JapanERA COVID-19 Thread | Shakai Kyori Senryaku

.Detective. · Mar 27, 2020

Per request, please use this as the main JapanERA Covid discussion thread.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Friday a lockdown of Tokyo would have a severe impact on the economy given its huge population and the key role it plays as the center of the country.

"For now, I don't think we need to call a state of emergency. But it's very important to respond appropriately since the Tokyo metropolitan area has a huge population," Abe told parliament.

Japan PM says lockdown of Tokyo would have severe impact on economy

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Friday a lockdown of Tokyo would have a severe impact on the economy given its huge population and the key role it plays as the center of the country.

www.reuters.com

Beer Monkey · Mar 27, 2020

Sayonara, Sobo.

El Bombastico · Mar 27, 2020

I see the US and Brazil are competing to see which of their leaders can fuck up the pandemic response more--.

A NEW CHALLENGER HAS APPEARED!

TheGreatDirector · Mar 27, 2020

What a dumbass. The long term economic effects of not shutting down far outweigh the short term ones of doing it.

Also, people's lives are at stake!

FakePlasticTree · Mar 27, 2020

Money is the root of all evil.

m_shortpants · Mar 27, 2020

Isn't Japan controlling it relatively well compared to other countries?

Rhaknar · Mar 27, 2020

It's legit baffling to me how they can look at China, Italy and Spain, and still go: "it'll be different here"

.Detective. · Mar 27, 2020

After seeing how long they delayed the Olympics postponement until other nations forced their hand, I think this is another piece of evidence that the situation in Japan is worse than what they are reporting.

Nobody can be this desperate to save face, at the cost of lives.

El Bombastico · Mar 27, 2020

Rhaknar said:
It's legit baffling to me how they can look at China, Italy and Spain, and still go: "it'll be different here"

Its nationalism in a nutshell: We're better than everyone else so their problems won't effect us because reasons...

Deleted member 64609 · Mar 27, 2020

Man look

I live in Japan (Osaka) and I can't stand how lightly people are taking it. Masks and TP are sold out but the trains are still cramped and working from home isn't even on the table for most people. Visibly sick people still going to work and managing to cough and sneeze on others to boot because even if you're completely ignoring basic etiquette, no one will say or do anything. Some schools and businesses are doing staggered commuting but it's completely optional. Everything is on the honor system and it's exacerbated by the reports of relatively low numbers of cases and deaths lulling people into a false sense of security.

Shit is skressful

TheMadTitan · Mar 27, 2020

It's like they don't recognize that they have an aging population that would be significantly fucked by an outbreak and their increasingly low birth rate not supported by immigration producing less and less young people to enter the economy to replace those aging out, thus resulting in less and less young people capable of participating in what remains of the economy once they have a significant outbreak would also have a severe impact on the economy.

Keyser S · Mar 27, 2020

m_shortpants said:
Isn't Japan controlling it relatively well compared to other countries?

No big early growth, but it is surging

SolVanderlyn · Mar 27, 2020

Labor said:
Man look

I live in Japan (Osaka) and I can't stand how lightly people are taking it. Masks and TP are sold out but the trains are still cramped and working from home isn't even on the table for most people. Visibly sick people still going to work and managing to cough and sneeze on others to boot because even if you're completely ignoring basic etiquette, no one will say or do anything. Some schools and businesses are doing staggered commuting but it's completely optional. Everything is on the honor system and it's exacerbated by the reports of relatively low numbers of cases and deaths lulling people into a false sense of security.

Shit is skressful

All of my friends working there share similar concerns. Sucks to hear. Stay safe.

Aurica · Mar 27, 2020

Abe fucking sucks. Fuck the LDP.

Shy · Mar 27, 2020

belairjeff · Mar 27, 2020

Labor said:
Man look

I live in Japan (Osaka) and I can't stand how lightly people are taking it. Masks and TP are sold out but the trains are still cramped and working from home isn't even on the table for most people. Visibly sick people still going to work and managing to cough and sneeze on others to boot because even if you're completely ignoring basic etiquette, no one will say or do anything. Some schools and businesses are doing staggered commuting but it's completely optional. Everything is on the honor system and it's exacerbated by the reports of relatively low numbers of cases and deaths lulling people into a false sense of security.

