COVID-19 risks
Oct. 19, 2022, midnight
In light of the general improvement in the global infection situation and the fact that the G7 countries have already canceled the designation of levels by country and region, all the new coronavirus infectious disease risk information was issued on October 19. The world is uniformly set to level 1 (please be careful).
Aug. 24, 2022, midnight
On August 24, the infectious disease risk information for 41 countries was changed from level 3 (recommendation to avoid travel) to level 2 (please refrain from non-essential travel), and the infectious disease risk information for 55 countries/regions was changed to level 2. The level has been lowered from (Please refrain from unnecessary and non-urgent travel) to Level 1 (Please be careful).
July 25, 2022, midnight
On July 23, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak of monkeypox a "public health emergency of international concern." According to the WHO, more than 16,000 cases of monkeypox infection in 75 countries and regions have been reported so far, and the infection is spreading worldwide.
July 1, 2022, midnight
Although the infection status of the new corona varies depending on the situation in each country and region, the risk of death and aggravation has decreased, and deregulation at the water's edge and in Japan has also been seen, especially in countries where vaccination is progressing worldwide. I'm on the way. Based on these trends, the infectious disease risk information level is now available after comprehensively considering the actual conditions of each country / region, such as the status of infection, vaccination status, infectious disease control / medical system, and status of various measures in each country / region. Was reviewed.
May 26, 2022, midnight
Although the infection status of the new corona varies depending on the situation in each country and region, the number of new infections and deaths is declining worldwide, and the risk of death and aggravation is mainly in countries where vaccination is progressing. Is declining, and regulations are being relaxed at the water's edge and in Japan. Based on these trends, the infectious disease risk information level is now available after comprehensively considering the actual conditions of each country / region, such as the status of infection, vaccination status, infectious disease control / medical system, and status of various measures in each country / region. Was reviewed.
April 1, 2022, midnight
The level of infectious disease risk information should be reviewed after comprehensively considering the actual situation of each country / region, such as the number of newly infected people in each country / region, vaccination status, infectious disease control / medical system, and status of various measures. It was made. As a result, infectious disease risk information has been reduced from Level 3 "Recommendation for suspension of travel" to Level 2 "Please stop unnecessary and unurgent travel" in 106 countries.
Nov. 29, 2021, midnight
As the infection may spread further, please be informed and try to prevent the infection.
Nov. 29, 2021, midnight
As the infection may spread further, please be informed and try to prevent the infection.
Aug. 13, 2021, midnight
As the infection may spread further, please obtain the latest information and try to prevent the infection.
May 18, 2021, midnight
Coronavirus infections are still spreading worldwide, with more than 160 million confirmed infections and more than 3 million deaths worldwide. Although the number of infected people is decreasing in North America and Europe, the situation continues to require caution, such as the remarkable spread of infection in South Asia.
Based on this situation, the infectious disease risk information level in Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Seychelles, Saint Lucia, Thailand, East Timor, and Mongolia has been newly set to Level 2 by comprehensively considering various situations including the deterioration of the infection situation. "Please stop unnecessary and unurgent travel" has been raised to Level 3 "Travel Cancellation Recommendation".
Oct. 30, 2020, midnight
As the infection may spread further, please obtain the latest information and try to prevent the infection.
Travel advisories from local embassies and consulates
Information from the past two weeks.
Table of contents
- Dec. 13, 2024, 7:11 a.m. Fraudulent activities involving people impersonating consulate officials, customs officials, and police officers
- Dec. 13, 2024, 1:11 a.m. [A sharp increase in consultations regarding special frauds!!] About the methods of fraud identified by our institution
- Dec. 12, 2024, 4:41 a.m. (Resent) Passport management during the New Year holidays ※Addition of opening and closing days
- Dec. 12, 2024, 4:36 a.m. Passport management during the New Year holidays
- Dec. 11, 2024, 3:51 a.m. Alert regarding wildfires in Malibu, California
- Dec. 11, 2024, 2:02 a.m. [Attention] Safety measures for the New Year holidays, reconfirmation of passport validity, and notice of Embassy closing days
Fraudulent activities involving people impersonating consulate officials, customs officials, and police officers
Dec. 13, 2024, 7:11 a.m.
