With the Coronavirus pandemic having a firm grip all over the globe, reducing personal interactions have become increasingly important with “social distancing” being the new key term.
Being under lockdown seems the new normal with some countries even taking legal measures against people leaving their homes unnecessarily. So the foreign community in Japan has become more and more puzzled over the measurements taken by the Japanese government. With their laissez-fair approach putting many of us on edge…
I guess, as most of us communicate with our family and friends overseas it is hard to compute that: A. so little is being done here in Japan and B. the epidemic seems to be under control. But voices are getting louder that the Tokyo Olympic Games are to blame for it. With the financial implications for both the Japanese government and the IOC, we wonder whether this is clouding their judgment.
So why has there been no spike in cases yet?
A growing number of us ask ourselves exactly this question these days. Well, many suspect the under testing to be a strategic effort to keep numbers low, because if not the risk of losing the Olympic Games could be a consequence.
And yes, there is a lot at stake with an enormous investment and contracts to be lost, but also cultural aspects do play an important role. With the enormous promise of showcasing today’s innovative and modern japan, not delivering on this promise would ultimately be seen as a failure. And in a culture were “losing face” is a huge issue, this is one thing the Japanese would really like to avoid. The question is at what cost?
What should we do and what does reality look like in Tokyo?
The WHO’s recommendation is still the same: Test test test!
So Japan, deliberately not following this advice seems weird. And the fact that there are no strict measures on self-isolation is sending a message that things are still ok. And with many people in Japan looking for guidance from the government, it seems a dangerous game.
“We have a simple message for all countries:
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 16, 2020
test
test
test.
Test every suspected #COVID19 case.
If they test positive, isolate them & find out who they have been in close contact with up to 2 days before they developed symptoms & test those people too”-@DrTedros #coronavirus
But many of us, mainly foreigners who follow international coverage have decided to self-isolate. And rightly so are avoiding crowded spaces as well as shun restaurants and bars. Nevertheless, on the streets, reality looks very different.
For example, taking a walk in Shinjuku’s entertainment district, one does not get the feeling anything has changed. With the streets and bars full of people. It is a strange feeling. And Cheery Blossom season now being in full swing, people seem even more careless.
Although the Meguro River Cherry Blossom Festival was officially canceled this year due to COVID-19, thousands of people have visited over this long weekend… ????????#meguro #CherryBlossoms #coronavirus #SocialDistancingNow #tokyo #japan #さくら pic.twitter.com/ykCvE27mKL
— obsessedwithjapan (@obsessedwithjap) March 22, 2020
Despite the cancellation of the big cherry blossom festivals in Tokyo, people flocked in their thousands to Meguro River this weekend. And yes, it was to be expected to some extent.
But entirely unexpected was the amount of people without masks, as well as many street vendors selling flutes of strawberry champagne and other treats. A somewhat alternate reality to what is happening to the rest of the world.
Last words…
It seems as if, japan has managed to magically dodge this Global crisis, or more realistically slowed down its course. Maybe due to its naturally high hygiene standards, the nature of its low touch culture and generally healthy population.
But as we move forward, with people becoming more and more negligent, we just may be dragging it out longer or, and I hope not, be hit by it soon…
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