S Korea protests over Japan's virus travel restrictions

This article had to be at least a 6 weeks ago to be any comforting to Japan. A tad bit too late, I'm afraid.

That’s not going to work well for a four day spending spree in Ginza.

Most of us posting here having been calling for this week’s and weeks ago. Better late than never I guess......

Abe's measures, announced in a briefing with reporters, came after weeks of criticism he was failing to tackle the outbreak head-on and coincided with the country's biggest one-day increase in new infections.

As you all know I’m not a big fan of Abe san but criticism isn’t going to make things any better. No matter what he does will not stop the spread. He is not god! Only we the people can slow down and stop the spread. As I posted in another article, parents are not doing their part. Kids are out and about all over the city, mothers are filling the parks with their kids and friends and people are coughing and sneezing in public without a mask and covering their mouth. So stop passing the blame on government and make the necessary changes to your life until this thing is controlled. Short term sacrifice, long term gain.

How's the saying? Better now than never? At last.

The virus is basically all over Japan now.

What is the point of placing people from Pusan or Seoul under a two week quarantine when those areas are not hotspots?

Should Japanese from Yokohama also be quarantined?

This isn't a quarantine, it's a de facto travel ban.

Why not just ban? This quaranteen is on Japan's dime? And if he implemented this 6 weeks ago people would be saying he's way overreacting.

Just hilarious

Cool beans... what if they travel for only 3 days????

parents are not doing their part. Kids are out and about all over the city, mothers are filling the parks with their kids and friends and people are coughing and sneezing in public without a mask and covering their mouth. So stop passing the blame on government

Hmmm, if only there was a place that kids could go to each day, where they could sit in a room with other students under the management of a professional, who could monitor their health, instruct them on proper hygiene, and make sure they were not spreading the virus to others!

Where exactly will they put the visitors for two weeks' quarantine? I hope not in some sort of floating hotel.

That's 50% of the visitors to Japan.

https://www.tourism.jp/en/tourism-database/stats/inbound/

That's gonna hurt.

It’s obvious that Abe decided to take the new quarantine measures simply because the planned state visit by Chinese Premier has been postponed. Apparently Abe was more concerned about the state visit than protecting lives of people living in Japan.

JonathanJoToday 07:31 am JST

Where exactly will they put the visitors for two weeks' quarantine? I hope not in some sort of floating hotel.

That's a good question.

There's this place in Shimonoseki called Uzuhouse that might have some spare rooms. Perhaps the quarantined could stay there...

And, again, we don't know if the numbers include the Diamond Princess or not.

The government also insisted the outbreak will not disrupt the Tokyo Olympics which begin in late July.

yeah. quarantine chinese and S koreans but the olympics will go on???

Of course, Italians and Iranian spectators yokoso to Japan.

Abe just doesn't care about Japan. Full stop.

These articles are too bloody vague, if their are going to ban flights & vessels etc then SAY SO!!

This pussy footing around makes these articles impossible to fully comprehend.

I am not worried. I might be concern if it was April or May but not now. At worst they can always delay the whole thing. The virus is now a global problem. If things still hasn't calm down by June, i don't think any nation in the world is even in the mood for any olympics.

@zichi: but they never say the exact number, they include everyone in that ship. I think it's annoying because it creates confusion, you can't understand the actual increase.

And how about transit passengers?

Will they also be quarantined?

Just close the borders.

@kurisupisu

And how about transit passengers?

Will they also be quarantined?

Yes.

Obviously, this won't save Japan's forthcoming Olympic cancellation, because the Wuhan coronavirus is already at a pandemic stage in Japan with with untraceable random infections popping all over across Japan, and even Abe san's coughing before Parliament now.

zichi

Only 74 of the Diamond Princess cases were non Japanese. 631 cases were Japanese.

and yet they are STILL not being counted as Japanese cases, even though the cruise ship is vacant now. One poster a few days ago asked an excellent question: why is the cruise ship counted as an international conveyance but planes are not. Those 631 cases should be counted as Japanese cases.

It makes sense to quarantine people returning to Japan from those countries, or those coming here to work or study for a longer period - the new work/school year begins in April, so a fortnight's quarantine will mean they don't miss out on work or school.

People foolhardy enough to come here for a 3-day holiday will surely be turned back before they ever arrive - one would hope...

Are they seriously going enforce this? Come to Japan, jail for you....

Quarantine seems too late. It should have been done weeks ago.

Aly

> 1056+631=1687 counted case.

thanks brother

@zichi: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries

And, again, we don't know if the numbers include the Diamond Princess or not.

