Coronavirus

Are Japanese people made to believe that coronavirus and monkeypox exist, while they are actually fabricated diseases? No, that's not true: Both COVID-19 and monkeypox are confirmed illnesses recognized by global health organizations and scientific research. The claim appeared on a video (archived here) on TikTok on January 31, 2024, under the title (translated from Japanese to English by Lead…

Did Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare just begin researching the effectiveness and safety of coronavirus vaccines, and did it announce it would take another three years to see the results? No, that's not true: According to the ministry, COVID-19 vaccines were approved in 2021 after rigorous evaluation of their effectiveness and safety in clinical trials. The claim appeared…

Is Japan a "biological weapons powerhouse," as it approved the world's first self-amplifying mRNA (sa-RNA) COVID vaccine, whose efficacy and safety have not been disclosed? No, that's not true. Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) approved the sa-RNA vaccine for both initial vaccination and booster doses in adults 18 years and older in November 2023, after a rigorous…

Has influenza exceeded the alert level in Japan because 80 percent of the population have a weakened immune system due to COVID-19 vaccination? No, that's not true: One of the reasons for the high influenza level is a decline in herd immunity to influenza. The claim appeared in a video on TikTok on December 19, 2023, by user6144061382609. It began…

Did Japanese celebrities get sick as a side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine? No, that's not true: None of the celebrities mentioned in a post are claiming their illness is a side effect of Covid-19 vaccine. The claim appeared on a TikTok video (archived here) where it was published on November 30, 2023. It opened (Translated from Japanese into English…

Does a recent study prove that wearing a mask actually increases the risk of coronavirus infection? No, that's not true: While part of a study suggests that those who wear masks are more likely to get infected with coronavirus, its own authors describe their work as "observational" and urge readers to use "caution" when interpreting the results. The claim appeared…

Is it true that green tea candy can cure COVID-19? No, that's not true: Commercially sold green tea candies are mostly cough drops, and their catechin content cannot fight COVID alone. The claim appeared in a TikTok video (archived here) on August 18, 2023. The video discusses catechin, a chemical substance found in green tea, and claims that a study…

Is it true that taking more vitamin D will successfully prevent COVID-19 and Influenza? No, that's not true: The study used as evidence in this video only looks at COVID patients with vitamin D deficiency in Indonesia, not at the prospect of vitamin D as a cure for COVID. Furthermore, the study doesn't mention the possibility of curing Influenza anywhere…

Does the Yamasa Corporation contain mRNA in its soy sauce? No, it does not: there is no mRNA in Yamasa soy sauce. The claim appeared on a TikTok video (archived here) on May 1st, 2023. The video, with the sound effect of an emergency alarm, shows an article from The Chemical Daily which reads: Yamasa Soy Sauce Increases Production of…