Japan to experiment with proof of vaccination at big sporting events

Japan will conduct an experiment using proof of COVID-19 vaccination at professional baseball and soccer stadiums in preparation for easing capacity restrictions, a Cabinet minister said Monday. The experiment is expected to be conducted in October as Japan continues seeing a steady decline in newly reported coronavirus cases, according to top officials of Nippon Professional Baseball and soccer's J-League, who held a meeting with Yasutoshi Nishimura, minister in charge of the country's coronavirus response. "We'd like to make further adjustments and conduct the experiment at an appropriate time," Nishimura said when holding discussions with NPB Secretary General Atsushi Ihara and J-League Chairman Mitsuru Murai. Murai said the start of the experiment could be as early as Oct. 1, while Ihara said NPB wants to get started by the end of next month.