Change in Business Continuity Plan (BCP) Level and APU's Response to COVID-19 (from April 18)

Change in Business Continuity Plan (BCP) Level and APU's Response to COVID-19 (from January 26)

Future implementation of the mask-wearing rule at APU

Taking Thorough Infection Control Measures During the Rapid Spread of COVID-19

The following is a video in which you can deepen your understanding of COVID-19 through a conversation between Tadao Isaka, Vice President of Ritsumeikan University, and Hiroshi Ito, Director of the Ritsumeikan Medical Service Center. In order to enrich our educational and research activities and student life, let‘s learn about COVID-19 and take thorough measures to prevent its spread.

Note: This video was created for Ritsumeikan University. Please note that the number of people infected mentioned in the video is referring to information about Ritsumeikan University and not APU.

Taking the utmost care to prevent the spread of the COVID-19, let's enrich the learning, research and student life at APU. The virus poses risks to everybody. However, you can help to halt the spread of the virus if you take action to lower your risk of catching it or passing it on to others. Let’s work together to change the attitude and behavior of each and every student, faculty and staff member, so we can feel secure to pursue our studies and research, and enjoy our life on campus. Please read through this booklet carefully and do what you can to protect yourself, your friends, and your life at university.

Click here for the booklet.

For more information on class policies, please visit the Academic Office website.​

Request for Students: How to Spend Your Time On-campus Safely ​

For more information on class absences, please visit the Academic Office website.​

The Original 2012 Spring Semester leave of absence application deadline (February 15, 2022) will be extended until March 15, 2022 for students unable to enter Japan who require new student visas. For more information, please visit the Student Office website.​

This information is for the new residents who will move in in March 2022. In regard to the recent outbreak of COVID-19 disease, the AP House 1,2 is now undertaking strict preventative and control measures in the dormitories. This is a video about the preventative measures that are being taken to combat COVID-19 in the dormitory for residents. Many students live in AP House, so everyone must follow these protocols to ensure that every resident remains safe and healthy. Accordingly, we'd like to ask all new residents to watch this video yourself before move-in.

On November 5, the Japanese government announced that it will begin taking steps to allow new entry to Japan for self-funded international students beginning November 8. A limited number of self-funded international students will be granted permission to enter Japan. Conditions required of these students and the responsible parties within their host universities, such as requirements for behavior and health monitoring, will be determined in detail while keeping the current pandemic situation in consideration.
There are many specific conditions that must be met by international students as well as two additional requirements that must be met by each university as determined by the Japanese government.

Condition 1: The academic institution managing the residency of incoming international students must have received a certificate of accreditation.

APU is an accredited institution, so this condition has been met for all APU students.

Condition 2: Order in which international students may be accepted

International students represent a large number of foreign nationals awaiting residency permission. A new policy has been implemented by the government to allow entry to Japan based on how long ago one’s Certificate of Eligibility (COE) was issued. Entry permission will be granted beginning with the oldest COEs (students who have been waiting longer to enter Japan). In an effort to maintain a gradual intake of new residents, applications for entry permission will be conducted monthly. It will be the responsibility of the host university to compile the information of eligible students. APU will accept applications for new entry to Japan through the following schedule:

November 2021: Students with a COE issued January 1, 2020 – March 31, 2020
December 2021: Students with a COE issued January 1, 2020 – September 30, 2020
January 2022: Students with a COE issued January 1, 2020 – March 31, 2021

Note: If your COE was issued on a date not within a particular period as described above, you may not apply for entry to Japan within that period. The schedule for February 2022 will be determined at a later date based on how implementation goes over the following months.

APU’s Policy
APU will begin supporting new entry to Japan for international students in the order shown above, beginning with students who are eligible to apply in November 2021 (those with a COE issued January 1, 2020 – March 31, 2020). Information regarding this application and necessary procedures will be posted in Campus Terminal under “Action Required”.
It is our deepest wish here at APU that all international students may enter Japan as soon as possible, and we have been in communication with the government in an effort to see this goal become reality. At this time, it is still not possible to allow simultaneous entry for all who are waiting to enter the country, and we must observe the new government policy to accept new entry to Japan gradually. While we see this development as one step forward, our heart aches for our students, faculty, and staff who continue to wait for the day that we may all be together on campus.
We will continue to appeal to the government to further ease the limit on the number of students who may enter Japan and will contact everyone again should new information become available.

