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Gov't unveils zero-interest loan scheme for firms hit by virus

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It'd be nice to think that the Government would give me a 100 Year loan for a Billion yen... but then if they did that, a Billion yen would become worthless....

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Everybody knows that the JAPANESE zombie economy is doomed.

Number-1 indebted country of this planet since decades.

companies under a drip have to rely on loans to survive or prolong the zombie mode.

what about an other Stimulus...

I will probably anger some Japanese nationalists or weeaboos here.

It is inevitable that Japan may be absorbed into an American territory as the last resort to pay all debts in the far future. If Shinzo Abe's government dare to forgive all debts and restart whole economy by themselves, American corporate overlords (like Paul Singer, Dan Loeb, George Soros, etc) will lobby their government to utterly destroy Japanese government or assassinate the family of Abe and Keiretsu bosses on his side. With the grim scenario, it is reasonable for the first scenario becoming likely. The Covid-19 Outbreak is a cold shower to Shinzo Abe's desperate attempt of rebooting the Japanese zombie economy.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

being there on the weekend it was quieter but certainly not deserted.

the driving of fear doesn't help.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Beware the 'emergency' power grab.

does it have a time limit?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Seems to me the paying back bill should be coordinated and agreed upon by the country who started this in the first place.

@rgcivilian1 -- I can't tell if you are really serious with this statement?

The virus running amuck right now in Japan is largely of Japan's own doing. If you've followed closely, there's been one stupid mishap after another here in Japan. Many Japanese nationals returning from China have brought back the virus. We've let people "refuse" testing and quarantine. As usual, Japan was ridiculously slow to take action and now it's everywhere.

Plus, from the onset through Mar 4th Japan has ONLY done 8,111 tests (meanwhile So. Korea is doing 10K tests a day presently - hence their big numbers). Here in Japan, we don't know just how bad it really is because nobody has opened the testing floodgates as of yet. (and they probably won't).

So, as we continue to do dumb things here in Japan, it's really not like you can just go claiming reparations from the source with a straight face.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@bukuwamo

Places closing down, businesses gone, toilet paper sold out, cleaning products sold out and all this happens in less than 2 months.

Try: two weeks man. I know, seems like an eternity. This beast is just getting started.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

HOLD ON, WAIT A MINUTE STOP THE PRESS:

Why are our local small to mid size businesses to get a loan even "ZERO" interest on an VIRUS that did not start with Japan in the first place. Sure it will help keep some businesses afloat, i.e. TOURISM, but that is what brought so many of whom brought and introduced this COVID-19 to Japan in the first place. Seems to me the paying back bill should be coordinated and agreed upon by the country who started this in the first place. Seems like a RAW deal from the get go. It is clearly understood that this administration does not have the People's an their businesses best interest in mind, therefor time to clean up the GOJ future administration clear across during NOW ELECTIONS ongoing at the Local levels. Vote Vote Vote.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

I want to borrow the money - no interest and no collaterals. How long can I borrow?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

On top of all the incompetence, he's clamouring for emergency powers. This should worry anyone concerned about the mismanagement of this situation.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Places closing down, businesses gone, toilet paper sold out, cleaning products sold out and all this happens in less than 2 months. PM Abes speech that the government is here to help, do not worry. Now 2 stands of the virus are discovered and 1 mutates as it travels from 1 person to another. Oh, the schools closed have kids flocking to after school businesses that will try to take as many kids that they can, not a thing to worry about,all under control

.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

What about people getting laid off on helping them with their rent or mortgages?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

The government will also pay for programs to take care of children during the period of school closure.

The more you think of this, the more ridiculous it gets.

Metaphorically, Abe has banned cars, and then announced a seemingly unlimited budget to provide taxis to all those who need a car.

It’s a huge inconvenience to everyone affected that does nothing to the underlying problem.

Whatever budget has been allocated to this nonesense should have just been given to the SDF. The SDF should’ve been assigned to each prefecture with all the necessary equipment needed to be disinfecting places - train stations, schools, hospitals, shopping centers etc.

This should’ve been going on for the last 3 or 4 weeks.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

And what’s with the patio sets in the middle of the road? Do they belong to a restaurant? They have the official logo on them. Some kind of official Tokyo rest stop for tourists?

@BurningBush -- Seriously? How can you not know about the various districts that close off roads pretty much every weekend?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

@Yubaru

Not from the government but feed by newspaper and official news :

https://covid19japan.com/

There is also the map done by a student, that is somewhere in the news. The adress is something like coromap, I think.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Abe has said he hopes to use 270 billion yen ($2.6 billion) in a state reserve fund for the current fiscal year through March "as much as possible."

