national

Governors call for Golden Week travel curbs, compensation for business suspensions

42 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© KYODO

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

42 Comments
Login to comment

So instead of “urging” people, stop them and stop quoting the diamond princess all the time while your at it.

19 ( +25 / -6 )

How about being clearer in how you will pay everyone. Maybe if you made cash deliveries to all homes, people would stay in and wait for it.

15 ( +21 / -6 )

Where's my check the rent is due and been out of job for a month. Living pay check to pay check while electronic if behind 2 months, gas is behind 2 months, water is behind 2 months, got no money left for JCI, and no check just more talk. They should talk to the utilities companies about easing the charges for a month or two and help us catch up on our bills as our jobs kick in.

17 ( +20 / -3 )

Northernlife

Japan probably already has some herd immunity.

There were millions of Chinese here all January and Feb too.

No doubt many many thousands walk around infected yet undetected.

Since its not already looking like the poor people in the worst hit nations, I have a but of hope.

-2 ( +8 / -10 )

rgcivilian1Today 04:23 pm JST

Where's my check the rent is due and been out of job for a month. Living pay check to pay check while electronic if behind 2 months, gas is behind 2 months, water is behind 2 months, got no money left for JCI, and no check just more talk. They should talk to the utilities companies about easing the charges for a month or two and help us catch up on our bills as our jobs kick in.

Exactly many people do not have the resources to continue without the funding, the govt idiots just keep talking and have shown no action or money while people sit in silence !

8 ( +12 / -4 )

rgcivilian

I think you should talk to the landlord about the rent situation asap.

You have a very valid reason for not paying. Even if you could pay, you shouldn’t spend ur last cent on rent during an emergency.

7 ( +11 / -4 )

Japan probably already has some herd immunity.

The slow response, the lack of mass testing, refusal by some doctors to acknowledge mild infections and hard-headed people have guaranteed that there is herd immunity going on.

13 ( +17 / -4 )

It will be interesting to see just what becomes of this. I’m quite sure the majority of people will stay home, but not from concern of spreading the virus. They will stay home from fear of catching it.

The sad thing is though, even if 80% of people stay home there will still be possibly millions of people who still travel. Domestic travel must be banned and penalties must be invoked for those who travel without a legitimate reason. Japan is losing the battle against the spread of the virus with the passive approach.

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

People interested in travel must have the option to get tested - that is the solution not legislation....

0 ( +6 / -6 )

The local park near my place was the busiest I have ever seen it on a weekday in fifteen years at my current address in East Osaka. Families enjoying picnics, 30-40 local university guys playing touch rugby, groups of teens riding bikes, a couple of dozen people with their mutts in the dog run area and lots of other people waking, jogging, standing around chatting etc. I took a brisk walk around the outskirts avoiding anyone who came my way.

Then at one of the local supermarkets it was like December 30th. I didn't dare go in. Mobs, kids, the elderly, families they were all there.

11 ( +15 / -4 )

Sounds like Japans Government is stuck between a rock and a hard place. They do not have nor does the constitution permit the powers to enforce a lockdown as seen in even other democracies let alone dictatorships. They can only urge and recommend, which we all know is not enough but without the legal powers can do no more!

2 ( +5 / -3 )

I hope an accurate and efficient antibody test comes out soon. In late December last year both my daughter and I were incredibly sick. High fevers, coughing, barely could get out of bed for a few days. I assumed we somehow managed to get the flu even though everyone in the house gets the vaccine every year in October. Who knows. At this point, honestly, who knows. I'm so mentally exhausted. My daughter has only been outside of the house (beyond our veranda or tiny front garden) a couple of times since late February. It's for the greater good and she'll be fine but it's so hard to explain to a young child why they can't play with their friends or go to the park, especially when life seems to be going on normally for all of the people who pass by our house every day. Kids are playing outside, families walking to the park down the street, older people out talking on the street... Feels like being punished for taking the pandemic seriously.