They are. Which... it doesn't make sense...

There's 364 cases in Japan.

The 'wordometers' keep daily updates about infection from all around the world. You can keep track of how bad the situation is by checking it out daily.

@zichi: I gave you the link, you are obviously wrong by implying that Japan got an increase of about 800 cases in one day, but whatever, some people will put thumbs down to me just because.

Dejima could be re-activated as a quarantine station...like it was in the Tokugawa period.

Not going to work, as it has been reported in various articles and recommendations by medical experts, researchers, scientists that this virus goes well beyond the 14 day quarantine up to 30 days.

Ok, i am so confuse now... 364 cases without the Japanese citizen from the ship.

631+364 = 995

@zichi: Japan could get such a huge daily jump how you implied if it started to test thousands of people, but weren't you and people like Aly saying that Japan isn't testing enough to keep the numbers low? Decide which version you like the most.

@John Bears: they included also non Japanese citizens in the ship.

Yep,it follows an announcement on the 4th that they were (finally) considering extending the ban. As others have pointed out though, too little, too late.

The government's handling of the has being heavily criticised here (by own media), and also now from abroad, which is good. It's been a disgrace (as several have been pointing out on this board for weeks).

This CNN article also mentions why things are likely extremely grim for japan.

CNN: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/05/asia/japan-coronavirus-infection-levels-hnk-intl/index.html

Hokkaido has it real bad (like Wuhan did) due to the thousands of Chinese having visited the snow festival.

I'd like to add to that: Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo.

One poster a few days ago asked an excellent question: why is the cruise ship counted as an international conveyance but planes are not. Those 631 cases should be counted as Japanese cases.

It depends on what is being counted.

When it comes to pathogen transmission and tracking, it makes more sense to categorize the ship, which had not yet docked in Japan, as a separate entity. When the passengers then move on from the ship, if the virus spreads further, it will be more informative to track the transmission direction from the ship, than from Japan as a country. In terms of quarantine, if the ship has not yet docked, it is a separated entity; there has not yet been contamination from the ship to the land.

Making the distinction between the ship and Japan helps deal with the current virus in being able to track its movement, as well as well as any mutations along the way. And after this virus has passed, the distinction between ship and land will give important epidemiological data to review so as to better understand how to deal with future viruses to better prevent their spread.

Japan is coming late, but just following the suit of what have been done by many other countries. As human mobility between Japan and its neighbors has already gone down minimal, now is much easier to implement a restriction without substantial negative effects. BTW, Japan aside, Iran and Italy are (used to be?) also a fewer number of major countries having kept a door open with minimal restrictions, instead of full entry ban, to those travelling from South Korea and China... Hardly evidenced yet, there is an indication when you look at what is now going on in these two host countries.

All the same it could have been better if such had been made earlier. With the virus having already intruded deeper into Japan's soil, I don't know how much impact this new policy would have on the virus containment. It is now a political gesture.

@Hiro: yeah, indeed I checked that link. The numbers are more or less accurate, according to the official numbers of the various Countries (how much honest every Country is, we can't know it).

I’m afraid a ban on arrivals from China should have been in place 6 weeks ago. This is too late.

So easy to say now. MERS and SARS was quickly eradicated. The big problem here is no one expected Coronavirus to go this far. Had China better inform the world when it first broke out, perhaps every country could’ve been better prepared.

@John Beara

It was revised to 696

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/pickup/6353199

@Tora: according to CNN Italy is infecting the whole world, they published this shocking map

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.quotidiano.net/cronaca/coronavirus-italia-mappa-cnn-1.5057540/amp

Also Luigi Di Maio protested and asked what's wrong with them, so stop bringing CNN and American/English media how if they were the Bible.

Alex80, Has CNN also reported where all this mess started and how?

And how about transit passengers?

Anybody who would be travelling at this time anyways would have to be have to be on high alert anyways. Check-in counters would tell their passengers beforehand and airlines would cancel flights.

@since1981: look, that map implied Italy was the "focolaio". Italian politicians were shocked and Di Maio said "everyone knows that the origin was in China...I don't want even to know the hidden reasons...behind this map. Some international media are using coronavirus to attack our economy and reputation, we hope international media act in a responsible way". Sadly, coronavirus is becoming a political tool to damage some Countries. Plus, only some weeks ago international media said China couldn't be trusted, etc. Now China became s model for everyone and Western media trust their declining number. Okay.

