'Toothless' Japan lockdown shows tentative signs of success

Illuminated signs are displayed on the exterior of commercial buildings at dusk in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday,April 4, 2020.While central transport hubs have cleared out and businesses have voluntarily closed, many neighbourhoods in Tokyo remain busy, far from the empty thoroughfares seen in other nations. - Bloomberg

TOKYO (Bloomberg): With Japan in its second week under a state of emergency, the latest data suggests that a "lockdown" without legal power has still been able to contain citizens' movements somewhat, offering some tentative encouragement for the country's bid to slow the coronavirus.

From GPS data to train station usage, the latest figures show people's movements have slowed since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared a month-long emergency in Tokyo and six other prefectures.