12 ( +16 / -4 )

@savethegaijin

It's great that you are taking this seriously, but you need to watch your mental health and that of your child. Get out and go for a walk around the block every day with your daughter. Even a trip to the park. I've found at lunchtime the local parks (at least in my area) are empty or close to it. Take the usual precautions with masks and good hand hygiene and these are incredibly low risk activities.

13 ( +14 / -1 )

Well said fuzzy,

@ Savethegsijin

good not hippieish meditation free app is called headspace really good to teach you some basic. Calisthenics exercise are great for indoors as well. Stay well people on multiple levels.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

There is already an antibody check that has been rolled out In Florida...

1 ( +2 / -1 )

They do not have nor does the constitution permit the powers to enforce a lockdown

It is hard to credit that the authoritarian J-government would defer to the "democratic rights" of the people if the 国体 (the status quo) were to come under threat as a result of a pandemic. The "antibodies" of police and army are waiting in the wings to be employed against any public disorder that might arise. That's just political science 101.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

@savethegaijin

Take your daughter to the hospital for a test.

There is no point worrying and fretting without knowing the facts.

Also, where is your husband - don’t you need some help with all this?

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

I was watching Abe’s press conference on TV tonight and while it’s easy to criticize him and the government, I don’t blame him anymore. It’s the people, all of us. including me, who have to act. We all have a part to play in this war.

Abe and Koike have asked so many times for people not to go out and reduce person-to-person contact, yet people still do it. I’ve heard that night life is still active in some areas and I also heard that last week, many people seem to have moved from the seven prefectures covered by the state of emergencies to other prefectures, thus spreading the virus there.

If I were Abe, at the next press conference, I’d say: “How many times do we have to ask people? Don’t go out at night. You’ve all got to do your bit.”

What’s going to happen in Golden Week. The shinkansen will probably be full of travelers who don’t want to change their plans. I can just imagine someone saying “My children haven’t seen their grandparents since New Year and this is the only time we can go.”

By the way, does anyone have any theories as to why Iwate is the only prefecture in Japan with zero reported cases of coronavirus?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

@kurisupisu

I wouldn't want to take my daughter to the hospital right now unnecessarily. Plus I'm pretty sure they would turn anyone away for an antibody test (do they even have these in Japan right now?) not to say anything of my gaijin self.

My husband is at home, but working from home. He's got a lot on his plate right now. I guess we all do.

Now if only I could stop his retired parents from going out. FIL think's he's untouchable and people are overreacting so he just goes around as he pleases and MIL thinks a mask is all she needs. Should be fun when we tell them we don't plan on sending our daughter to school even if they open back up after Golden Week. They will probably explode with secondhand embarrassment.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

I feel these days on here, people getting social distance even sending messages. Japanese social behavior?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Since nobody will be traveling over golden week - having been urged to stay home, the trains, airports, and freeways will be empty. A perfect time to do infrastructure maintenance, closing off the typical escape routes. Add the surrounding highways, close off the beaches, golf courses, amusement parks, pachinko, etc. Easy...

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

savethegaijin

Honestly, I feel like going on walks or jogs not next to people is totally fine.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Are people that dense here that they are even thinking of going somewhere! Stay home and stay safe.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Well, I have to go

to

the office tomorrow and the trains will be sparsely used so it’s all good!

Again, if people use commonsense properly then I believe that there is little risk...

