Press Conferences

Ms. ONO Hikariko, Press Secretary: Firstly, I would like to speak about the vaccination project for Japanese nationals residing overseas.

Currently, through the vaccination project for Japanese nationals residing overseas, we are providing first and second doses of the novel coronavirus vaccines three times per week at Haneda Airport. From August 2021 until the end of February 2022, we have provided about 35,000 vaccine doses.

We will now begin providing third vaccine doses to Japanese nationals residing overseas and others from March 14. Those who are eligible will be those aged 18 and over for whom over six months have passed since their second dose of either the Pfizer, Moderna, or AstraZeneca vaccine. Furthermore, we will continue to provide first and second vaccine doses to people who have not yet received them. It will remain possible to receive a first and second dose for people who have not received these doses yet as well as people who received other vaccines.

Reservations to receive the third vaccine dose will be accepted from today at 5 p.m. Japan time. Please see MOFA’s Overseas Safety Website for details.

Furthermore, we are currently coordinating with relevant ministries and agencies to begin providing vaccines for children aged five to 11, aiming to start in mid-April. That is all from me.

Asahi Shimbun, Aibara: I would like to ask about the situation in Ukraine. The personnel of the embassy that was moved to Lviv recently evacuated temporarily. Following that development, what is the latest number of Japanese nationals residing in Ukraine? In addition, Japan has raised the Travel Advice and Warnings for all of Russia to Level 3. I believe there are about 2,400 Japanese nationals residing in Russia. Since the level was raised, MOFA has started approaching Japanese nationals and companies have begun to pull out. Please also tell us the latest number of Japanese nationals in Russia.

Press Secretary Ono: Firstly, there are about 80 Japanese nationals still in Ukraine. Until now, we have not received any information of Japanese nationals residing in Ukraine killed or injured. It is my understanding that most of Japanese nationals left in Ukraine have Ukrainian spouses or are settled down in the country.

We will continue to exert maximum efforts for the evacuation of Japanese nationals residing in Ukraine. You mentioned the issue of Lviv in your question. The personnel of the Embassy of Japan in Ukraine has worked together until now to repeatedly urge all Japanese nationals residing in the country to evacuate by calling them individually. In addition, they have also been providing support for evacuation by issuing consul emails day after day and providing various forms of information, including information on entry requirements for destination countries. They have also been responding to individual telephone consultations and inquiries.

The current situation in Lviv is becoming even more tense, and on March 7 we temporarily relocated the personnel of the Embassy of Japan in Ukraine from Lviv to outside the country. We plan for the office in Lviv to resume conducting duties when the situation calms down. Our policy is to continue to exert maximum efforts to support evacuations and ensure the safety of Japanese nationals.

In addition, as you pointed out, I believe there are about 2,400 Japanese nationals residing in Russia. We recently raised the Travel Advice and Warnings for Russia to Level 3: Avoid All Travel. Through the embassy, we will approach Japanese nationals in various ways, including disseminating accurate information.