Japan schools rush to wrap up academic year before shutdown

TOKYO -- Teachers and students in Japan are in an unprecedented scramble to finish the academic year weeks early after the national government requested schools close from Monday to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Many schools hastily wrapped up the term on Friday, the same day the request to close was officially made, despite the semester running through mid-March. But with such short notice, questions remain whether students will be ready to return to school once the following academic year starts in April.