[Main text]
1. Overview of the cases reported to the Embassy (1) Case 1
-I received a phone call from someone claiming to be Mr. Ishikawa from the Consulate General of Japan in New York who said, "A large amount of money has been deposited into an account in your name by a group of criminals, and it is being used for money laundering," and "A mobile phone that was fraudulently contracted in your name is being used by a group of specialized fraudsters."
-The call was transferred to someone named Sakai at the Yamaguchi Prefectural Police, and the interview was conducted via LINE video call under the pretext of an "interrogation to prepare a report remotely," during which personal information and credit card numbers were requested.
(2) Case 2
-I received a phone call from someone claiming to be Kawasaki from the Customs Investigation Division, who said, "Prohibited drugs were found in the package you sent from the United States to Japan by courier."
-My call was transferred to someone named Sato at the airport police station, who urged me to appear there on the same day and file a complaint, but when I told him that this would be difficult, I was told that "your passport will be revoked and you will be deported," as well as "you are now a suspect, so you should not mention this to anyone," "you should not answer other calls," and "even if you consult with the consulate, the consulate does not have the authority to resolve this."
2. To prevent yourself or someone close to you from becoming a victim: (1) Please spread the word that these types of frauds are occurring to as many people as possible.
(2) Japanese public institutions will never request remittances in the name of taxes, fines, or bail without following proper procedures.
(3) Ignore any suspicious phone calls, emails, or social media messages that you do not recognize.
(4) Even if you receive a call from someone claiming to be from a socially reputable institution, do not readily disclose detailed personal information (such as your SSN, credit card number, or PIN number).
(5) Hang up the phone and consult with your family, friends, colleagues, or the consulate. (There have been cases where people have been told that "consulting the consulate won't solve the problem" or "the consulate is in on it, so you shouldn't consult them.")
3. Related information: December 9, 2024 [Safety measures] Beware of special fraud https://www.atlanta.us.emb-japan.go.jp/files/100767246.pdf
・November 29, 2024 (wide area information)
Warning about special fraud
https://www.anzen.mofa.go.jp/info/pcwideareaspecificinfo_2024C049.html
・November 15, 2020 (consular email)
Warning about scams involving people pretending to be customs officials or police officers https://www.atlanta.us.emb-japan.go.jp/files/100755616.pdf
・October 8, 2020 (consular email)
Attempted fraud case targeting Japanese nationals https://www.atlanta.us.emb-japan.go.jp/files/100736860.pdf
Consulate-General of Japan in Atlanta
Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta
Phipps Tower Suite 850
3438 Peachtree Road
Atlanta, GA 30326
TEL: (404) 240‐4300
EMAIL: ryoji@aa.mofa.go.jp
[A sharp increase in consultations regarding special frauds!!] About the methods of fraud identified by our institution
Dec. 13, 2024, 1:11 a.m.
[Main text]
1. Fraudulent phone calls from people pretending to be Japanese customs officials or police officers Recently, there has been a rise in fraudsters who make anxiety-inducing phone calls, claiming to be Japanese customs officials or police officers, saying things like, "Illegal drugs have been found in the luggage you sent to Japan. You may be deported to Japan or your passport may be revoked, so we would like you to follow our instructions." They then try to get your credit card number.
Japanese customs officials and police officers will never hint at deportation or the expiration of your passport. This is a scam tactic, so do not comply with their demands and hang up the phone immediately.
2. Fraudulent phone calls from people pretending to be from local financial institutions or police officers We have confirmed cases of fraud in which people claiming to be bank employees call and say, "Your account is being used for money laundering. Your account may be frozen or you may be arrested by the police."
In the middle of a call, someone claiming to be a police officer will appear on the phone and demand that "In order to prove that you are not involved in any crime, we need to monitor your actions for several days. We ask that you continue to broadcast your image on SKYPE or other services," putting the person in a situation where they are unable to turn to anyone for advice.
After that, when they find themselves unable to make rational decisions, they will ask you to transfer money to a specified account. This is a method of fraud, so you should not comply with their demands.
3. Fake text messages posing as USPS staff: A scam has been confirmed for some time in which the USPS sends a text message saying, "We are unable to deliver your package to you as we are missing information necessary for customs clearance. Please enter the necessary information, such as your ZIP code, on the page linked below," and directs you to a web page to obtain a personal account. With Christmas just around the corner, there will be many opportunities to give and receive gifts. If you do not recognize the sender and suspect something is wrong, do not click on the link instructed by the sender, but contact the USPS directly to confirm.
