Japan responds to neighbor in need

People from all walks of life in Japan have praised China's efforts in combating the novel coronavirus, and have been expressing their support in a number of ways, including with donations to the Chinese people.

In a video shot in his home, Tomiichi Murayama, a 96-year-old former Japanese prime minister, wrote "Wuhan Jiayou (stay strong)" in Chinese calligraphy and shouted out the message in solidarity with the Chinese.

"Let us work together to fight the epidemic," Murayama said in a letter read out at a fundraising event for Wuhan－the epicenter of the outbreak－at his hometown in Oita prefecture.

Another former prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama, said in a video expressing his support: "Chinese people are not alone (in this fight)… Although we live in different places, we are still in the same world.

"I want to send this message to my friends who are fighting against the virus in Wuhan, in Hubei province, and all over China. We are in a community with a shared future for mankind and I hope everybody can survive these difficult times."

Japan was among the first countries outside China that recorded cases of the novel coronavirus, and it was among the first to provide support to China.

In January alone, the Japanese government delivered about 130,000 masks, 23,000 items of protective clothing, 33,000 pairs of goggles, 50,000 pairs of gloves, and 3,000 other sterilization-related supplies to China, according to the Japanese embassy in Beijing.

Aside from the government's efforts, many Japanese people and Chinese living in Japan have made donations to the Chinese embassy in Tokyo. So far, they have given more than 12.2 million yuan ($1.75 million) in cash, and tens of thousands of masks, medical-related clothing, gloves and thermometers, the embassy said.

"The Japanese government has allocated emergency supplies to relieve the urgent need of China's and taken good care of Chinese patients diagnosed in Japan …They have shown their love, provided valuable support and selfless assistance to the Chinese people in fighting the epidemic," said Kong Xuanyou, the Chinese ambassador to Japan. "We express our high level of appreciation and heartfelt thanks for this."

On Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said she was "deeply touched" by the outpouring of support from Japan.

On Friday, the Japanese authorities said 61 people had tested positive for the coronavirus on a quarantined cruise ship, the Diamond Princess, in Yokohama. The announcement marks a steep increase from the 20 confirmed cases on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Holland America's MS Westerdam cruise ship, which had earlier been turned away by the Philippines, is looking for another port after being denied entry by Japan over concerns about the coronavirus.