No, this is not true. There was a brief period from October-December where they began to issue work and student visas again, and I was let in to the country on a work visa during this time.

However, on December 28, due to rising case numbers, Japan declared another national state of emergency and stopped issuing new visas. My partner has a job offer in Japan, but is currently unable to join me / start work due to the stoppage of new visas.