MAYUMI - REPORT FROM TOKYO

MARCH 24

Tokyo, March 24 - The Tokyo Olympics, originally slated for this summer, is now set to be
postponed until next year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was learned Tuesday.
Japan and the International Olympic Committee agreed the same day to put off the Tokyo
Games for around one year and hold it by summer 2021.
The accord came during telephone talks between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and
IOC President Thomas Bach.

Cases by Country as of March 22, 2020
Infections Fatalities
China 81,054 3,261
Italy 53,578 4,825
Spain 25,496 1,381
United States 25,493 307
Iran 20,610 1,556
Germany 16,662 46
France 14,459 562
South Korea 8,897 104
Switzerland 6,113 56
Britain 5,018 233
Japan 1,046 41
Created by Nippon.com based on data from the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare.

A government panel of experts warns of the danger of a massive epidemic in Japan, noting
that while infections have been contained to some extent, they are still rising in big cities.
We, the Japanese people take HANAMI parties under the cherry blossoms with their
families, friends, and colleagues in March and early April, but this year is NO.

March 16
At the first ever Group of Seven videoconference meeting, leaders say that "the COVID-19
pandemic is a human tragedy and a global health crisis, which also poses major risks for
the world economy; and that they will mobilize the full range of instruments, including
monetary and fiscal measures, as well as targeted actions, to support immediately and as
much as necessary the workers, companies, and sectors most affected.

The Bank of Japan decides to double buying of exchange-traded funds to ¥12 trillion as
part of easing measures to bolster the economy. It will also cooperate with other major
central banks in the United States and Europe.