Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo prefectures to request state of emergency

I can't imagine being so stupid as to have to be told not to go to a crowded izakaya, maskless and sit drunkly shouting into each other's faces.

Do people have the ability to think for themselves without being urged?.

It's now almost been 10months since I've been out with friends or colleges sociably to bars or pubs. Why do others struggle so hard with self restraint.

If you are worried about your favourite bars going bust then save up the money you would have spent and slip them an envelope to help them.

Even a slight behavioral change and little caution made by each local individuals just for now (say for a few days) will gain momentums, take great effect on the virus spread. And over time people get used to it. Isn't it too demanding? But of course going in the opposite is also true...

okyoJoeToday  06:34 am JST

It's now almost been 10months since I've been out with friends or colleges sociably to bars or pubs. Why do others struggle so hard with self restraint.

and we have lived normally for a year, going out with family when we want. Why do others struggle so hard to understand that live your life, not in fear and let other’s live too.

Companies had 8 months to offer remote working. If they didn’t they won’t now either.

If we don't ask (the central government) to raise measures against infection a notch, the medical system will collapse," Osaka Gov Hirofumi Yoshimura said.

Go ahead. raise measures against infection a notch. It doesn't matter. the medical system will collapse. the measures of the SOE do absolutely nothing

Any fool knew that Tokyo and other major cities in Japan were just relying on luck to keep their virus numbers down, especially with the government promoting an idiotic travel campaign during a viral pandemic. Now, it seems their luck has run out and they are not prepared at all. Good luck to the people of Japan. The latency and ignorance shown by the J-Gov over the last six months is gonna come back and bite them in the butt big time and cost the country billions and, I reckon they can forget the Olympics.

I'm pretty sure they are requesting to be included so that the government will pay for their bars and restaurants that close early. That is the only reason they are asking for this.

There are many many people who don’t live their life in fear (of the virus) and go out with friends and family whenever they want. That’s one reason the number of affected has skyrocketed, the health system is under stress, and the six prefectures have requested a state of emergency. I guess we should all live our lives without fear?

Just 5 days ago Osaka Gov Hirofumi Yoshimura specifically stated he would NOT seek a State of Emergency since he felt that Osaka was managing the virus fine.

It took him only 4 days to completely flip-flop, as if things suddenly got worse.

Such a pathetic "leader".

https://japantoday.com/category/quote-of-the-day/we're-not-thinking-of-asking-the-central-government-to-issue-a-state-of-emergency-for-osaka-prefecture-as-the-rise-in-new-cases-is-not-as-sharp-as-that-for-the-greater-tokyo-metropolitan-area.-instead-we-will-urge-residents-of-osaka-to-refrain-from-travel

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210104/p2a/00m/0na/008000c

Nice SOE.

So being an Osaka guy myself, besides closing resteraunts and bars isn’t there other larger places where people congregate?

Schools are nicely packed with children with zero distancing in little classrooms with 30-40 students per room.

Trains are packed with people going to am meetings about the corona virus.

If you bother to do something, why not do it right?

@TokyoJoe

I can't imagine being so stupid as to have to be told not to go to a crowded izakaya, maskless and sit drunkly shouting into each other's faces

I don't excuse that behavior. Its reckless and dangerous. However, is it really that much different than crowding into a train 2x per day and a crowded workspace?

I'm having problems trying to understand why so little action is being taken compared to last year when the numbers were much lower.

Have people from areas in or about to enter a SoE been told not to visit other prefectures? They were last year. The high numbers of young people being infected also suggest this is much more serious this time. If they have found 100 under 10s with Covid-19 in Tokyo, it is sensible to keep schools open?

@ TokyoJoe it is not our job to hand bars envelopes of money to keep them afloat..The LDP is better at shady back room deals and brown envelope passing..

Publicly the government is being advised that they must implement such measures in order to curb the spread of the virus. Behind closed doors, are they being advised the same thing? In fact, it is very much conceivable that the scientific advise being given is that an SOE or Lockdown is not going to have any effect on the virus's spread, that it will come and go without any human intervention, largely with the flu season which it has mostly replaced (SARS Cov-2 has largely displaced influenza A and B this year, but not rhinovirus). So, the SOE is a publicity act to make it look like they are doing something, when in fact they know it won't have an effect—this is why they want to make it have as little economic impact as possible. The opposite is akin to burning down one's house in order to destroy a hornet's nest. Yes, you destroy the nest (according to the common logic), but you also destroy the house. It may be that Japan's government is the only one in the developed world which has some understanding of how the virus is spreading.

The Osaka governor only 3 days ago stood behind the many microphones declaring he would not declare nor request a state of emergency. Osaka saying they are doing so much better than Tokyo. Always that absurd chip on the shoulder. Osaka always must try and show Tokyo they can compete with Tokyo but can’t. It is a senseless, childish never ending adolescent behavior. But as far as politicians go i can assure them. They are as bad as anywhere in Japan

However, is it really that much different than crowding into a train 2x per day and a crowded workspace?

