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Japan starts year's 1st day of work amid Omicron fears

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I'm waiting for my officemates' symptoms to appear and test positive before I go to the office.

-6 ( +8 / -14 )

Japanese from all walks of life commented, but not one of them mentioned "fear" of Omicron.....

1 ( +12 / -11 )

Is that all these people think about is work?

Ha! What else do they do if they don’t work?

-5 ( +8 / -13 )

Given the number of people out and about, up close to each other, they don't seem all that fearful. The mass media seem hellbent on propagating fear, but it seems that they're becoming less successful by the day. Serves them right.

I think the Japanese would rather get back to fearing things they're familiar with, like upsetting the harmony, leaving work on time, and saying what they really think.

-16 ( +7 / -23 )

I’ve had a few close shaves with errant drivers this New Year but not much fear of Omicron-do journalists not cross roads in order to travel to work?

-8 ( +5 / -13 )

Akiko Yamashita, 38, said she resumed her 90-minute commute to and from the office as instructed by the company after working from home for some time during the pandemic. "I loved spending time for my new hobbies. I really wanted this new lifestyle to take root," she said.

a 90 minute commute? It sucks that you can't find a decent office job outside of central Tokyo otherwise I'd tell her to look for another job.

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

Sad and depressing. Both the picture and the attitude of those interviewed.

-4 ( +7 / -11 )

Very inspiring.

That's so Japan!

-6 ( +7 / -13 )

Fears of omicron? Who fears that thing? I just came back to the mainland from Okinawa a few days ago and my plane was full, next to my boarding gate there was a huge JAL A350 bound for Haneda, also full. Nobody cares anymore.

-2 ( +8 / -10 )

@P. Smith

Yep, Japanese people and asian in general are industrious and hard-working.

-9 ( +6 / -15 )

Nothing to fear. We all go to work.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Iron LadToday  06:16 pm JST

Very inspiring.

That's so Japan!

Why did you repeatedly say "be careful everyone" when corona rises? Is this the way to be careful?

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

@Ninja

Corona doesn't take away from the inspiring scene of people praying before Buddha.

That's the strength of Japan.

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

@P. Smith

China no. 1.

Japan no. 3.

India no. 6.

Korea, and then ASEAN follows suit.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

@P. Smith

China no. 1.

Japan no. 3.

India no. 6.

Korea, and then ASEAN follows suit.

Yeah, no. Japanese are notorious for staying at the office for long times, even though they are doing nothing.

That’s not hardworking. That’s wasting time.

10 ( +19 / -9 )

@justasking

I will just let the results speak for themselves.

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

Omicron's symptoms are less severe compared to delta's. Lets hope that we gradually get back to a normal life.

6 ( +11 / -5 )

Understood the first 11 paragraphs of gov’t & business concerns with Omicron but what’s with this extra ‘bit of pork’ tied into the tail of the topic ? - It’s not like TEPCO’s annual speech is going to change what happened, what hasn’t happened (for the displaced) in 10 years nor what will happen next year.:

- “At the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant crippled by the 2011 quake-tsunami disaster in northeastern Japan, Tomoaki Kobayakawa, president of the operator Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc., told about 150 employees, "What is most important is fulfilling our responsibility for Fukushima." "We need to regain our trust in this area in order to achieve both the decommissioning of the plant and the reconstruction of the region," he said. The Japanese government has decided to begin releasing treated radioactive water from the Fukushima plant into the sea around the spring of 2023 and TEPCO Chairman Yoshimitsu Kobayashi instructed officials online to prepare for dialogue with concerned parties. The planned water release has caused concern among local fishing communities as well as in neighboring countries China and South Korea.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Fears of omicron? Who fears that thing? I just came back to the mainland from Okinawa a few days ago and my plane was full, next to my boarding gate there was a huge JAL A350 bound for Haneda, also full. Nobody cares anymore.

Well said. But unfortunately we do have some “data hesitant “ types that seem afraid of their own shadows. And they’ll never really overcome their self induced delusions.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

@P. Smith

What is the economy without the workers?

