Explainer: 'Lockdown', Japan-style: Pressure to conform, not penalties for non-compliance

Children attend the entrance ceremony of an elementary school, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Nagoya, Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo April 6, 2020. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is poised to declare a state of emergency over the coronavirus, giving governors stronger legal authority to urge people to stay home and businesses to close, media reported on Monday.

In contrast to stringent lockdowns in some countries, mandating fines and arrests for non-compliance, enforcement will rely more on peer pressure and a deep-rooted Japanese tradition of respect for authority.