16 prefectures to remain under COVID quasi-emergency

Any idea about easing packed trains and “more urging” for working from home for the dinosaurs office bosses?

But elderly people and those with underlying health conditions are more likely to develop severe symptoms, requiring medical treatment.

You mean like the flu?

Any idea about easing packed trains and “more urging” for working from home for the dinosaurs office bosses?

Nothing will ever change that!

Japanese people are OK to take the risk to get infected before they would stop to go to the office.

My company is now, after 2 years in the pandemic, considering to implement home office in some divisions, Therefore they did a survey who want to work from home.

And guess what...just 5% of the staff want to work from home.

The other 95% prefer to go to the office.

That is crazy.

You mean like the flu?

Like the vast majority of viruses. And, like the vast majority of viruses, it us incumbent upon the public authorities, private industry and individual citizens to take necessary steps to mitigate it's spread and mortality. Get vaccinated, isolate when infected, advise close contacts, close locations where there is a uncontrolled spread; all measures taken for the influenza virus. The tiresome comparison between viruses is not as salient as you might think.

Just be honest and upfront, the state of emergencies continue for 6 months to a year like last time until hospital admissions get down to single digits. This pantomime of setting end dates then extending is farcical, we had this all last year.

Monty,

The other 95% prefer to go to the office.

Its crazy people don’t want to not work in a shoebox in Tokyo, one of the greatest cities in the world to go and explore, on their own all day ?

I know what’s crazy..,

@Alan

Its crazy people don’t want to not work in a shoebox in Tokyo, one of the greatest cities in the world to go and explore, on their own all day ?

Sorry, I don't understand that sentence.

What does that mean?

I have absolutely no idea why people want to work from home. Apart from the commute, won't people miss the social aspect? Can't imagine anything worse.I like finding new places for lunch. Stopping for an icy cold beer on the way home. I don't think I'd even know what day it was if I was stuck at home.

So WHAT ARE the 16 prefectures!?

Only 30% of the country lives in Tokyo JT....

30% is probably a big over shoot....

Its crazy people don’t want to not work in a shoebox in Tokyo

Ah, I guess I understand now what you mean.

People prefer the office because their home is too small, like a shoebox, right?

I don't know if you ever worked in a japanese company (like mine) with a working space from about 1 Square Meter.

And most of my colleagues are living in a 2LDK or 3LDK. Some even in a 4LDK.

The shoebox times are over for them.

The main reason why the japanese people prefer to go to the office is, to be seen! (I don't know if that is the correct english)

They want to be seen by their bosses or the managers.

Many japanese people think, if they work from home, that would give a bad impression to the boss, like they are lazy workers.

If they are in the office and are doing nothing is much better for them, because they are be seen by their bosses and managers. They are present at the office in person.

And to come back to the managers, they think that their staff will stay at home, do not work and drink alcohol.

That was my boss telling to me 2 years ago when I asked him why he do not allow the people to go to home office.

I think until my company fully implement home office, I will be already in pension.

Anyway, I am counting my days already...

My company is now, after 2 years in the pandemic, considering to implement home office in some divisions, Therefore they did a survey who want to work from home.

And guess what...just 5% of the staff want to work from home.

The other 95% prefer to go to the office.

That is crazy.

You are 100% right. That is CRAZY.

I have absolutely no idea why people want to work from home.

If you have kids and work 6-7 days a week, maybe you'd change your mind.. not to mention NOT having to wear a suit and tie to work...I hate ties..

Apart from the commute, won't people miss the social aspect?

maybe, if I was in the west... The Japanese work environment is TOXIC. I'm guessing you're an Eikaiwa teacher? (please correct me if I am wrong) The only time the social aspect of my workplace was positive was when I worked in an Eikaiwa.

Can't imagine anything worse.

I can introduce you to some of my ex coworkers or my ex bosses.

I like finding new places for lunch.

Yeah same. when I was single, I used to chat up the waitresses.

Stopping for an icy cold beer on the way home.