@since1981: and I can't even find in American/English media some articles about Italian protests. I know only that CNN declined to comment. They didn't apologize. I am tired to see the Anglosphere tested how a source of unique truth. Just because CNN wrote something about Italy or Japan or any other Country, it doesn't mean this something is trustworthy and unbiased.

When it comes to pathogen transmission and tracking, it makes more sense to categorize the ship, which had not yet docked in Japan, as a separate entity. When the passengers then move on from the ship, if the virus spreads further, it will be more informative to track the transmission direction from the ship, than from Japan as a country. In terms of quarantine, if the ship has not yet docked, it is a separated entity; there has not yet been contamination from the ship to the land.

> Making the distinction between the ship and Japan helps deal with the current virus in being able to track its movement, as well as well as any mutations along the way. And after this virus has passed, the distinction between ship and land will give important epidemiological data to review so as to better understand how to deal with future viruses to better prevent their spread.

Fair enough. Only there is no one on the ship now. The US and the UK are counting their citizens who came back from the ship as domestic cases. Japan isn't. They should.

@zichi: according to the link I gave you apparey they are included in this article. Ask to the mods if they are included or not, at this point.

Unless..

Public broadcaster NHK confirmed cases had risen to at least 1,056 nationwide by early Friday morning,

these new cases include the ship, in which case they should say so.

apparently they are included*

If the people on the diamond princess did not go through customs and passport control then they were not in Japan.

they should say so to prevent confusion.

1056+631=1687 counted case.

Up to date (5.3 at 9 pm issued by Japan's health ministry), the total number of confirmed infection cases are 1,037 with 12 deaths (landside: 331, 6 deaths; from cruiser: 706, 6 deaths).

Even with the cruiser cases counted, the number has continued to remain very low showing no sign of epidemic increase. Surely more will be confirmed, but the overall pattern looks more like coming into a leveling-off to ending phase. Note that only 20-30 people have tested positive much recently although testing and diagnosis numbers have tripled across the country since the late last week.

Putting things in perspective, state of emergency has never been declared in Japan while the seasonal flu claims 1,000 lives in average annually (in the worst season, more than 10,000) with infection numbers a few times larger. How come we go now so freaking with 12 deaths??

It's not a scary enough story if they don't include the people on the ship.

What's scary is that they are not vigorously testing people like in SK. We don't know who's sick, and that's what's scary.

@Aly

Been been seeing the cruise numbers included in dometic cases, in the media for some time now. I guess it is since the ship is a closed case?

I'm guessing positively tested Japanese on the ship are included in the domestic figures?

Not quarantine. Deny entry!!!

Cancellation or delay of the Games would be unacceptable for the athletes

But possible death is acceptable?

Aly

> Been been seeing the cruise numbers included in dometic cases, in the media for some time now. I guess it is since the ship is a closed case?

> I'm guessing positively tested Japanese on the ship are included in the domestic figures?

I don't know mate. I guess so

Honestly, I'm not disappointed to hear Koreans and Chinese will be quarantined. I just wish they would quarantine in their own country and not bother coming to Japan.

Should we understand this as a travel ban, but with a quarantine for people who have no choice but to come?

Is the quarantine effectively for Japanese people or people resident in Japan returning from those countries? Nobody will subject themself to quarantine just for a leisure trip. Having the quarantine start in a few days' time strikes me as a message to any Japanese in SK or China to get out now.

Oh well, so much for all that goodwill about Japan being more lenient and tolerant as compared to other countries.

How soon before reverting back to the old days of anti-Japan sentiments?

@gogogo

"Cancellation or delay of the Games would be unacceptable for the athletes,"

Good quote from the article. I also wonder if they confirmed this with the athletes? If not, she should keep her mouth closed until they have surveyed all of the athletes first. Bet they won't though. It'll be: "Nah, they're too busy concentrating on their training."

SongenshiToday  08:32 am JST

Dejima could be re-activated as a quarantine station...like it was in the Tokugawa period.

I guess you've never been there. Dejima is now in the middle of the city because they landfilled and built all around it.

What about travelers who are returning to Japan and they are using Seoul, South Korea for connection flights?

These people refusing to cancel the Olympics are delusional and irresponsible.

@stormscrow

What about travelers who are returning to Japan and they are using Seoul, South Korea for connection flights?

A mandatory 14-day quarantine regardless of citizenship.

The Abe Administration didn’t make a decision until Feb 25th, when the announcement of the Basic Policy was made. Places like Taiwan banned all travelers from China a month earlier on January 26th with earlier Wuhan ban on January 2nd. With Xi’s visit on the horizon, Abe understandably couldn’t decide and mulled over this a month when swift action was needed.

