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Gov't to expand state of emergency to cover Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo

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This "state of emergency" is meaningless! Take a look at all the municipalities that held their "Coming of Age" ceremonies this past weekend. Just goes to show that the government only thinks that nightlife activities are to blame for the spread of the virus!

Last year, everyone was patting themeselves on the back (government types that is) for the low numbers being reported, as "proof" that the Japanese were better than other countries at controlling the spread.

As I have said, in all my years here, Japanese are no different, and no better than people throughout the world, the media and government just likes to keep saying they are!

22 ( +26 / -4 )

I still have no idea what this State of Emergency would actually do here in Osaka.

Eateries and bars will close earlier than they already do? The government can urge people to go home earlier?

This is no different to the current situation!

21 ( +26 / -5 )

Checked out my local sushi bar last night and there was not a seat in the house!

Japanese people are not staying home, for sure!

However, my boss will go along with the government and I will be idle for a month.

17 ( +21 / -4 )

Gaijinland quote: “I stopped wearing a mask because it’s so uncomfortable and apparently doesn’t do anything to protect against covid.”

This is wrong on so many levels that I do not know where to start. Where do you get your ‘scientific’ information from?

14 ( +19 / -5 )

@Gaijinland

No mask at a crowded place?

That is next level disrespectful.

Science proved many times over the last year that the two best ways of avoiding transmission is proper social distance and wearing masks (covering mouth and nose at all times).

I hate wearing mask too, it is unnatural for me, however I have been with one on all times since back in February when the first cases appeared.

Try cooperating, specially considering you are being welcomed by another country where, while most are not familiar social distancing, at least everyone wears masks.

12 ( +16 / -4 )

@Gaijinjland

I stopped wearing a mask because it’s so uncomfortable and apparently doesn’t do anything to protect against covid.

This is the greatest Nonsens I ever heard.

Did you sleep during the last year?

11 ( +15 / -4 )

Checked out my local sushi bar last night and there was not a seat in the house!

I saw the same. Sushi bars must be "safe" because the food is now all made-to-order and covered with those color coded clear ufo things.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

I guess the decision has been made. Just waiting on the announcement.

?

5 ( +7 / -2 )

It’s just a gesture. During the other “state of emergency” bars and izakayas were full until the morning, I know because I went almost every week. It’s just a show

5 ( +14 / -9 )

So, the state of emergency gives local governments the power to urge businesses to close early. Yeah, that’ll work.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

@Yubaru

“well said mate.

Last year, everyone was patting themeselves on the back (government types that is) for the low numbers being reported, as "proof" that the Japanese were better than other countries at controlling the spread.

As I have said, in all my years here, Japanese are no different, and no better than people throughout the world, the media and government just likes to keep saying they are!”

Here I’m my circles I has average Taro & Hitomi congratulating themselves for being “cleaner” taking shoes off etc. I nearly blew a fuse.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

AGToday  10:37 am JST

Try cooperating, specially considering you are being welcomed by another country

I was right with you until that little nugget popped out...

When will people realise that the SoE has nothing to do with us or our safety- It's the prefectural coffers that are of paramount importance. Watch the other prefectures lining up to request their own SoE in the coming weeks.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Well....where I ate on Sunday night, which only opened 5-8, was full. Happy to support them - they have been Covid compliant all along. Even with help from the Government they will struggle with last orders at 7pm for Alcohol.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

The State of Emergency is a joke. I’m on the Mita line right now and it’s crowded. I stopped wearing a mask because it’s so uncomfortable and apparently doesn’t do anything to protect against covid. If the government wants to curb the pandemic then legally make all office workers work from home. Period.

You are a part of the problem and yet you have a stomach to complain, the gov't is at least doing something to lessen the spread of virus from someone like you. Japanese' and Foreigners alike, we are all breathing the same air. No Spreaders, no SoE !

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Does an SOE mean that businesses that show lower than usual sales can now get paid by the government for lost income? Is that why prefectures want an official SEO instead of the usual?

2 ( +5 / -3 )

What’s with all of the personal attracts here? I am a “gaijin” living here. 10 years and counting. While I completely agree with wearing a mask, there are many things business owners, the govt, and the general population should be doing a much better job at. Start by not being so selfish rather it be financial or lack of concern about other’s health. Sorry but if a bar or restaurant can’t make it a few months with the insane profits they’ve been making over the years , shame on them. Sure it sucks to be closed but it’s better than being dead. Karaoke bars ? Hostess bars ? Shut them down . Give them a minimum amount of help. Being from California, where people are just genuinely anti anything common sense , well in my 10 years here, every year I see more people with the flu than I ever seen in my lifetime. Mask , public gargling, lack of proper hygiene, luckily this year with Covid , the general population is doing a slightly better job . If the govt wants Covid contained, they need to ramp up testing , contact tracing, and treatment ASAP . Until then, nothing changes.

Agree with everything you said Steve! Agree that restaurants and bars in Japan have been making off with insane profits for decades and yet all of a sudden they are unable to cope? Yeah right, shame on them.

Karaoke bars and hostess clubs are immoral from the beginning so I agree that they should be shut down and be forced to disband permanently.

And yeah, Japan has some of the worst hygiene in the world, agree with you on that one too!

2 ( +9 / -7 )

GaijinjlandToday 08:28 am JST

The State of Emergency is a joke. I’m on the Mita line right now and it’s crowded. I stopped wearing a mask because it’s so uncomfortable and apparently doesn’t do anything to protect against covid. If the government wants to curb the pandemic then legally make all office workers work from home. Period.

Thanks for letting us know what train you ride so we can keep away and wear our masks to help beat this Covid. Myself and all the gaijin family and friends I have here follow the rules and suggestions.

Got back from a week in Kyoto on Sunday. Not sure why they need the emergency declaration. A good majority of the evening restaurants are closed or close early anyway. Trains and buses empty as well as tourist areas.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Toasted HereticToday  03:25 pm JST

Agree that restaurants and bars in Japan have been making off with insane profits for decades and yet all of a sudden they are unable to cope? Yeah right, shame on them.

Remember that there are many small, independent, family run bars and restaurants that just about scrape by, to make a living.

These are the establishments that need help.

I hardly ever agree with you, but this is one of those times. Lots of these small places run on very thin margins, and it wouldn't take much loss of business for them to go under. Scaring people off with an SoE and restricting their operating times further is going to drive many out of business, government subsidies or otherwise.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

The words that spring to my mind in reference to the Japanese government handling of the C19 virus is "poorly handled, fudged, lacklustre and appalling. people are still going to get infected and carry on dying, if they dont act quickly, and sharply

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Marcelito

” I,d just add that its quite an enigma though since the country has both a "superiority " and "inferiority" complex at the same time.”

like with NPD the superiority mask is projected to protect again inferiority.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Oh, man... this changes everything! Kids aren't going to be able to go to school, people aren't going to be able to commute to work and back, people aren't going to be able to go outside, go shopping, hang out with friends in parks, gather together at restaurants, play pachinko... oh wait. You can still do all that. Well, I guess the SOE is going to... ummm...

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

YubaruToday 02:00 pm JST

Believe me, if I saw you on a train, with no mask, I would tell you about it, and make sure everyone around you, looks at you with disgust for your "gaijin" ignorance and arrogance!

That would be quite a rude thing to do.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Japan, as usual trying to save face by putting out some international news that they are doing something. Meanwhile in reality all they do is have some more meetings, start urging, and ignore every situation where rules get broken and lines get crossed.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Believe me, if I saw you on a train, with no mask, I would tell you about it, and make sure everyone around you, looks at you with disgust for your "gaijin" ignorance and arrogance!

Yay, you!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Lucky to be in a company that allows everyone to work from home since March 2020. Stay healthy

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

One of the largest impacts effecting the spread of the virus is/was the GoToTravel.

It was awesome while it lasted! Can't wait for it to start up again!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

The State of Emergency is a joke. I’m on the Mita line right now and it’s crowded. I stopped wearing a mask because it’s so uncomfortable and apparently doesn’t do anything to protect against covid. If the government wants to curb the pandemic then legally make all office workers work from home. Period.

Give it time! Soon you will be one of the walking infected, and if you are really lucky, maybe find a bed in a hospital somewhere, and if the gods are smiling on you, a ventilator is available to keep you alive, all on your own, because no one will be allowed to see you.

Then come back here and tell us all how it went, if you manage to live that is! Believe me, if I saw you on a train, with no mask, I would tell you about it, and make sure everyone around you, looks at you with disgust for your "gaijin" ignorance and arrogance!

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

What’s with all of the personal attracts here? I am a “gaijin” living here. 10 years and counting. While I completely agree with wearing a mask, there are many things business owners, the govt, and the general population should be doing a much better job at. Start by not being so selfish rather it be financial or lack of concern about other’s health. Sorry but if a bar or restaurant can’t make it a few months with the insane profits they’ve been making over the years , shame on them. Sure it sucks to be closed but it’s better than being dead. Karaoke bars ? Hostess bars ? Shut them down . Give them a minimum amount of help. Being from California, where people are just genuinely anti anything common sense , well in my 10 years here, every year I see more people with the flu than I ever seen in my lifetime. Mask , public gargling, lack of proper hygiene, luckily this year with Covid , the general population is doing a slightly better job . If the govt wants Covid contained, they need to ramp up testing , contact tracing, and treatment ASAP . Until then, nothing changes.

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

Agree that restaurants and bars in Japan have been making off with insane profits for decades and yet all of a sudden they are unable to cope? Yeah right, shame on them.

Remember that there are many small, independent, family run bars and restaurants that just about scrape by, to make a living.

These are the establishments that need help.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

Oops I missed kansai region of Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo which started later and finished their State of Emergency early.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Very few of the small to mid-sized companies are doing any precautions.

Outside of the top tier companies, most employers are just doing everything as normal. Even though restaurants are closed at night, they are completely packed during lunchtime. Coupled with suppressed tested and limited treatment beds (and apparently no plans to build temp beds), Japan is heading to an even worse situation in the next 2-3 months.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

The distinct very 'White' opinions denigrating Japanese 'hygiene' and somehow determining it is all a façade masking Japanese 'superiority', is expressly ignorant. One of the largest impacts effecting the spread of the virus is/was the GoToTravel. Following protocols was & remains very effective.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

When you say the State of Emergency was lifted in late may you are only referring to Hokkaido, Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures the other 39 prefectures had their State of Emergency lifted on May 14th please report this properly your article is misleading.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

The State of Emergency is a joke. I’m on the Mita line right now and it’s crowded. I stopped wearing a mask because it’s so uncomfortable and apparently doesn’t do anything to protect against covid. If the government wants to curb the pandemic then legally make all office workers work from home. Period.

-22 ( +12 / -34 )

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