OR having one or more WHILE you work. Even better.

I don't think I'd even know what day it was if I was stuck at home.

same, but is that really a bad thing?

@Resident

I have absolutely no idea why people want to work from home

I want to work from home, because the enviroment at home is more relaxing and I can work more effective.

At the office, I am getting disturbed every 5 minutes by someone who wants something from me.

I am much more concentrated at home, than in the office.

About the social aspect, I agree with you.

I would miss all my cute female coworkers. haha

About lunch, my company has a cantine where I eat, but if I work from home, I can find some restaurants for lunch.

But I also think it is depend upon in which area is your company and in which area is your home.

If your company is in a dead area where is nothing to eat besides a seven eleven or ramen, that is also not so nice.

And having a beer after work, no problem, my favorite Mom and Pop Izakaya is just a round the corner from my house.

So I guess, the area and the circumstances where you work and where you live has a big impact how important is work form home for a person.

About the spread of Corona, some of our staff are now tested positive and are at home now.

But they are on special-leave...kind of a sick leave...they stay at home until they recovered, but they don't need to take annual leave days. And get their full salary.

About the spread of Corona, some of our staff are now tested positive and are at home now.

But they are on special-leave...kind of a sick leave...they stay at home until they recovered, but they don't need to take annual leave days. And get their full salary.

In my company, someone tested positive as did his wife and 2 kids, BUT unlike your company they had to take annual leave days.

Nen Kyu 年休not Shukkin Teishi 出勤停止like the law requires. Therefore all 4 of them were required by law to quarantine, even though most likely they weren't recognized as Corona due to the fact that he was not given ST and had to take NK.

So when people say Japan fudges its corona numbers, its not a stupid conspiracy theory. There is proof.

The main reason why the japanese people prefer to go to the office is, to be seen! 

no, the senpai want to get their ego trip from their kouhai.

The words “ COVID quasi-emergency “ has become a joke in Japan!

The average Japanese dwelling is not conducive for working from home. Paper-thin walls, lack of space, lack of insulation, no proper desk and chair etc. so I can kind of see why people would rather go to the office here.

However, this quasi-SoE continues to be a joke because unless they're going to enforce working from home and kids to do remote learning, what even is the point? Trains are constantly packed to the brim; kids are mingling with other kids and bringing home gods only knows what kind of yucky viruses. Targeting the F&B industry to curb the spread of Covid is about as useful as giving a fish a bicycle.

However, this quasi-SoE continues to be a joke because unless they're going to enforce working from home and kids to do remote learning, what even is the point? Trains are constantly packed to the brim; kids are mingling with other kids and bringing home gods only knows what kind of yucky viruses. Targeting the F&B industry to curb the spread of Covid is about as useful as giving a fish a bicycle.

EXACTLY! 100% correct!

The average Japanese dwelling is not conducive for working from home. Paper-thin walls, lack of space, lack of insulation, no proper desk and chair etc. so I can kind of see why people would rather go to the office here.

But if they made WFH and RL a long term thing, I would be willing to bet that ALOT more people would buy homes in the countryside.

The rural communities would be revived, more work life balance, less office harassment, less school place bullying, less people polluting the earth with their daily commute...

I don't see a negative side to it at all

Fortunately most of my time in Japan was limited to varying train times but on the occasion when the sardine packed hell was unavoidable then I had to bite the bullet.

However, I have vivid memories of panic and identity loss whilst aboard.

Packed trains in Japan are a veritable hell…

Everybody gave Australia a hard time over the lockdowns and Covid restrictions. As of today QR code signing in for contact tracing has been abolished, all bars and night clubs are open and concerts are back on with no number restrictions. Next week masks will become a thing if the past. The lockdowns were strict and disadvantaged many people but the short-term inconvenience has brought Australia back to normal very quickly. International borders will be open from April

Japan’s Quasi SOEs are not going to have much effect on controlling the virus. Severe circumstances require severe measures to combat it. Japan is going to continue battling this virus for years.