Why are they still including the tally from the cruise ship? Those people have been repatriated, and are counted among their own countries’ tallies.

And also, way too late.

"I'm guessing positively tested Japanese on the ship are included in the domestic figures?"

Let's put a stop to this guessing thingy, shall we?

"The overall total now stands at 1,023, of which 706 are from the Diamond Princess cruise ship."

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/05/asia/japan-coronavirus-infection-levels-hnk-intl/index.html

Where's Italy on this list? Inquiring minds are dying to know.

Korea is expected to announce same travel ban measure toward Japan today.

@Wallace Fred

Where's Italy on this list? Inquiring minds are dying to know.

This travel quarantine is politically driven and not science driven. That's why.

@Reckless

maybe in the billions of dollars for each ojiisan who doesn't die from coronavirus. 

Japan is already way past that point. The Wuhan coronavirus is now an endemic disease in Japan due to Abe administration's failure to aggressively test wide population due to the fear of true infection count jeopardizing the Olympics in the early days.

These decisions seem to be being made not based on facts, statistics, or science but on politics (including decisions made by my own country, the U.S.).

Singapore seems to be the one country who is making the decisions based on data.

If I look at the corporate travel policy of a major electronics manufacturer in the U.S. it is much more stringent than what any government is proposing now.

I think this ban is appropriate but too late. In addition Korea should also pose the same restrictions on Japan (I think China has already done so).

As what seems to be the case in China (their measures were on the extreme end) the logical way to slow down the spread to stop or limit international travel to the extent practical and see if the rate of increase of cases can be reduced.

Japan can do whatever they want. It's their country and they have a right to protect their people. If you want to visit, you have to follow rules. If you don't like it, then choose not to visit at this time. South Koreans need to understand and have some common sense. Your country is already dealing with a lot due to the coronavirus! The ban should have been placed in the beginning. It would have helped much more than now.

how can this policy possibly be implemented? where will they house these thousands of travelers? and at what cost? abe is sounding more and more like trump by the day; talk first and then think later. smgdfh.

Also limit Japanese go abroad.

calling it "unreasonable, excessive and extremely regrettable".

Sorry South Korea but it is not unreasonable and not excessive, especially since 14 days may be insufficient for an adequate quarantine. As for regrettable, yes it's all regrettable right back to the starting point in Wuhan China. Undoubtedly South Korea will do their usual tit-for-tat but who in their right minds would want to go to Souh Korea anyway unless they absolutely had to. Seems South Korea doesn't realize it's No.2 in the charts.

On Feb. 12, the South Korean government advised its citizens against traveling to Japan to curb the coronavirus spread. So the quarantine by Japan would just tighten the advisory by the Korean government.

Korea is expected to announce same travel ban measure toward Japan today.

Again the anti-Japanese hypocrisy only drives swiftly. China has imposed a similar travel restriction on South Korea much earlier, hesitant Korea has yet to made any reciprocal move. While more than 100 countries/areas have arranged regulations in varying degrees on South Korea, Seoul looks reluctant and less hostile, except towards Tokyo.

@OssanJapan

Sorry South Korea but it is not unreasonable and not excessive

Korea has the best detection and management of coronavirus cases in the world. Additionally, all whose who test positive and are under quarantine for 14 days are automatically travel banned and cannot leave country. This is why Japan never had an infection case that could be traced to visitors from Korea, while Korea did have 3 cases where infection was traced to visitors from Japan.

So Koreans are laughing at this politically motivated and scapegoating travel ban.

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3065187/coronavirus-south-koreas-aggressive-testing-gives

Coronavirus: South Korea’s aggressive testing gives clues to true fatality rate

With 140,000 people tested, the country’s mortality rate is just over 0.6 per cent compared to the 3.4 per cent global average reported by the WHO

 A little over a week later, that number had soared to 82,000 as health officials mobilised to carry out as many 10,000 tests each day.

Neighbouring Japan, on the other hand, tested only a fraction of that number, with fewer than 2,000 people checked on any given day since the beginning of its outbreak in late January.

Which is where South Korea’s massive testing effort can come in, providing a valuable reference point for public health experts around the world who are starved of hard data – offering potentially the most comprehensive picture yet of the threat posed by Covid-19 to the general public.

William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, said South Korea had emerged as a “wonderful laboratory” for studying the virus.

The photo caption says people are wearing 'protective masks'. These masks to not protect you from the corona virus. Stop ignoring the science.

