Japan debates state of emergency while Tokyo cries for action

Suga's government prefers legal revisions to punish noncompliant businesses

Having seen a rapid increase in coronavirus infections, Tokyo has called on the government to declare a state of emergency. © Kyodo

YUKI FUJITA, Nikkei staff writer

January 4, 2021 02:36 JST

Updated on January 4, 2021 05:33 JST

TOKYO -- Japanese leaders on Sunday debated declaring a state of emergency while also exploring less drastic options such as punishing noncompliant businesses, frustrating a capital city seeking swift, blanket action as coronavirus cases rise.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato, Health Minister Norihisa Tamura and Land Minister Kazuyoshi Akaba to discuss a request from Tokyo and surrounding prefectures to issue a state of emergency.