Shit is skressful

I also live in Osaka, and I can confirm it is business as usual. My work is continuing holding trainings that have more than 50 people in the same room. It's freighting considering the increase of cases in Tokyo and the neighboring prefecture, Hyogo.

Japan was under reporting their numbers because they didn't want to postpone the Olympic, but with the case increases the past couple days— the people of this country should be worried.

TorianElecdra · Mar 27, 2020

El Bombastico said:
I see the US and Brazil are competing to see which of their leaders can fuck up the pandemic response more--.

A NEW CHALLENGER HAS APPEARED!

I would say AMLO too but fortunately he only says dumb shit. He has given free-range to his Health Secretary and he has being doing things better lately. Still lagging the rest of South America though.

And yeah, if you needed more evidence that capitalists are going to capitalism.

.Detective. · Mar 27, 2020

Labor said:
Man look

I live in Japan (Osaka) and I can't stand how lightly people are taking it. Masks and TP are sold out but the trains are still cramped and working from home isn't even on the table for most people. Visibly sick people still going to work and managing to cough and sneeze on others to boot because even if you're completely ignoring basic etiquette, no one will say or do anything. Some schools and businesses are doing staggered commuting but it's completely optional. Everything is on the honor system and it's exacerbated by the reports of relatively low numbers of cases and deaths lulling people into a false sense of security.

Shit is skressful

Is there any locale mayors or other national Diet members trying to force change, or voice the concerns of the people?

Wishing you the best. Be safe

Kino · Mar 27, 2020

Labor said:
Man look

I live in Japan (Osaka) and I can't stand how lightly people are taking it. Masks and TP are sold out but the trains are still cramped and working from home isn't even on the table for most people. Visibly sick people still going to work and managing to cough and sneeze on others to boot because even if you're completely ignoring basic etiquette, no one will say or do anything. Some schools and businesses are doing staggered commuting but it's completely optional. Everything is on the honor system and it's exacerbated by the reports of relatively low numbers of cases and deaths lulling people into a false sense of security.

Shit is skressful

This sounds like a bubble waiting to burst.

FF Seraphim · Mar 27, 2020

Shy said:

This.
I live in Tokyo, I do not trust the numbers on how many are sick. But Abe cares more about money than people.

Blablurn · Mar 27, 2020

Another government that failed this pandemic.

Theodran · Mar 27, 2020

The whole "self-restraint" approach they are going for right now won't work. People are still going to go outside, and more people will get sick.

The "self-restraint" warnings are just a prelude to what will come. Tokyo will go into lockdown in about a week. Osaka will follow, probably a week later.

Glasfrut · Mar 27, 2020

.Detective. said:
Nobody can be this desperate to save face, at the cost of lives.

I think it's that and they just legitimately do not know.

I was talking to someone who works in one of the city/ward offices and she was talking about the number of calls she's getting (mostly from older people) requesting for tests. She has to turn down a lot of them (due to the criteria they have in place). The argument her office seems to be going with at the moment is - we do not want to administer a false negative, so it's better to wait until we have more reliable testing measures available.

We would be getting very different reporting if they were testing more aggresively. Let's also not ignore the fact that the 3 day weekend from the first day of Spring brought everyoe and their families outside...

Theodran said:
Tokyo will go into lockdown in about a week. Osaka will follow, probably a week later.

I went into the supermarket this morning and all the pasta was gone. Ramen dwindling. Rice is flying off the shelves as well. I think a number of people are starting to expect that.

Itsuki · Mar 27, 2020

I live in Tokyo. Despide the "lockdown" we are having this weekend, people will probably go out. Most stores will be open from 10 am till 6 pm too.
I don't trust the numbers because of cases I have read of people with symptoms not getting tested, not getting accepted in hospitals because of the honor code (hospital doesn't want to because if you die, it will damage their image) or going out as if nothing happens. And cases increased just after the Olympics were postponed lol
Abe just cares about the economy above people

Deleted member 21709 · Mar 27, 2020

No shit. You have to lockdown anyway.

Fugu · Mar 27, 2020

m_shortpants said:
Isn't Japan controlling it relatively well compared to other countries?

No, they've been sticking their fingers in their ears.

I read an article in a major Japanese newspaper the other day about how the coronavirus isn't catching on there because Japanese people bow as a greeting instead of shaking hands. They posited that other countries could stem the pandemic by incorporating the bow.