Dear Japanese,

As a S. Korean citizen, I sincerely appreciate Abe Sang for the de facto travel ban, despite the foreseeable backlash. No S. Korean politician dared to propose travel restriction from and to Japan. Abe Sang relieved a lot of diplomatic burden of S. Korean government. I have never praised him here in JPtoday, but I should say again "Thanks, the Great Abe Sang." Hope to maintain the PM job until the 2020 Olympic, and thereafter, too.

@noriahojanen

China has imposed a similar travel restriction on South Korea much earlier

China did not. Yes, a number of Chinese cities imposed such quarantine due to the pressure on local officials to keep infection counts low, but those are a handful and you can easily get around that restriction by going to another city that doesn't quarantine..

Of course, I know that science tells that travel ban is virtually ineffective in preventing the spread of contagious virus. For example,

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/02/why-travel-restrictions-are-not-stopping-coronavirus-covid-19/

@Samit

I agree with your statistics and the fact that South Korea has handled this very well actually. The aggressive testing by South Korea is excellent and the ban on people from travelling overseas by South Korea is also a very good example for the world.

On the other hand I agree with Japan's actions AND I fully believe South Korea should impose the same ban on travelers from Japan and other impacted regions.

I do not care about the politics or who is better (Japan vs. South Korea). I only care about doing what is required to slow down the increase in transmission of the virus.

I also wish Japan would follow South Korea's aggressive testing and detection of the virus and both countries would look to Singapore as a model.

The Abe regime is sinking like a stone and Shinzo's a dead man walking: endless scandals that just won't go away (the Kawai husband and wife, Cherry blossom party money scandal, Uzuhouse) and the apparently bitter infighting over whose turn is next on the Iron Throne. This belated lunge is clearly a desperate, politically-motivated attempt to shift focus onto South Korea and distract attention away from his failures at home.

Xi's not coming, the economic outlook is dire and the Olympics are in peril. Abe looks exhausted, bereft of ideas. Will he stagger on to summer or will he suddenly resign and disappear into a hospital like he did in 2007?

South Korea strongly protested the move, calling it "unreasonable, excessive and extremely regrettable".

No, South Korea. This is the Japanese government taking measure to try and contain the coronavirus outbreak (a little too late imo) and your nation has the 2nd highest figures outside of China.

And where were similar protests when other nations also took the decision to put travel restrictions on those coming from SK?

Even during the current ongoing issue of the coronavirus outbreak that is affecting the world, SK still has the time to express their Anti Japanese sentiments (what will you boycott next, I wonder?).

I can imagine though that they are worried about how these new restrictions will affect one of their biggest cultural exports. Of which Japan is one of the biggest markets, and a market that the Korean entertainment industry relies heavily on (and numerous events have already been cancelled, and will only get worse with these new restrictions)

They’re waiting till Monday? Why not now???

South Korea strongly protested the move, calling it "unreasonable, excessive and extremely regrettable".

Ｈｏｗ　ｃｏｍｅ　SK complains only to Japan? LOL

Wow more restrictions to already confused citizens of the world. "Hi boss I am going on a months leave" - Travel to a country and get quarantined for 2 weeks, get released,fly back and get quarantined for 2 weeks.

Ｈｏｗ　ｃｏｍｅ　SK complains only to Japan? LOL

On the exact same day, the Australian government also announced a similar travel restriction on South Korea. Yet Seoul has rarely reacted, let alone suggested any retaliatory move (as far as I know and so far). It's a stark contrast, and there I only see hypocrisy and obsession when it comes to Japan-related affairs. Are the Blue House staff (again) going mad, irrelevant and trying to threaten the GSOMIA? :)

It seems that the decision is based more on political reason than science.

SK should just take the similar measure to protect its citizens from Japan since COVID 19 situation is Japan is not much better than Korea if not worse. There is no point to protest or reason with Abe's government.

Good. There’s greater chance that the tourists will be infected by the locals now with all the lack of testing and transparency.

Further, why not ban Japanese tourists going abroad? They’re spreading the virus overseas unwittingly. You know it’s underreported in Japan if they only find out they’re infected when they go to a third country.

This belated lunge is clearly a desperate, politically-motivated attempt to shift focus onto South Korea and distract attention away from his failures at home.

Well spotted. It’s the only thing Abe is good at. Using the Korea card.

Photo shows two unhappy rented kimono wearers with their beautiful outfit ruined by those ineffective white paper masks. Not the photo I would want of my sweetheart moment in the national papers. Why not show lovely kimono-clad young couples washing their hands, instead? Should they even be strolling hand in hand?

