.

   16 April:

  • The government declared a nationwide state of emergency amid coronavirus spread until 6 May.

   4 May:

  • The government announced the extension of the state of emergency nationwide until May 31. The government also revised some guidelines, under which strict measures (refraining from going out for nonessential tasks and temporarily closing businesses) will stay in place in the 13 prefectures with the highest number of patients. The government called on residents to maintain a “new lifestyle” even some measures are eased.
  • State of Emergency does not allow the government to enforce curfew or lockdown with fines and other penalties nor gives the police the power to enforce the closure of public and private facilities or set up roadblocks. The declaration does not impose restrictions on movement, but allows governors to request that individuals remain home and recommend to organizers that they cancel events. Violators are not subject to penalty unless they fail to comply with orders related to storing and shipping medical supplies.
Corona laws - full text
Various  
 
Last updated on 17.07.2020

Please note that we are constantly updating the information under rapidly changing circumstances, the information on this page should not be taken to be a complete overview of measures in a country. 

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