4. Real estate fraud using information exchange sites In November of this year, when a person was about to be transferred to the Boston area, he posted on a local Japanese information exchange site that he was “looking for a rental property,” and was then scammed into by an individual claiming to be Japanese who introduced him to a fictitious real estate company and rental property.
After paying the contract fee and part of the rent to the agent introduced to him, when he tried to move out, he found out that the property did not exist. He was unable to contact the person who introduced him or the agent, and was forced to find a new place to live. There have been cases of fraud involving fictitious rental properties for some time, but this was the first time that a case of fraud involving communication in Japanese had been heard of.
Even if you think the other party is Japanese, you should never let your guard down and be careful during contract negotiations to check for anything suspicious or the possibility of fraud.
We have introduced the types of fraud we receive the most inquiries about at our Embassy. All of the methods are complex and ingenious, and unfortunately, there are also fraudulent methods in Japanese, so you need to be careful.
It is difficult to immediately detect a scam, but if you encounter a situation similar to the methods introduced here, please be aware that it may be a scam and act with extra caution.
[Contact Information]
Consulate-General of Japan in Boston, Consular Section
Consulate-General of Japan in Boston
TEL: 617-973-9772, FAX: 617-542-1329
http://www.boston.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_ja/index.html
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＜Returning to Japan＞
If you have submitted a paper residence notification, please submit a return notification to our Embassy by email or other means.
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＜Relocation＞
Please submit your residence notification to the nearest Japanese diplomatic mission either by paper or via ORRnet.
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(Resent) Passport management during the New Year holidays ※Addition of opening and closing days
Dec. 12, 2024, 4:41 a.m.
[Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco (New Year's holiday and opening days)]
December 26th (Thursday) Opening day December 27th (Friday) Opening day
Closed: December 28th (Saturday) - January 5th (Sunday)
Opening date: January 6th (Monday)
<Reference>
Safety Guidehttps://www.sf.us.embjapan.go.jp/pdf/anzen_no_tebiki.pdf
*Especially "P3 Crime Prevention Guide"
■In order to shorten waiting times when you visit the Consulate and to avoid congestion in the Consulate waiting room, we operate on a reservation system for passport and other certification services at the Consulate counter. Please see our website for details. (https://www.sf.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/appointment.html)
■When traveling abroad, be sure to inform your family, friends, workplace, etc. of your travel dates and contact information at your destination in case of an emergency. If you are staying for more than three months, be sure to submit a residence notification.
(https://www.ezairyu.mofa.go.jp/RRnet/index.html)
In addition, if you are traveling or on a business trip of less than three months, please register with Tabi-Regi so that you can receive safety information as it arises while you are overseas.
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Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco
Consulate-General of Japan at San Francisco
Consular and Security Team
TEL:415-780-6000
HP: https://www.sf.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_ja/index.html
Passport management during the New Year holidays
Dec. 12, 2024, 4:36 a.m.
<Reference>
Safety Guidehttps://www.sf.us.embjapan.go.jp/pdf/anzen_no_tebiki.pdf
*Especially "P3 Crime Prevention Guide"
■In order to shorten waiting times when you visit the Consulate and to avoid congestion in the Consulate waiting room, we operate on a reservation system for passport and other certification services at the Consulate counter. Please see our website for details. (https://www.sf.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/appointment.html)
■When traveling abroad, be sure to inform your family, friends, workplace, etc. of your travel dates and contact information at your destination in case of an emergency. If you are staying for more than three months, be sure to submit a residence notification.
(https://www.ezairyu.mofa.go.jp/RRnet/index.html)
In addition, if you are traveling or on a business trip of less than three months, please register with Tabi-Regi so that you can receive safety information as it arises while you are overseas.
(For details, see https://www.ezairyu.mofa.go.jp/tabireg/index.html#)
Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco
Consulate-General of Japan at San Francisco
Consular and Security Team
TEL:415-780-6000
HP: https://www.sf.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_ja/index.html
Alert regarding wildfires in Malibu, California
Dec. 11, 2024, 3:51 a.m.
1. The wildfire that broke out in Malibu on the night of December 9th is spreading due to strong winds. Evacuation orders have been issued for the surrounding areas, and public access is prohibited.
