Tanaka returns to Japan for safety

New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka has returned to Japan the Nikkan Sports reported Thursday, because of the spread of the coronavirus but also out of concern for his personal safety.

“As has been reported, I returned to Japan at the end of March,” Tanaka said. “I have no symptoms now, but even so I could be infected by someone without knowing it. And my family could, too.”

According to an FBI report obtained by ABC News, the agency expects a surge of anti-Asian hate crime in the United States.

“The FBI assesses hate crime incidents against Asian Americans likely will surge across the United States, due to the spread of coronavirus disease … endangering Asian American communities,” the report said according to ABC.

According to NHK, a center opened by a civil rights group in America on March 19, recorded 670 instances of harassment of Asian Americans in its first week.

Tanaka said he is going through a two-week self-quarantine period as instructed by the Japanese government.

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