And China has surpassed USA this year, becoming the richest country in the world.

-7 ( +4 / -11 )

By the looks of that picture, there doesn't seem to be much fear or concern about Omicron. They're only complaining now because their companies are forcing them back into the office.

Also, a 90min commute? Poor lady.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

@iron lad

@Ninja

Corona doesn't take away from the inspiring scene of people praying before Buddha.

That's the strength of Japan.

you are funny. Your facts are only for justify the decisions of the government.

Even when numbers are less than 30 in Tokyo you said "be careful everyone"

you are just creating unwanted fear.

when it comes to the people gathering you are saying its inspiring. Wow!!!

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

Perhaps they’re not ‘allowed’ to do otherwise @Reckless 5:04pm and one of the pitfalls of some J employees sharing a little too much of their home-lives with coworkers on social media? : “Yamashita-san’s new hobby has really taken flight and she’s got a new lease on life. It might even be become a new ‘business’ for her!” - “*Cut her remote access and get her back in the office Jan 4th!”. *

From the article:

Akiko Yamashita, resumed her :90 commute to/from the office as instructed by the company after working from home for some time. "I loved spending time for my new hobbies. I really wanted this new lifestyle to take root,

@Reckless 5:04pm: “Is that all these people think about is work?”

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

@Ninja

Those aren't mutually exclusive.

You can tell people to be careful, and still be in awe of such an inspiring sight.

Unless you are scared of the Buddha, of course!

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

@Iron Lad,

According to Buddhism, only the Lord Buddha is worshiped. Worshiping God is another topic. If you talk about corona increase with unnecessary fear, isn't the accumulation of people like this a reason for corona increase?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

@Ninja

No, there are various Buddha, Bodhi and other deities to be worshiped, and worship in the East isn't in the West.

And yes, one can tell people to be fearful of corona, and yet still be in awe of inspiring sight, regardless of corona.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Godbless the sacred land of Japan and the Japanese people may god give you a year full of life and love after recent covid strife.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

@zichi

You can study for aeon, yet will never reach Nivarna.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Is the headline with the word "fear" a fact, an opinion or just news hype?

0 ( +3 / -3 )

amid Omicron fears

really?

I couldn’t tell with all the “cool” guys with chin warmers or no mask at all walking around today.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

@P. Smith

China no. 1.

Japan no. 3.

India no. 6.

Korea, and then ASEAN follows suit.

I find your belief system fascinating, please tell me more. It seems to be an amazing farrago.

But Korea is best IMHO.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

Lol...zero 'fear' in that photo. If you live in Tokyo, you are going to get a dose of Omicron.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Omicron fears?

Has there been a sudden departure from Tokyo where social distancing might occur in your dream?

Thousands of people at Kanda shrine don’t seem to be fearful, do they?

I wouldn’t bother riding trains these days not because of Omicron fears but I don’t care much for crowds and being stared at…less a fear more a slight phobia.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

Quite many are asymptomatic, pretty "workable" but should stay away from workplaces for days without substitutes. Worse in Japan, up until recently all those who test omcron positive shall be "hospitalized" regardless of symptom levels. This is how economy and society end up being paralyzed. When will we regain our perspective?

Earlier we had never panicked common flu same as toxic and infectious as omicron. We didn't have easy testing methods available, must have missed many untested cases, but that was fine. Vaccines weren't always reliable for seasonal flu, but that was fine. We all are mortal while most corona patients fulfill their lives at the average mortality age or longer (BTW, common cold and Sars have killed many young children despite vaccination and medication. That was..not really fine, but we never demanded lockdowns or border shutdown). When will we regain our common sense and balanced view?

Maybe from now on we should be more fearful of common cold, no? I feel like exploring it, and that would be more meaningful and practical than emotional swing, driven by ups/downs of daily numbers.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

The economy will crater in March, when Covid subsidies run out in America

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Total lock down.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Fear of a runny nose???

what has the world come to??

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

You would never guess it’s the first day of work. Last night many people drunk in the bars and karaoke parlors

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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