TOKYO – The Japanese government’s pre-emergency restrictions placed for Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa and nine other prefectures went into effect on Friday, bringing the number of areas under the measures to 16.

MANILA – Japan is among the countries which have been placed on the Philippines’ “green” list, allowing fully vaccinated Filipinos and foreign travelers to enter the country from Jan. 16 to 31 without the need to undergo quarantine or COVID-19 test.

TOKYO – Japan will donate $13 million in emergency grant aid via international organizations to help the survivors of Typhoon Odette in the Philippines, the Japanese foreign ministry announced on Friday.

The samurai is a member of a powerful military caste in feudal Japan from the 12th century to their abolition in the 1870s. Even though they no longer exist today, there are places in the country where the samurai culture is still alive and well.