US advisory on Japan highlights risk of protracted COVID fight

Inoculating 50% of population could take till year end in Japan

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, left, speaks to the media on May 25. A man receives a jab in Tokyo on May 24. (Source photos by Reuters and Koji Uema)

MITSURU OBE and AKANE OKUTSU, Nikkei staff writers

May 26, 2021 14:33 JST

TOKYO -- The U.S. warning against travel to Japan on Monday showed that the Asian country still is lagging far behind other major economies in COVID-19 vaccinations and that it should quickly ramp up its inoculation drive.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Tuesday that Washington continues to support the Tokyo Olympics, but that only "very limited categories of U.S. travelers" are planning on going to Japan for the games.