Tokyo (Japan), October 14, 2025: Japan’s health authorities have declared a nationwide influenza epidemic following an unusually early and sharp rise in flu cases that began in late September.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), as of October 10, around 6,013 influenza cases were reported from approximately 3,000 designated medical institutions, averaging two patients per institution — surpassing the official epidemic threshold of 1.00.
Certain prefectures reported significantly higher local intensity. Okinawa recorded the highest per-institution case count at 12.18, while Tokyo also faced a severe outbreak.
Schools and childcare centres have been particularly affected. Reports indicate that roughly 135 educational and childcare facilities were closed across multiple prefectures in the past two weeks, nearly three times more than the same period last year.
Closures were concentrated in Tokyo, Okinawa, and Kagoshima, with one primary school in Yamagata shutting after 22 of its 36 students exhibited flu-like symptoms.
