Record COVID-19 cases in Tokyo, heavy snow curtail New Year celebrations in Japan

New coronavirus infections in Japan’s capital hit a record high of 1,337 on Thursday, Tokyo’s Metropolitan Government said, and New Year’s Eve celebrations were curtailed as the country battles a third wave of the pandemic. Nationwide, new cases surpassed 4,000 for the first time, local media said. Scores of flights were also cancelled as heavy snowfall hit several areas of Japan on Thursday. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has urged people to celebrate New Year quietly and avoid non-essential outings. Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways cancelled or planned to cancel a total of around 140 flights, public broadcaster NHK reported, adding that bullet train services had been suspended in some parts of the northern Yamagata prefecture.<br/>