people were seen in other areas of the capital.
Akihito Aminaka, an education industry worker,
said heeding Abe’s request was difficult because
“to me, it sounds like they’re saying, ‘Please don’t
go out, but we won’t help you.’”
Q. WHAT’S THE POTENTIAL
ECONOMIC IMPACT?
A. Abe also announced an unprecedented
108 trillion yen ($1 trillion) stimulus package,
equivalent to about a fifth of Japan’s annual
GDP, to pay for coronavirus measures and
protect businesses and jobs. It includes
300,000 yen ($2,750) cash handouts for
some hard-hit households. A monthlong
state of emergency in the Tokyo area could
cause consumer spending to fall nearly 2.5
trillion yen ($23 billion), according to Nomura
Research Institute.