Japan's coronavirus entry restrictions hits K-pop

K-pop group Super Junior has canceled March concerts in Japan after Tokyo toughened entry restrictions on people coming from Korea. Courtesy of SM Entertainment

By Lee Gyu-lee

With Japan set to strengthen entry restrictions on all foreign visitors coming from Korea, some K-pop stars are canceling or putting off concerts there.

The Japanese government announced last week that, from Monday, it will require visitors from Korea and China to quarantine themselves for two weeks at designated facilities. It also suspended no-visa entries from the countries. The decision is expected to disrupt K-pop stars' plans in Japan.

Boy band Super Junior's agency SM Entertainment said its concerts ― scheduled for March 25-26 at Saitama Super Arena ― had been canceled.

“KCON 2020 JAPAN,” another major K-pop concert planned from April 3-5 at Makuhari Messe Convention Center in Chiba, has been postponed.

“We have decided it would be best for the safety of the audiences, artists, and staff,” CJ ENM, the event's organizer, said in a statement Friday.

Girl group TWICE plans to hold two concerts at Tokyo Dome on April 15 and 16, but its agency JYP Entertainment also hinted at rescheduling the event.