"As much as possible."

Meaning Abes government doesn't still grasp the severity of the situation.

He has pledged and he knows fully well there will be no assessment or questions asked whether the pledge was carried out and how.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

The government will also pay for programs to take care of children during the period of school closure.

I guess more of Abe’s friends will be making more money because a perfect place and program for children is their school with teachers who know them and can evaluate their health.

Abe likes to spend our tax money. In related news: a sales tax increase will be coming soon to a bankruupt business near you.

https://japantoday.com/category/quote-of-the-day/unless-strong-economic-growth-can-push-up-corporate-and-income-tax-revenues-further-consumption-tax-hikes-can't-be-ruled-out.-it-is-a-matter-of-timing.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

The government will also financially support parents who have been forced to take time off to look after their children due to Abe's abrupt decision to close all schools from last Monday to the start of the new school year in April.

No specifics how it is going to be implemented or the criteria to qualify or the budget allotted for it.

The 2.7billion dollars is too small to small. The 15.3 billion yen the government allotted at the beginning of february to alleviate mask shortage hasn't yielded any result, too bad nobody is asking why the mask shortage continues and getting worst or whether the government has really disbursed the funds.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

It looks like she doesn't need face mask there because no one is around, but hat and mask keeps face warm.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

How can Japan not follow Italy or China with regards to preventing free movement?

Part of the problem is geographic. About 70% of Japan’s population lives along the Pacific coast of Honshu in a corridor of almost completely unbroken urban/ suburban sprawl stretching from Tokyo to Hiroshima. So locking down a single city isn’t going to do any good since the cities have all grown into each other, and there isn’t a buffer of uninhabited space between them like in most countries, and locking down the entire Pacific coast isn’t going to do any good either given that is where almost everyone lives anyway.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

How can Japan not follow Italy or China with regards to preventing free movement?

Abe will get his emergency powers and there’ll be lockdowns everywhere.

It isn’t a case of if but when....

3 ( +4 / -1 )

The government will also pay for programs to take care of children during the period of school closure.

As opposed to just keeping the kids in school which would cost zero.

Another example of Abe’s complete ineptness.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

@Burning Bush

You obviously not in Tokyo? In recent years, as others mentioned, many streets closed to all but foot traffic. I love it. Yeah does look like taken at 630am, except it wasn't.

On a side note, did you see the measures being taken in Italy to contain the virus ? 16 million to be quarantined. You continue to downplay this, but it's getting more and more serious.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

The photo, Burning Bush, is the Main Street in Ginza, Chuo Dori. Lots of areas in Tokyo close their Main Street to traffic between noon and 6pm. People shop, listen to music, sit at tables in the street, mingle, etc. You should visit Tokyo and Japan in general and enjoy the cuisine, culture and history.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

The Japanese economy is feared to enter a recession 

Everybody knows that the JAPANESE zombie economy is doomed.

Number-1 indebted country of this planet since decades.

companies under a drip have to rely on loans to survive or prolong the zombie mode.

what about an other Stimulus...

6 ( +7 / -1 )

You know, be rather nice to see JT do some public service work here and place an update link to the numbers of people who have contracted the virus here and have tested positive!

Naha has a web site that shows the number of people tested, and those that were positive (3) and a bar graph showing what days!

Finding ACCURATE and RELIABLE information on this here in Japan, in languages other than Japanese is rather hard!

https://www.city.naha.okinawa.jp/nahahokenjyo/kansensyou/hassei/020121_ncov.html

0 ( +2 / -2 )

that photo enthuses me with positivity for the future!ha

probably what Tokyo will look like in July at this rate...

corona couldn't have come at a worse time for Japan and it's China reliant economy.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Burning BushToday  08:00 am JST

it's the 'pedestrian paradise' 歩行者天国 stretch in the Ginza.... closed to wheeled traffic on weekends, usually fairly crowded with people.....

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Lets buy governments bonds with our money (which we don't have), and then print more money to pay for it (with our money which we print, cos we also don't have). ;)

6 ( +6 / -0 )

"But, that's Japan. Love it or leave it."

That's exactly how it should be.

With EVERY country.

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

Great photo for drama. Pitiful in a way. Or two. But, that's Japan. Love it or leave it.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

So, his plans effectively take care of parents of elementary school kids, people confirmed to have the virus, and businesses. However, zero plans for any of the other people who are also placed into difficult situations during this time.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

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