Overall Risk Level
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Riskline / Country Report / 29 August 2021 JAPAN Overall risk level High Reconsider travel Can be dangerous and may present unexpected security risks Travel is possible, but there is a potential for disruptions Overview Emergency Numbers Medical 119 Upcoming Events There are no upcoming events scheduled Riskline / Country Report / 29 August 2021 / Japan 2 Travel Advisories High risk: Areas near the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant Reconsider travel to affected areas near the Fukushima Dai-chi nuclear power plant in Fukushima prefecture until further notice because of the risk of radiation. Despite some of the most advanced anti-earthquake building regulations in the world and ownership of DONET (Dense Oceanfloor Network System for Earthquakes and Tsunamis), a marine cable consisting of an optical fibre system able to detect the changes in the seafloor which give warning of a tsunami, Japan's vulnerability to natural disasters was shown by the devastation brought in large coastal areas by a massive 9.0-magnitude earthquake and a subsequent tsunami on 11 March 2011. The initial quake generated a 10-metre wave that struck the coastlines of Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures on Honshu Island, destroying thousands of buildings and leaving at least 11,000 people dead or missing. The tsunami damaged the coastal TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, starting an unprecedented nuclear crisis in modern Japan's history and forcing nearby towns to be evacuated amid mixed reactions from the Japanese government on the gravity of the situation. The tsunami waves overflooded the six- metres-high sea defences of the site, causing extensive damage and causing the overheating of the three reactors in operation at the time of the event; multiple hydrogen explosions followed in the subsequent hours and days triggering partial to full meltdown of the affected reactors and leaking radioactive material in the environment. Contamination of the food chain resulted in areas close to the site of the radioactive incident and those areas where radioactive material was being deposited. Due to high measurement levels by the Japanese government, distribution and consumption of local food were restricted, while fishing activities were suspended in the area close to the nuclear plant; fishing has since resumed on a trial basis. Evacuation orders remain active for restricted areas that include several areas around the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, such as Futaba, Namie and specific parts of Okuma, Tomioka, Katsurao, Iitate and Minamisoma, in the Riskline / Country Report / 29 August 2021 / Japan 3 Futaba district of Fukushima prefecture. Although Japanese and international nuclear protection agencies assess that the levels of radiation in most parts of Japan are within the normal range of background radiation variation, the Japanese government has specified that several areas around the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant should be avoided until further notice. These include but are not limited to Futaba, Namie and specific parts of Okuma, Tomioka, Katsurao, Iitate and Minamisoma, in the Futaba district of Fukushima prefecture. Limited entry is only permitted by local authorities to public agencies, affected residents, or workers employed in reconstruction projects and only to four-wheel vehicles on specific routes that include Route 6 and Route 114; vehicles inside the restricted area should not stop along the road. Consult the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's website for updates, as emergency directives for evacuation areas near the nuclear power plant are subject to change. Other valuable information can be found on the website of the Nuclear Regulation Authorities of Japan, which publishes weekly reports. Riskline / Country Report / 29 August 2021 / Japan 4 Summary Japan is a High Risk destination: reconsider travel. High Risk locations can be dangerous and may present unexpected security risks. Travel is possible, but there is a potential for severe or widespread disruptions. Covid-19 High Risk Authorities have mostly relied on social distancing measures and advisories against inter-prefectural travel instead of hard restrictions to try and contain COVID-19 outbreaks since early 2020. An outbreak has been underway in Tokyo and Osaka, as well as their surrounding prefectures, and Okinawa prefecture since early 2021 and authorities are unlikely to further ease restrictions in the near-term until case numbers fall. Political Instability Low Risk Japan is governed as a representative democracy with a bicameral parliament and integrated executive and legislative branches. The rule of law is strong and both internal and external security is assured. In August 2020, the country’s longest-serving prime minister (PM) Shinzo Abe stepped down due to health concerns and was replaced by his protege Yoshihide Suga. PM Suga’s honed political acumen, years of experience and popularity among the major Liberal Democratic Party leaders are factors likely to further contribute to Japan’s political stability. Riskline / Country Report / 29 August 2021 / Japan 5 Conflict Low Risk Historically the country has strained relations with North Korea and China, but these have improved overall since 2014 despite ongoing tensions over North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes. Japan’s relationships with South Korea and Russia are also strained by territorial disputes over the Takeshima/Dokdo Islands and the Kuril Islands respectively, but a full-scale conflict is very unlikely in the medium-term. However, the decision of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to push through a controversial amendment of the constitution to enable security forces to be involved in overseas areas, coupled with the military build-up of China in the region, started a new era in Japan's modern military history. Terrorism Moderate Risk The ethnic and religious homogeneity of Japanese society reduces the possibility of major extremist groups having a presence in the country in the near future. However, there have been sporadic incidents of domestic terrorism perpetrated by lone-wolf attackers or right-wing nationalists. The threat from international terrorism is relatively low, but remains a possibility, with Japan representing one of the countries most at risk in East Asia as a strong ally of post-9/11 US foreign policy and a supporter of overseas operations against the Islamic State (IS) in the Middle East since 2014. Unrest Moderate Risk Japan has a well-ordered society in which unrest is infrequent. Although mass protests are uncommon, issue-specific rallies are more frequent than in the past. Localised protests over social, demographic, political and environmental issues erupt sporadically, mostly in urban areas. Crime Low Risk Japan is renowned for its safety. Street crimes do occur in urban areas, but compared with other major cities worldwide, incident numbers are low. Travellers should safeguard their valuables as in any other urban area. While violent crime is rare, isolated incidents of sexual assault targeting women, particularly at bars and onboard crowded trains, have occurred in and around Tokyo. Organised crime in Japan is extensive and highly sophisticated but generally does not affect travellers. Riskline / Country Report / 29 August 2021 / Japan 6 Natural and Environmental Medium Risk The country is regularly hit by earthquakes, typhoons, flooding and landslides. Advanced disaster warning and response systems are in place to mitigate these natural calamities. Japanese emergency response teams are well-equipped and experienced; the country also possesses well-developed infrastructure. Nevertheless, natural disasters frequently impact Japan with severe intensity owing to its geographic location and can result in widespread casualties and damage. Health and Medical Low Risk Japan’s medical system is of a very high standard although treatment is extremely expensive. The country is renowned for having some of the most advanced hospitals in the world. Some Japanese doctors who studied and practised overseas may speak English. Local Travel Low Risk Japan's train and bus networks provide safe and reliable transport throughout the country. Rural areas are even safer than the cities. The greatest danger to foreign nationals is that Japan's reputation for safety may lull visitors into a false sense of security, causing them to neglect to take sensible everyday precautions. While major urban centres cater well to English speakers, few Japanese speak English in rural areas and many signposts are not written in Latin script. Riskline / Country Report / 29 August 2021 / Japan 7 Political Overview : Low Risk Shinzo Abe, Japan’s longest serving prime minister who was elected in a landslide victory in December 2012 after serving earlier as PM for a year in 2006-2007, abruptly stepped down from office in late August 2020 due to health issues. Shortly afterwards, the National Diet (parliament) elected Chief Cabinet Secretary and Abe’s right-hand man Yoshihide Suga as the new prime minister. Suga was elected by a landslide of 377 out of 534 votes in parliament defeating his two rivals - Policy Council Chairman Fumio Kishida and former defense minister Shigeru Ishiba. During his term, Abe took the bold decision of calling for early elections twice, first in 2014 and later again in 2017, both of which proved successful for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), allowing Abe to not just retain but strengthen his position. His re-election confirmed the trust of most Japanese in “Abenomics”, a package of comprehensive macroeconomic measures of ambitious monetary easing, greater fiscal spending and structural reforms finalised to improve the country’s growth potential in the long-term. Over the years, these economic policies have resulted in the longest spell of consistent, albeit low, economic growth in a decade. The election outcomes also provided an unprecedented mandate to Abe to reform the country’s pacifist constitution; however, that goal could not be brought to full fruition as Abe continued to face obstacles from opposition parties in that regard. In several aspects, the new prime minister Suga expressed his intentions to continue along the path that Abe had laid.