November 8, 2021
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
YAMAMOTO Shuji, Vice President

As of September 1,2020, foreign residents will be allowed to re-enter Japan regardless of when they departed the country if they meet all of the following requirements:

1. If they departed Japan with a re-entry permit (including special re-entry permits).
2. If they have a valid Status of Residence.

Detailed information
Immigration Services Agency of Japan: http://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001338898.pdf

Once you return to Japan, be sure to take all appropriate measures to protect the health and safety of yourself and those around you. This includes some very simple, practical measures:

• Wear a mask when going out into public places and when around other people.
• Monitor your health daily, including taking your temperature.
• Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently, and use hand sanitizer often.

Students who live in AP House must contact the AP House Office by email at ssc_bo@apu.ac.jp before returning to Japan.

Information is being updated on a daily basis, so be sure to check the following websites regularly.
Relevant web pages:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001053.html
Information related to New Coronavirus Infection (COVID-19) from Immigration Services Agency
http://www.moj.go.jp/EN/nyuukokukanri/kouhou/m_nyuukokukanri01_00003.html
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Q&A
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/covid19_qa_kanrenkigyou_00003.html

Before you return to Japan:

• Read and understand the infection prevention guidelines for the airline you will use for your return trip to Japan.
• Obtain a certificate of testing for COVID-19
  Submit a negative COVID-19 test result that was taken within 72 hours prior to departing from the country/region of stay.
  Detailed information
  http://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001337717.pdf
  https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000121431_00248.html
• Arrange suitable accommodations for the 14-day quarantine period. The 14-day period should be calculated beginning from the day after you enter the country.
  The first thing you need to do when you arrive in Japan is quarantine yourself for 14 days. Because you cannot use public transportation (including trains, buses, taxis, air travel, shinkansen, or ferries) during this quarantine period to travel inside Japan—including to Beppu—you must arrange suitable quarantine accommodations near the airport where you will enter Japan before you depart from the country where you are staying.

Once you arrive in Japan:

• Submit a negative COVID-19 test result issued within 72 hours prior to departure at the quarantine station.
  Detailed information
  https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000121431_00248.html
• Submit a written pledge
  Detailed information
  https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/000766244.pdf
• Carry your smartphone with you and install apps required for preventing the spread of COVID-19
  Detailed information
  https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/000753114.pdf
  https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/000755137.pdf
• Submit a questionnaire
  Detailed information
  https://www.forth.go.jp/news/000063744.pdf
• Closely monitor your health and check your temperature every day for the 14-day quarantine period. If you develop a cough, fever, or any other symptoms, immediately contact the APU Health Clinic at booking@apu.ac.jp
• Respond to any form of contact from the public health center regarding your health.

Once you arrive in Beppu:

• Continue to monitor your health for an additional 14 days, using a Temperature & Condition Record Sheet (available for download here ) to track your information.
• Do not gather with friends or others for parties or other social gatherings.

To install the COCOA - COVID-19 contact tracing app:

Search the Apple App Store or Google Play for “Cocoa COVID-19” and install the app on your phone.

Google Play:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.go.mhlw.covid19radar

App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/id1516764458

AP House is looking forward to welcoming students who either live in Japan or enter Japan with a re-entry permit (including special re-entry permits) but have not yet moved into AP House.
Please inform the AP House Office of the following information as soon as you have decided the date and time you will move into AP House.
※Please contact the AP House Office at least 14 days before you plan to move into AP House.
※Please monitor your health and refrain from having dinner with friends, going out, or staying overnight for 14 days before coming to Beppu.

For students who are currently unable to enter Japan (students entering Japan from overseas with a new visa), we will provide information about entering Japan and moving into AP House after the immigration restrictions are lifted. Until then, please take classes online and continue your studies.

＜Required information when informing the AP House Office of your move-in date＞

• Move-in date
• Move-in hours
• Student ID number
• Your name
• Contact telephone number and email address
• Transportation to AP House

＜Available date and time of moving into AP House＞

Monday - Friday 10:00 - 17:30

＜Contact Information＞

AP House Office Email: ssc_bo@apu.ac.jp

＜Required documents when moving into the AP House＞

New residents need to have their health insurance card, passport, or other documents to verify their identity.

