Chinese Embassy in Japan Issues Safety Advisory

I bet you would never think this could happen in Japan but it did. The Chinese Embassy in Japan issued a safety advisory on April 17, 2025 urging Chinese citizens in Japan, particularly tourists, to enhance their safety precautions and pay attention to personal and food hygiene. 

The advisory emphasised the importance of raising safety awareness, maintaining dietary hygiene, and preparing adequately before travelling. The announcement cited Japanese media reports indicating an increase in violent crimes across the country. 

Since December 2024, indiscriminate killings have been reported in locations such as Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture; Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture; and Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture, leaving multiple innocent victims dead or injured. In the first two weeks of April, murders targeting young women have occurred in areas such as Ichinomiya City, Aichi Prefecture; Shinjuku, Tokyo; and Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture. Additionally, cases of theft, stalking, and telecom fraud continue to be reported, with a number of Chinese nationals among the victims.

The advisory also highlighted recent food hygiene incidents in multiple locations, including Tochigi City, Tochigi Prefecture; Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture; Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture; Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture; Seki City, Gifu Prefecture; and Fukutsu City, Fukuoka Prefecture. Guests in these areas contracted norovirus after consuming contaminated food, resulting in symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some severe cases led to fatalities. 

Research institutions in Japan reported that cases of infectious gastroenteritis caused by norovirus have reached their highest levels in a decade for the same period. 

Sure, Japan generally has a low crime rate. And although Japan has seen food poisoning incidents, its overall food safety standards are by and large, high. Still, it's always prudent to exercise caution.

Asian champion Sivasangari Subramaniam ended her Egyptian jinx with a clinical win over world No. 15 Nada Abbas to storm into the semi-finals of the Grasshopper Cup Squash 2025 in Zurich, Switzerland on Friday. 

The world No. 11 Malaysian, who had lost to Egyptian opponents in her last three tournaments, needed just 15 minutes to seal a commanding 11-6, 11-3 victory. 

It marked her first appearance in the Grasshopper Cup semi-finals and her third win over Abbas in four meetings. 

Sivasangari will now face Belgium's world No. 6 Tinne Gilis for a place in the final on Saturday.