business

Tokyo shopkeepers brace for another slowdown as coronavirus flares

24 Comments
By Junko Fujita and Rocky Swift

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© Thomson Reuters 2020.

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24 Comments
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Meanwhile please continue to use the crammed to breaking point trains!

Nobody on the trains has the virus nor does it spread there, right!

11 ( +11 / -0 )

Nobody on the trains has the virus nor does it spread there, right!

Exactly! It only spreads in restaurants, bars and gyms!

9 ( +11 / -2 )

People on trains are wearing masks which can't be worn in restaurants, bars and gyms.

Rubbish. Since my gym re-opened, everyone has had to wear masks. Yes, it's a bit uncomfortable, but I've managed so far. Haven't dropped dead from breathing in CO2.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

The go to campaign plans to give discount to eat ins as well, and vast majority of Japanese in surveys said they plan to take advantage of the campaign.

The government will be pushing for a message of travel, eat-ins, and events. With a significant proportion of population listening 100% to what the government says, I see business picking up regardless of coronavirus situation in August.

There is no way the government will ask the population to stop going out in middle of the go to campaign.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

People on trains are wearing masks which can't be worn in restaurants, bars and gyms.

Ahhh... the magic paper mask eh! That'll save our souls. Well, at least the ones that seal around the face and can stop the microbes from going through and haven't been worn for days on end...

3 ( +3 / -0 )

lol, trains vs ramen shops ... .first you will have to evade the train ride hazards to the ramen shop and then o all of the culturally correct and polite slurping droplets flying directly at you.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

People on trains cannot keep any type of distance between themselves as they can in restaurants, bars, trains, libraries, supermarkets etc.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

@n1k1,

..polite slurping droplets flying directly at you...

You have the deft poetic touch of a haiku master.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Nobody on the trains has the virus nor does it spread there, right!

Exactly! It only spreads in restaurants, bars and gyms!

Probably the biggest contributor to spread of infection is stupidity

2 ( +3 / -1 )

While the idiotic government and media keep pushing the fear factor, what else would we expect? If you can, get out there and support your local businesses, government fear campaign be damned.

I was somewhat heartened speaking with some friends last night about this. We hadn't talked about this whole affair before so I had no idea what they thought about it, but most of them are growing deeply suspicious about the motives of the government and media, and realising that they constantly manipulate context or underreport certain figures to make the crisis seem worse than it is. That's only a small sample of people, but it was half a dozen intelligent people from various backgrounds and walks of life. They know something's going on behind the curtain, so to speak, but can't quite put their finger on it.

Don't get me wrong - this virus IS a danger to some people, but not to most. If you're genuinely at risk, take the proper precautions. Look beyond what doctors are saying outside the WHO bubble.

Here's an interview with a doctor talking rationally about the risks and to whom they apply:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1z664H7EiA

1 ( +2 / -1 )

RecklessToday  12:16 pm JST

I bought a cheap cloth mask in March and it's still going strong!

Physical tatemae. I've got one too. Not particularly useful, but stops the busybodies' disapproving stares.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Hve you tried the mask from Uniqlo @zichi?

I haven't myself but could be useful

Or the ones from sports brands like adidas and underarmour

1 ( +1 / -0 )

'We'll teach you how to prevent infection and welcome customers with peace of mind'," said Iwamuro, known as the Condom Master for his books on sexual health.

Really would like to know what Master is teaching about social distancing.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

didou,

I don't think 'it is very safe.'

It might be safer than we imagine but I really don't think it is 'very safe.'

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Many people do fear the train as a virus spreading area, but it is in fact very safe. People do not know each other’s so most of the time, nobody talks. People wear a mask. A few are coughing but the mask, if they have one, retains most of the virus. And windows have been opened recently .

Fear is based on a normal way to take the train, with only a few wearing masks and coughing without thinking. Recently, many try to retain from coughing

For all these reasons, it is actually quite safe. Not like bars, restaurants, clubs, coffee shops and offices, etc

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Shop keepers are correct.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I myself find paper masks more comfortable than my cotton masks but I plan to try the sports mask of underarmour when I start jogging and basketball again

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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