Please, JT, show photos that help, not reinforce the erroneous magical belief in the power dust masks. On the other hand, maybe they are both kafun/pollen sufferers, in which case I have heard that the dust masks work. Otherwise, if sick, wear the mask to prevent spreading your germs (maybe).

Quarantine measures has both ups and downs. A little bit late but if helps so be it. Time and facts will tell, however based on historical data that has occurred 14 days is not quantitative and would have felt more secure with a 25 to 30 day measure, with 3 tests held randomly.

Why don't politicians follow WHO recommendations, as simple as that ?

Doing something else shows lack of self-control and incompetence.

Spread of virus is all ober the place, as easily foreseen and I am no expert but I have been listening to them.

Aski'g for quarantine is a death sentence to tourism for years.

I believe Prime minister Abe-sandoes not care because old and no offspring.

Ｈｏｗ　ｃｏｍｅ　SK complains only to Japan? LOL

I read that South Korea did complain to the other countries, the same as they did to Japan. Ie. China, Israel, Australia etc. The article would be more useful if it stated such facts instead of making it seem only Japan was the target. But of course, the media has to be subservient to a communist dictator.

scratching head,

PM, didn't you let ship passengers, Japanese nationals go out and let them use the public transportation,

However, Korean visitor has be in 14 days quarantine, and after the quarantine, they can not take public transportation, taxi, bus or train,

scratching head harder,

Why all the games, just ban the straight forward, do you think this will get some points,

you didn't do this with Chinese, but i guess South Korea is always there to mess with,

it's ok, you don't need them , they accounted for 25% of the tourism and billions of dollars in exports,

let Japanese companies leave S. Korea, no big deal,,,,

Every country has protested every country that has put them on a travel restriction list.

Not too late. Countermeasures like cancelling events, Teleworking etc. are meaningless without travel restrictions mostly from China and S. Korea.

Just imagine if Japan was in same situation,

Wait a second! Wasn't SK threatening a boycott of the Tokyo Olympics and campaigning for its citizens not to travel to Japan because of its intractable position toward the "comfort women" and mistreatment of wartime laborers? How can you boycott travel to a country on the one hand and then complain bitterly when the same country turns away your citizens?

also 14 days clearly isn't working, more like 28 a this point. It's not practical but it's what's happening

I am more worried about getting the virus IN quarantine....yikes

And how about transit passengers?

Will they also be quarantined?

Yes.

Samit, you keep posting false info like this when people are seeking real info. I wonder why?

Korea complains about [insert whatever Japan does]. What else is new?

Yup NCIS Reruns, this whole thing is pure comedy from the South Korean government and their fan base throughout the world.

Before, when the Japanese government did not have any extreme restrictions of visitors from China or South Korea, the anti-Japan crowd blasted Abe for being ineffective against the virus.

And now that the Japanese government has put in more strict restrictions against Chinese and South Korean visitors, now the same anti-Japan crowd is blasting Abe and company for being irrational and bigoted.

And you are correct, last year the South Korean government, the citizens, and their anti-Japan fan base around the world were fully supporting the "boycott Japan" movement. These people laughed and rejoiced at seeing boycotted Japanese products like beer lose money, and laughed and rejoiced at the fall in South Korean tourism numbers to Japan.

And the South Korean government, the same ones who fully embraced the "boycott Japan" movement, now has the audacity to strongly criticize the Japanese government restricting South Korean visitors due to a perfectly legitimate medical concern? Seriously, people, you just can't make this stuff up.

80 countries are banning people transiting thru South Korea or force them into 14 days quarantine now. Isreal even flied all Korean tourists back to SK. Why SK government didn't protests these countries? Or it is all about their weird complex toward Japanese again.

In Kenya we have a saying that: Every market has a madman!

Well, it seems to me that South Korea under the inept regime of Moon Jae-in is the madman of East Asia!

What gall. Stay home.

80 countries are banning people transiting thru South Korea or force them into 14 days quarantine now. Isreal even flied all Korean tourists back to SK. Why SK government didn't protests these countries? Or it is all about their weird complex toward Japanese again.

and this what Australia did South Korea:

Australia to impose entry ban on people from Korea on Thursday

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/world/2020/03/683_285637.html

What is the big deal South Korea?

So, I spend an hour doing my transit in Incheon and I spend two weeks in a fricking quarantine prison.....or I can spend an hour on the Yamanote line in rush hour and go to work the next day?

Yeh, I don’t get it at all!

