“In Japan, do you think if the Prime Minister ‘asks’, that they will refuse? This is Japan.”
I guess people don’t understand Japanese culture, or the word ‘ask’ doesn’t properly translate. Either way, no school for at least a month there, for 12 million people.
An article from the Japan Times today at:
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/03/01/national/japan-coronavirus-outbreak/#.Xlv9Zy2ZP_C
"Can the government force public and private schools to be closed?
No. Abe requested that all elementary, junior high and high schools close starting Monday to limit the potential spread of the pneumonia-causing virus among children, but some prefectures and municipalities have said they will either not comply or will delay closure by a few days.
Those include Ehime Prefecture and the cities of Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture and Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture.
The authority for closing public school ultimately rests with each municipality’s education board, education ministry official Yukiko Shimooka said. For private schools, the final say rests with the owner, she said.