Shy · Mar 27, 2020

FF Seraphim said:
This.
I live in Tokyo, I do not trust the numbers on how many are sick. But Abe cares more about money than people.

Itsuki said:
I live in Tokyo. Despide the "lockdown" we are having this weekend, people will probably go out. Most stores will be open from 10 am till 6 pm too.
I don't trust the numbers because of cases I have read of people with symptoms not getting tested, not getting accepted in hospitals because of the honor code (hospital doesn't want to because if you die, it will damage their image) or going out as if nothing happens. And cases increased just after the Olympics were postponed lol
Abe just cares about the economy above people

Labor said:
Man look

I live in Japan (Osaka) and I can't stand how lightly people are taking it. Masks and TP are sold out but the trains are still cramped and working from home isn't even on the table for most people. Visibly sick people still going to work and managing to cough and sneeze on others to boot because even if you're completely ignoring basic etiquette, no one will say or do anything. Some schools and businesses are doing staggered commuting but it's completely optional. Everything is on the honor system and it's exacerbated by the reports of relatively low numbers of cases and deaths lulling people into a false sense of security.

Shit is skressful

Please stay safe. Era chums. 💗

Triggerhappytel · Mar 27, 2020

Does he think a couple of million deaths will not have a severe impact on the economy?!

ZeroDS · Mar 27, 2020

I guess me and my wife are lucky. She's on complete work from home next week and I'm only going in on the occasional day because the job demands it.

A lot of people talking about this "honour" system though lol

darkwing · Mar 27, 2020

damn, at least do some mitigation like work from home if possible etc

Piichan · Mar 27, 2020

I work in Tokyo. My company's been doing WFH (not 100% tho) for about a month now. I'm happy we've been taking it relatively seriously compared to other companies in Tokyo, but I'm still worried because if not EVERYONE is doing it, it isn't gonna help much.

Also, I'm starting to run out of TP and I don't wanna worry about how I'm gonna wipe my ass.

手加減 TG · Mar 27, 2020

We need to swallow this bitter lockdown pill now. Lives are at stake.

Forkball · Mar 27, 2020

Tokyo is going into a "soft" lockdown this weekend with the mayor asking people not to go out and many stores closing. Supermarkets are much busier than normal. No one wants an actual lockdown so I believe a lot of people will adhere to staying in this weekend, but I'm sure many won't. I think a full lockdown next week would be too sudden, but I can see it happening within two weeks.

If they were going to do a lockdown they should've done it earlier this month. But no, the fucking Olympics was much more important than adhering to any sort of common sense.

Xando · Mar 27, 2020

m_shortpants said:
Isn't Japan controlling it relatively well compared to other countries?

Cases all of a sudden started surging the day after the olympics got cancelled. What a amazing coincidence.

m_shortpants · Mar 27, 2020

Keyser S said:
No big early growth, but it is surging

Fugu said:
No, they've been sticking their fingers in their ears.

I read an article in a major Japanese newspaper the other day about how the coronavirus isn't catching on there because Japanese people bow as a greeting instead of shaking hands. They posited that other countries could stem the pandemic by incorporating the bow.

Xando said:
Cases all of a sudden started surging the day after the olympics got cancelled. What a amazing coincidence.

Ha, of course. Yeah they probably weren't testing at all.

This is a bad move. I understand that politicians don't want to be seen as the reason why the economy floundered, but surely they can realize how much worse it would get when everyone gets sick? Especially with Japan's aging population? Where smoking is prevalent?

wandering · Mar 27, 2020

Is it too much to hope that this is what finally unseats the LDP?

Mac_Lane · Mar 27, 2020

Japan's population being generally quite old, this could turn out pretty badly in the end. What incompetent leadership from Abe... Lives are at stake here.

N7Commander01 · Mar 27, 2020

Our company has told everyone to go into lockdown anyway.
Getting scary here in Tokyo

BAW · Mar 27, 2020

NO SHIT ~~SHERLOCK~~ ABE

Antiwhippy · Mar 27, 2020

Hopefully this crisis is where neoliberalism died

FF Seraphim · Mar 27, 2020

Forkball said:
Tokyo is going into a "soft" lockdown this weekend with the mayor asking people not to go out and many stores closing. Supermarkets are much busier than normal. No one wants an actual lockdown so I believe a lot of people will adhere to staying in this weekend, but I'm sure many won't. I think a full lockdown next week would be too sudden, but I can see it happening within two weeks.

