Governor David Ige says Japan is considering allowing travel between Hawaii and Japan.   Right now according to the Japan Times, Japan bars entry to people from 146 countries because of the risk of COVID-19.  It imposes a 14-day quarantine on any foreign nationals returning to Japan.

The press release from Gov. Ige says Hawaii and Europe may be considered after Japan reopens travel from a list of 12 countries–Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Macao, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan.  Hawaii is the only state being considered for travel resumption.  The mainland United States, with its high and ever-increasing COVID-19 count, is on Japan’s banned list.

Governor David Ige and House Speaker Scott Saiki today expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi for Hawai’i being mentioned along with an exclusive list of 12 countries and regions that are being considered to resume safe international travel with Japan.

Governor Ige noted that details for the Japan-Hawai’i safe travel program are still being resolved and no timetable has been set for when it would take effect. The governor stressed that public health will be the overriding factor in determining how the program is carried out to support the state’s economic recovery and the tens of thousands of residents who depend on the travel industry for their livelihoods.

“Providing safe travel for both residents and visitors is vital to strengthening our state’s economic health and long-term recovery. Protecting the public’s health will always be our first priority and the foundation for which any economic recovery program is built upon, including trans-Pacific travel,” said Governor Ige.

Gov. Ige also gave credit to Speaker Saiki as being instrumental in Hawai’i being included on Japan’s list of travel destinations through his discussions with Japan’s top policy makers as the chair of the Japan Hawai’i Legislators Friendship Association. The association provides a forum for legislative-level interactions between Japan and Hawai’i lawmakers to share information and initiatives to strengthen relationships, policies and economic opportunities.

Japan currently has had just under 30,000 cumulative cases of COVID-19, and says it has more than 22,000 people recovered and has had 996 deaths.