20 people in a train or office is twenty livelihoods. 20 people in a bar are one livelihood. They will also be removing masks and talking to each other.

The low numbers of Covid-19 in Japan last year must rule out commuter trains as a source of infection. You cannot say the same about bars, where many clusters were actually found. That's evidence, not speculation as with trains.

Note that the new variants may transmit on trains. God help us if they do.

it is very much conceivable that the scientific advise being given is that an SOE or Lockdown is not going to have any effect on the virus's spread, that it will come and go without any human intervention

It is conceivable only if you believe in conspiracy theories about scientists lying to the public.

Japan has not had any lockdown remotely worthy of the name, so any comments about one being ineffective are pure speculation. Diseases spread due to contact between people. Reduce the contact and you reduce the spread. This is Science 101.

@P.Smith

Thanks for the positive comments.

It looks like I’ll be idle for around a month.

However, I do have some other projects on hand so not all is lost.

Pachinko is fine though, there is no problem or mention of the spead through playing pachinko in a stinky smokey crowded noisey venue, seems the virus does not survive that enviroment long enough to cause any infection in those who frequent those places.

I’m not necessarily against having an SOE for Osaka. We are already in “Red Stage” so what does that really change for us? It seems like a placebo.

Are people not able to conduct themselves in a safe and sane manner unless it’s officially labeled as a SOE?

You need to close the schools. Look what happened in London.

The worst scenario the government will face is they cannot put an end to "state of emergency" if the situation will not improve in one month and they have to extend SOE until the vaccines are administered and the efficacy of the vaccines proved. It takes a long time.

A few days back, Osaka governor said there is no need for a SOE, the situation is under control. It seems he has pride at that time.

Questions of money being paid by the government certainly.

With the SOE, my company decided to impose one day of telework a week. Until then, we had to apply for it

TokyoJoe says: "I can't imagine being so stupid as to have to be told not to go to a crowded izakaya, maskless and sit drunkly shouting into each other's faces.

Do people have the ability to think for themselves without being urged?"

I think the problem here may be peer pressure, pressure from the group, the boss, the company. People may want a state of emergency so that their company is forced to prioritise its employees health.

Seems like the local governors have higher IQ than the LDP government as a whole.

One can live their life (even enjoy their life) without fear, as long as they use common sense.

It seems that many people are missing this very important trait - common sense.

@tooheysnew

Apparently saying a sensible comment does not seem to help.

I now strongly believe it is a trait that is innate, and most person unfortunately have low common sense. So you need to herd them.

Herding does not mean holding a piece of cardboard all day long though for me. That is wishing a Pavlov's reflex only.

Pretty sure most " people" would love to cut their daily work commuting but it's unfortunately not their call to make. Govt should bring a big penalty stick to the companies that insist their staff shows up each day. It's up to the bosses , not the office slaves.

Absolutely! Well said brother!

"Dogs and cats, living together.. MASS HYSTERIA!"

It’s ridiculous to screw the economy and livelihoods of bar owners and restauranteurs all because of a hundred or so old people in serious condition.

If you are over 70 or have co-morbidities, or are in close contact with such people, then it’s sensible to refrain from going to crowded bars, etc. Otherwise there is no problem. COVID-19 is little more serious than the flu for young people in decent health. The SJWs who comment here will such downvote common sense, but you know I am right.

I just hope they don't close the gyms this time... need to keep my gainz.

It’s ridiculous to screw the economy and livelihoods of bar owners and restauranteurs all because of a hundred or so old people in serious condition.

If you do not understand the virus, how it is transmitted and how it affects and kills people, just ask. Plenty here who can help you.

And what results do they hope for? Nothing will be the result. My empty purse also cries for calling a state of emergency, and look, nothing happens at all. lol

COVID-19 is little more serious than the flu for young people in decent health.

When's the last time the flu has overwhelmed hospitals and staffs such that non-urgent hospitalizations and surgeries have to be postponed?

https://japantoday.com/category/quote-of-the-day/i-have-requested-the-postponement-of-hospitalizations-and-surgeries-that-doctors-deem-non-urgent-by-about-a-month-to-keep-beds-open-for-coronavirus-patients.

"I have requested the postponement of hospitalizations and surgeries that doctors deem non-urgent by about a month to keep beds open for coronavirus patients."

-- Kanagawa Governor Kuroiwa Yuji. He said if infections continue to spread at the current pace, beds for patients that need to be hospitalized will run out by around Feb 6.

Let's hope none of the young people have to go to the hospital for non-urgent reasons because they may find themselves outside looking in

Don't spread the virus. The virus affects not just your body, but also the stuff around you. See the forest from the trees