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Cant people persuade each other not to go out instead of having big brother always tell us what to do. In the end it all comes down to our own actions. We have the power in us to persuade our loved ones, bosses, friends to not go out. Subsequently we can exert social penalties who don't comply( lose respect, friendship, or even change firms) if enough people did this we wouldn't need big brother to make all our decisions and constantly have their hands in our pockets.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Actually a lot of people are following the guidelines as best they can. Have to laugh at all the comments on here from experts telling people to stay at home when they also say they leave their house too.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

People are taking "Stay home" way too literally. Stay home means don't go to the office if you don't have to. Say home means don't go to restaurants and bars and nightclubs and other closed and cramped places with hordes of people. Stay home means don't go to the supermarket every day when you could go every few days with a little planning. Stay home means don't organize social gatherings at the park with your friends. Stay home does not mean lock yourself inside your house and be fearful of going "outside". Social Distancing is a much better way yo think of what is needed here. If you have covid, or suspect that you do, then STAY HOME, literally. For everyone else, practice SOCIAL DISTANCING as much as you possibly can. Staying home is a great way to practice social distancing. But you can also do it when you leave your house to get some fresh air and sunshine.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

They're not serious about it. The number of Domestic flights appears to be greater than ever. Shinkansen trains are running, and the toll highways are open to all traffic - rather than just Commercial.

Hopefully if the Japanese voting public are serious about this situation, they won't Travel, and they will vote these clowns out of office at the next opportunity they have.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@Fuzzy - sadly there are still some people who think wearing a face mask gives them a free-pass to cough in your face.

I've been practising the stay at home for some time now - but today needed to go out to the local Super to stock up on fresh milk.

There are sadly some less than decent people around, and unfortunately my late night visit was badly timed to coincide with the presence of one such person.

There was this bloke, was walking around coughing everywhere - well at least he wasn't licking his fingers and touching products, but you'd think even though he was wearing a face mask, he'd make an attempt to put up his hand in front of his face, and/or look away from other people - but no.... he seemed to purposely be coughing in the direction of others in order to see their reaction! A perfect exhibit of an "A55h0l3" in my view.

Social distancing is being practised in the local Stores, lines have been draw upon the floor to separate people queuing up - and indeed people are adhering to those. But again when that same person queued up - he ignored the distancing and seemed to take great pleasure in coughing towards people....

I hope you're not as unfortunate as I was, when you go out on your occasional excursions to pick up supplies...

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Some called for stricter measures, with Tochigi Gov Tomikazu Fukuda saying, "Traveling across prefectures should be strictly limited, and we also need to consider developing legislation."

Maybe they can persuade the railway companies and regional airliners to increase the price of tickets by a factor of ten? As well as increasing the toll on the intercity roads? That might the travel out a bit.

We have the power in us to persuade our loved ones, bosses, friends to not go out.

Well, bosses might be hard.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I recommend watching on youtube

Asian boss has two very very good interviews with South korea’s top doc on this.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@rgcivilian1

For rent and utilities, you should follow previous advice.

Regarding job, you should try to go Hello Work and see if they can not provide you some job in farm with food and housing. With the border closed quite possible they are short handed so perhaps you can get a bit of income until your normal activities can resume.

@savethegaijin

As the other said, you should try to go out with your daughter more. Perhaps try to find another green area without playground to avoid frustration to your daughter. If you are not already doing it, try to do some gardening with her, like growing flowers, mini tomatoes, ... should also attract a few insects and the like so that can kept a kiddo busy a while.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@thepersoniamnow

Sorry, I do not consider Youtube as a scientific source of information.

I stick to my first impression: just a big fat hoax.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@savethegaijin

 FIL think's he's untouchable and people are overreacting so he just goes around as he pleases

Is he visiting your house? If so, he sounds like a bigger risk to your family than taking your daughter outside. Ban FIL from visiting and take your daughter to the park in the morning before the other kids show up.

@mmwkdw

So far I have I haven't witnessed such behavior, although, I have no doubt there are some people like that around. Not much you can do about that except walk the other way. From my observations, I'd say the large majority of people make efforts to steer clear fo each other. A small set of people still seem oblivious to what is going on, but not in a malicious way.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

How about the governors call or institute massive testing so that those that test positive practice self restraint and not spread it. Testing is the best way to curb the spreading of the virus and not half-hearted measures like limiting cross-prefecture movement. How about those already infected that don't know they are and are spreading it in their localities and job

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@ Reckless

cos here peace is those very 2-3 hours maybe?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites