Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo prefectures back under state of emergency

Many neon signs were turned off in a shopping district near Shibuya Station in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, on Sunday, the first day of the third state of emergency over the coronavirus pandemic. (Credit: The Yomiuri Shimbun)

A new state of emergency began in the four prefectures of Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo on Sunday to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

A shopping district in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, went semi-dark as large screens on buildings and neon signs near JR Shibuya Station were promptly turned off at 8 p.m., in response to a request from the Tokyo metropolitan government.

The Tokyo government is asking businesses to cut the power on lights and neon signs in shopping districts in a bid to discourage people from going out at night.

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