@noriahojanen

On the exact same day, the Australian government also announced a similar travel restriction on South Korea. Yet Seoul has rarely reacted, let alone suggested any retaliatory move (as far as I know and so far).

That shows how easy it is to brainwash Japanese people by controlling media, especially under the Great Abe Sang. The ministry of foreign affairs of S. Korea summoned the ambassador of Australia to protest the decision yesterday, and was reported to do the same for the Japanese ambassador today. The media just pinpointed only Japan.

Australia is understandable, because the epidemic is not yet so much widespread. Japan? It is just a typical Japanese farce. I am sure it is more widespread in Japan than in S. Korea where it is counted and under control. The problem is nobody can figure out how seriously it has already spreaded in Japan.

Qissara Kamshana KhanToday  02:53 pm JST

It seems that the numbers in Japan might actually be higher than is being reported. I'm not sure what's fact and what's fiction anymore. 

There is no country on this planet where the infecttion numbers are actually not higher than reported. We are dealing with a coronavirus that can be asymptomatic and can infect others at least 2 days before showing any symptoms. Add to that the shortage of testing kits and capability, and even the fact that those who test negative and mingle with others can still test positive 2 weeks later. The level of community spread can be seen by the many infection cases being widely spread apart and untracable as to source.

@kurisupisu

So, I spend an hour doing my transit in Incheon and I spend two weeks in a fricking quarantine prison.....or I can spend an hour on the Yamanote line in rush hour and go to work the next day?

Yeh, I don’t get it at all!

Don't worry. The travel restriction is not mandatory, which means it is not based on the law and is just a recommendation. This is another typical Japanese farce to obfuscate the opponents.

検疫法の措置ではなく「あくまで要請」とし、強制力はないとした。

https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/s/article/2020030601001730.html

@klaus: yes, it's regardless the nationality. I don't understand why Korea is complaining so much, they could simply do the same, plus, isn't the boycott Japan still a thing in Korea currently? At least this time limiting the travels would be for a right reason.

@filmore2: did we read the same article? Because they are applying the same restrictions on Chinese people now.

Flew out of Haneda for a trip today. I must say it’s nice without the usual tourists. It was smooth like a normal airport. Most of the facilities in the Capital are way over capacity.

SJ

I am sure it is more widespread in Japan than in S. Korea where it is counted and under control. The problem is nobody can figure out how seriously it has already spreaded in Japan.

If believing so, the restriction is rather welcoming to Korean people for safety, no? Besides how do you interpret 42 deaths (vs. 6 in Japan aside 6 from the cruiser)? Under control? Today two more countries are joining other 100 to put SK into travel ban list. Has FM Kang called all ambassadors for protest herself?

Today two more countries are joining other 100 to put SK into travel ban list. Has FM Kang called all ambassadors for protest herself?

Oh? japans already threatening India with refusal to build the high speed rail if they don't remove it from the banned list. Unbeknownst to japan, Pandoras box has been unleashed by it's callous and totally useless action. Now more countries are inevitably going to ban or restrict japanese travelers.

idiots are all out now

Japan told China that they will put restrictions. However Japan never contacted S Korea which is typical B S

Just announced its countermeasure against Japan.

Very Korean LOL. SK never betray your expectation:

Korea : Persecution complex and face-saving ONLY toward Japan AS ALWAYS.

@SJ

Thanks for the info but Abe’s threatened inference with freedom of movement from Korea has forced Korean airlines to cancel flights to and from Japan and Korea.

Flights to Europe are not cancelled but two-plane Abe has effectively forced airlines to withdraw flights....

Hmmm, if only there was a place that kids could go to each day, where they could sit in a room with other students under the management of a professional, who could monitor their health, instruct them on proper hygiene, and make sure they were not spreading the virus to others!

Obviously you don't have any kids. If you did you would know how viruses like the flu rip through schools. My daughter's elementary school already had 2 entire grades and 4 other classes closed the week before Abe called for all schools to be shut down. My daughter ended up catching it on the last day, despite not getting it from her own brother a couple of weeks earlier.

Why is this even an issue?

Until there are effective, understood, proven, treatments or immunization available, travel bans are the only real choice to protect the citizens for each country.

We are only buying time. The virus will be out in the world for the next 50 years. It has mutated into 2 strains according to the WHO. It will be like the flu, forever. Hopefully, next fall there will be a combined Influenza/Wu-Flu shot for $15 available.

It's strange but I've yet to read any news articles about physical violence against Iranian or Italian-looking people. It appears that only East Asians are seem as fair game.

Korean retaliation announced.

