Japan A shop in the town of Hakone has been sharply criticized for its "banning Chinese" sign for fear of spreading Wuhan pneumonia.

"Chinese people are not allowed to enter the store. I do not want to spread the virus," the shop owner, who has not been identified, hung a warning sign right in front of the door. The man told the Asahi newspaper that he used a translation app to write a sign, saying "he just wants to protect himself from viruses".

Shin Hae-bong, a law professor at Aoyama Gakuen University, said the shop owner did not violate the law because there is no law in Japan that specifically specifies discrimination.

A spokesman for the Hakone Tourism Information Center said it had received the notice and regretted the content of the sign.

"There are many Chinese tourists in Hakone and this is a famous place for them to visit because it is not far from Tokyo. We have received news of the ban sign. It's just a small shop, but we is still very sorry and please apologize to Chinese visitors, "the spokesperson said, adding that no complaints from Chinese tourists have been received.

The Japanese health authority has only confirmed one positive case of the pneumonia virus but is still taking preventive measures in the context of an increasing rate of disease spread. China has confirmed 9 deaths and 440 virus infections.

The Japanese Ministry of Health instructs immigration and quarantine officials at airports and seaports to be alert to people showing signs of infection. Many warning signs in Japanese, Chinese and English are also hanging in the area, calling for visitors to contact the health authorities if symptoms of the disease.