■Monitor your health before moving into AP House

★ Health Monitoring Questionnaire for students who are moving into AP House
https://survey2.apu.ac.jp/limesurvey/index.php/582756?lang=en

＜For those who are planning to enter Japan with a re-entry permit (including special re-entry permits)＞

Please confirm and comply with the quarantine measures required by the Japanese government in advance. Please arrange and pay for your lodging and transportation to APU by yourself.
During your 15-day self-quarantine period, 14 days from the day after you arrive in Japan, you cannot move into AP House.

＜Other＞

Additional information regarding new arrivals in Japan is available on the Office of International Admissions website.
https://admissions.apu.ac.jp/enrollment_procedures/2021/spring?&lang=en

The Japanese government is allowing international students (and former international students who have graduated) who cannot return home due to the COVID-19 pandemic to remain in Japan by switching their visa to a six-month Designated Activities visa, which means they can work part-time up to 28 hours a week within the limits of their work permits. On October 19, 2020, eligibility for this rule was expanded by removing restrictions on the timing of university graduation and/or whether a not a student has graduated yet. This means students who have already graduated, students who were expelled, and students who withdrew are now eligible for this rule.
For more information, please refer to the Immigration Services Agency’s Application for Residence and Daily Life Support for Foreign Nationals homepage.

Furthermore, the Career Office can handle career consultations from alumni who continue to look for work even after graduation. For more information on job hunting, please refer to the Career Office homepage .

The Government of Japan has restricted entry to Japan from multiple areas. See the following website for a list of affected countries or regions.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001053.html

Information related to New Coronavirus Infection (COVID-19) from Immigration Services Agency

http://www.moj.go.jp/EN/nyuukokukanri/kouhou/m_nyuukokukanri01_00003.html

Additionally, the Government of Japan has placed quarantine requirements on all people entering Japan who have visited any areas subject to strengthened quarantine. See the following website for a list of affected countries and regions, as well as additional information.

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Q&A

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/covid19_qa_kanrenkigyou_00003.html

Notice for new students enrolling in September 2022

Scheduled moving-in period

For students residing in countries or regions other than Japan
September 5 (Mon.) – September 15 (Thur.)

For students residing in Japan
September 13 (Tue.) – September 15 (Thur.)
For more details, please check on the Student Office homepage.

This information is for the new residents who will move in in March 2022. In regard to the recent outbreak of COVID-19 disease, the AP House 1,2 is now undertaking strict preventative and control measures in the dormitories. This is a video about the preventative measures that are being taken to combat COVID-19 in the dormitory for residents. Many students live in AP House, so everyone must follow these protocols to ensure that every resident remains safe and healthy. Accordingly, we'd like to ask all new residents to watch this video yourself before move-in.

Please refer to the Student Office website .

Please refer to the Student Office Homepage regarding the information about JASSO Scholarship (Grant-Type・Loan-Based).

https://en.apu.ac.jp/studentsupport/page/content0276.html/ (Available in Japanese only)

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University has decided to not supply the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on campus after considering the status of vaccination preparation in Beppu City and other local governments. If you wish to receive the booster, please check with your local government.

• Sixth report (June 19, 2021)
• Fifth report (April 1, 2021)
• Forth report (August 10, 2020)
• Third report (August 9, 2020)
• Second report (August 8, 2020)
• First report (July 31, 2020)

Statement Against the Discrimination of Persons Infected with COVID-19

Message for the local community on the APU student COVID-19 infections

Based on the current worldwide spread of the novel coronavirus, the World Health Organization (WHO) has raised its advisory to the highest level and the Japanese government has requested the closure of elementary, junior, and senior high schools nationwide. Accordingly, Ritsumeikan launched the "The Ritsumeikan Trust Crisis Response Task Force" on March 2nd.
The Establishment of The Ritsumeikan Trust Crisis Response Task Force in response to the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

In response, Ristumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) established its own "APU Countermeasures Task Force" on March 2nd. President Haruaki Deguchi is acting as Director-general of the task force, and will work with the community towards prompt and appropriate actions to prevent the spread of infection on campus and protect the health of students, faculty and staff, and the community in the local area.