Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (second from right) speaks at a meeting of related ministers on heavy snow measures on Tuesday. Photo courtesy of Jiji Press.
TOKYO, JAPAN — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ordered her government on Tuesday to prepare countermeasures as heavy snow is predicted over the weekend, with a general election taking place on Sunday.
“Stay vigilant and take all possible measures to hold the election,” Takaichi said at a meeting of related ministers.
The prime minister also called on voters to carefully participate in the election while monitoring weather conditions.
Referring to a recent case in which passengers were stranded at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido due to heavy snow on Jan. 25, Takaichi sought measures to prevent a recurrence, such as supporting efforts to secure alternative means of transportation.
She also requested that expressways and national routes be closed if necessary to prevent large-scale traffic gridlocks. (Jiji Press)