If they were going to do a lockdown they should've done it earlier this month. But no, the fucking Olympics was much more important than adhering to any sort of common sense.

Not many are listening to the Soft Lockdown though. You have stores that are doing this:

People need to take it more seriously.

Refrain · Mar 27, 2020

belairjeff said:
I also live in Osaka, and I can confirm it is business as usual. My work is continuing holding trainings that have more than 50 people in the same room. It's freighting considering the increase of cases in Tokyo and the neighboring prefecture, Hyogo.

Japan was under reporting their numbers because they didn't want to postpone the Olympic, but with the case increases the past couple days— the people of this country should be worried.

Osaka? I just moved to Tokyo. My company is holding training with more ethan 100 people in the same room starting next week. Me included.

Typhonsentra · Mar 27, 2020

m_shortpants said:
Isn't Japan controlling it relatively well compared to other countries?

The main key to their success until now was keeping clusters out of the Tokyo metro. Now that they have a few hundred cases there is can spread more rapidly which is obviously scary given how quickly this spread in NYC and how NYC is a fraction of the size.

ValKiryuSonicEX · Mar 27, 2020

FF Seraphim said:
Not many are listening to the Soft Lockdown though. You have stores that are doing this:

People need to take it more seriously.

…wow, seriously? this just screams to me "play stupid games, win stupid prizes"

Gibson · Mar 27, 2020

Can we make this the Japan corona thread?

I'm in Tokyo too.

My company had closed all of March (WFH not possible) but opened again on Tuesday. I was very reluctant to go back because I meet several clients face to face every day. We've closed again this weekend due to the soft lockdown.

The trains have also been absolutely rammed all week, even strangely busy during non rush hours (I take the Yamanote line and Chuo line). The soft lockdown is a joke as long as the trains are still running.

I'm not really happy with the government response, completely passive and reactive as always.

Deleted member 5028 · Mar 27, 2020

Japan

Bigjig · Mar 27, 2020

Feels pretty touch and go at the moment here in Japan. I feel we might get a massive spike in cases a few days from now following the gatherings on the previous three day weekend.

On the one hand, I don't really buy into the commonly-held Era narrative that there are secretly hundreds of thousands of cases out there, yet no hospitals or morgues are being overrun. On the other, it is true that Japan isn't testing enough. I give it a 50/50 chance that at least Tokyo is in full lockdown by the end of next week.

FF Seraphim · Mar 27, 2020

Gibson said:
Can we make this the Japan corona thread?

I'm in Tokyo too.

My company had closed all of March (WFH not possible) but opened again on Tuesday. I was very reluctant to go back because I meet several clients face to face every day. We've closed again this weekend due to the soft lockdown.

The trains have also been absolutely rammed all week, even strangely busy during non rush hours (I take the Yamanote line and Chuo line). The soft lockdown is a joke as long as the trains are still running.

I am primary on the Tozai and its normal traffic like usually. Which isn't good because that is one of the worse metro lines in Tokyo. The only silverlining is that people are wearing masks. Talking about Masks, anyone able to find some? I cannot find any.

Bigjig · Mar 27, 2020

FF Seraphim said:
I am primary on the Tozai and its normal traffic like usually. Which isn't good because that is one of the worse metro lines in Tokyo. The only silverlining is that people are wearing masks. Talking about Masks, anyone able to find some? I cannot find any.

I lucked out and bought a box late January in anticipation of hay fever season. Seems like they are increasing production which should start having an effect early April.

Refrain · Mar 27, 2020

Gibson said:
Can we make this the Japan corona thread?

I'm in Tokyo too.

My company had closed all of March (WFH not possible) but opened again on Tuesday. I was very reluctant to go back because I meet several clients face to face every day. We've closed again this weekend due to the soft lockdown.

The trains have also been absolutely rammed all week, even strangely busy during non rush hours (I take the Yamanote line and Chuo line). The soft lockdown is a joke as long as the trains are still running.

I'm not really happy with the government response, completely passive and reactive as always.

I'd love to have a Japan corona thread too. Shit is getting wild here.

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