After long resisting calls for stronger measures to control the increasing number of new Covid-19 infections, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga instructed the government this week to prepare for a new state of emergency, which was officially announced on 7 January .

“Government Relations Powerhouse”: GR Japan and the GR Group are highlighted in this month’s edition of the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan magazine. The article explains how GR Japan grew into the leading and most effective government relations firm in Japan over the past ten years, and notes the experience and expertise of the GR Group team in government policy and decision-making. Click on the link for the full article: https://lnkd.in/gKKrQ6P

2020 marks the 10-year anniversary of GR Japan, the leading government relations firm in Japan. Co-founders Jakob Edberg and Philip Howard were interviewed by the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan, and discussed how the company grew from a two-person enterprise to a team of over 70.
 

Japan’s government lifted the nationwide state of emergency on 25 May but some restrictions remain.  The government is now working to lift border restrictions in phases with business travellers allowed in first, and resumption of tourism later in the year. Following the record-breaking supplementary budget on 30 April, the government is now preparing a second, even larger package to tackle the crisis and support economic recovery.  The crisis has proved a challenge to Japanese leaders, with Abe’s ratings falling below 30% despite the low number of cases.