Japanese Government to Remove COVID-19 Restrictions from May

Prime Minister Kishida announced a major shift in the policy of COVID-19 control. From May 8, the policy will no longer restrict actions on infected people or those who have been in contact with them, and will also explore the relaxation of the guidelines for wearing masks.

2 trillion yen in subsidies planned for domestic production of semiconductors

In order to secure a stable supply of semiconductors, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has decided to subsidize one-third of capital investments in Japan, whether by domestic or foreign companies, on the condition of delivering continuous production for 10 years or more. In the event of a tight supply-demand situation, Japan will also give priority to domestic supply. Japan plans to invest a total of about 2 trillion yen in support of semiconductors, including this subsidy.