2. As the dry weather is expected to continue, conditions that make it easier for wildfires to break out and spread will continue. We ask Japanese nationals and travelers in the surrounding areas, in particular, to take note of the following points:
(1) Make an effort to obtain the latest information from the media and local governments, and prepare for the disaster to spread.
(2) Since wildfires may cause road closures, be sure to check traffic information and the situation around your destination before departing.
(3) Do not approach areas where forest fires are occurring out of curiosity.
(4) In case of emergency, prepare disaster essentials, including valuables such as your passport, and keep them ready to take with you at any time.
(For reference, a checklist of disaster essentials is included at the end of the "Safety Guide.") https://www.la.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/consular_safety.html
3. The dry weather in Southern California has made it easier for fires to break out, so please be careful when handling fire. In the unlikely event that a wildfire breaks out in the surrounding area, please refer to the above 2 and make your personal safety your top priority.
4. Wildfires also produce air pollution due to smoke. Even if you are far away from the wildfire site, smoke can spread far away depending on the wind direction, etc., and air pollution may have adverse effects on your health. Elderly people, young people, and people with respiratory diseases in particular should refrain from outdoor activities if they notice smoke or smell something. If you have no choice but to be outdoors, please take precautions such as wearing a mask.
●CAL FIRE
https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2024/12/9/franklin-fire
Los Angeles County website
https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2024/12/9/franklin-fire
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◇ Consulate-General of Japan in Los Angeles ◇
Address: 350 South Grand Ave., Suite 1700, Los Angeles CA 90071
Phone: 213-617-6700
Consular Security Team e-mail: ryoji@ls.mofa.go.jp
Website: https://www.la.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_ja/index.html
*Please use the Online Residence Notification (ORR Net) to submit your Residence Notification, change notification, and return to Japan/moving out notification.
https://www.ezairyu.mofa.go.jp/RRnet/index.html
******************************************************************
[Attention] Safety measures for the New Year holidays, reconfirmation of passport validity, and notice of Embassy closing days
Dec. 11, 2024, 2:02 a.m.
1. Safety Measures During the year-end and New Year holidays, there is an increase in cases of theft such as pickpocketing, baggage snatching, and burglary, as well as specialized fraud over the phone.
In addition, crowds increase the risk of being a victim of hate crimes and violence, and events that attract large numbers of people can also be targets of terrorist attacks.
Please take care to avoid becoming a victim of crime by referring to previously issued warnings and "Safety Guidelines."
○ [Caution] Safety measures during the holiday season https://www.ny.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/News_112224.html
○ [Warning] Types of special fraud, overview and countermeasures https://www.ny.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/News_110824.html
○Safety Guide (Consulate-General of Japan in New York)
https://www.ny.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jp/j5/ny-anzen_2024.pdf
2. Passport Please pay attention to the validity period of your passport.
Every year, there are reports of people being unable to leave the country during the long holiday season over the New Year period or for sudden business trips because their passports have expired or do not have enough remaining validity as required by the country they are traveling to.
If your remaining validity period is less than one year, please consider applying early (reservation required).
○About applying for a passport https://www.ny.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/11_000001_00472.html
○About the appointment system when using the consular service: https://www.ny.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/appointment.html
○Points to note regarding the start of centralized production of Japanese passports in Japan (March 24, 2025) (increase in the number of days required from application to issuance, etc.)
https://www.ny.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/News_2024-09-27.html
3. Closures during the New Year holidays The museum will close on Friday, December 27th for the year and will reopen on Monday, January 6th in the new year.
December 25th (Wednesday) Christmas December 30th (Monday) Year-end holidays December 31st (Tuesday) Year-end holidays January 1st (Wednesday) New Year's holidays January 2nd (Thursday) New Year's holidays January 3rd (Friday) New Year's holidays ○ Office hours and closing days (Consulate-General of Japan in New York)
https://www.ny.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/holiday-schedule.html
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[Contact Information]
Consulate-General of Japan in New York
299 Park Avenue 18th Floor, New York, NY 10171
TEL:(212)-371-8222
HP: http://www.ny.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jp/html/
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*In order to protect your family, friends, and colleagues in the event of a disaster or unrest, please tell your acquaintances, business travelers, and tourists to file a Residence Notification (for stays of 3 months or more) or register for Tabi-Regi (for stays of less than 3 months) so that information on safety measures can reach as many people as possible.