Visa-free entry cancelled. Prior issued visas suspended. Japanese must re-apply.

Entire Japan has been elevated as a No-Go zone, same as Wuhan.

As is expected the whiny South Korean government tit for tat announced their restrictions on Japanese visitors.

Was I right or was I right, these people are so utterly predictable in their pettiness.

Like I said last year these same people were cheering on South Koreans boycotting anything and everything Japanese, including visiting Japan itself.

Now they are whining about restrictions to Japan?

The SK government would use any opportunity to get back at Japan for every perceived slight. It's not like Japan's the only country that put in such restrictions against South Korea.

Grow up!!!

 their restrictions on Japanese visitors.

As they should to protect their citizens given the abysmal job japan has and is doing to manage the corona outbreak. The making it up as they go along procedure won't cut it. Best to take cues from Korea like all.other countries are doing before it's inevitably too late.

@oldman_13

Now they are whining about restrictions to Japan?

The Korean government is trying to protect the entry rights of Korean businessmen and K-Pop stars, who now have to reschedule their concerts in Japan due to this restriction. The Korean government obviously doesn't care about Korean tourists not being able to visit Japan.

@Wallace Fred

As they should to protect their citizens given the abysmal job japan has and is doing to manage the corona outbreak. 

This is why Korean government elevated the travel warning to Japan at same level as Wuhan/Hubei province. Only countries like Syria and Somalia have higher travel restrictions.

If there existed Nobel Face-saving Prize, Korea would have won the most prizes.

I'm pretty sure.

I’m not sure why everyone is trying to keep an exact tally on the government figure for reported cases? They are irrelevant vs. reality.

Japan has stated they are only testing 900 people a day currently while it’s neighboring countries in the region Are testing up to 10,000 per day. Naturally this is going to have an upper limit on the number of cases reported per day. Walk into any medical clinic in Tokyo and ask for a coronavirus test and you won’t be able to get one. I did this at Tokyo midtown clinic for example. That tells you all you need to know.

Korea protests against Japan, because it's Japan, and not because they are on any reasonable grounds or because it makes sense.

Give me one good reason why Japan shouldn't initiate travel restrictions against Korea right now? S. Korea has the highest number of confirmed cases outside of China, with a number surpassing 6,500 as of this moment. The mismanagement in Japan is bad enough, but at least Japan managed to keep domestic rates at below 500 (excluding Diamond Princess). S. Korea on the other hand, takes mismanagement into new heights.

@TakCWAL

not because they are on any reasonable grounds or because it makes sense.

Well, there is a Coronavirus epidemic going on in Japan right now due to Japanese government's deliberate undertesting to keep the reported numbers low.

Give me one good reason why Japan shouldn't initiate travel restrictions against Korea right now?

Japan is more of a health threat to Korea than Korea is to Japan.

In Japan, government doesn't know who's infected and infected people can travel freely overseas to spread their virus.

In Korea, government has found almost all asymptomatic patients and automatically travel ban them.

This is why it is so important to find as many asymptomatic people as possible through extensive testing like Korea's doing, to stop further spreading.

at least Japan managed to keep domestic rates at below 500

LOL, you really believe Japanese infection number is below 500?

Well, there is a Coronavirus epidemic going on in Japan right now due to Japanese government's deliberate undertesting to keep the reported numbers low.

Well there is a Coronavirus epidemic going on in Korea right now due to the Korean government's inability ty to even monitor its domestic organized 'cults', which should really be called terrorist organizations at this point.

Japan is more of a health threat to Korea than Korea is to Japan.

Which I am sure you were informed of such by the illustrious Lee Man-hee.

In Korea, government has found almost all asymptomatic patients and automatically travel ban them.

That's why Korea has nearly 7 thousand cases and climbing, right?

This is why it is so important to find as many asymptomatic people as possible through extensive testing like Korea's doing, to stop further spreading.

Korea is doing a pretty bad job at it.

LOL, you really believe Japanese infection number is below 500?

LOL, even with your exaggerations, do you really think Japanese infection would be nearly as bad as Korea?

@oldman_13

As is expected the whiny South Korean government tit for tat announced their restrictions on Japanese visitors.

> Like I said last year these same people were cheering on South Koreans boycotting anything and everything Japanese, including visiting Japan itself.

You need to tell the people from their government. S. Korean government has never mentioned or promoted boycotting or anything, which is a grass-root movement, and the government should not meddle in it in any democratic countries except China and Japan which are de facto totalitarian states. There are millions of NGOs and citizen groups in S. Korea, whose colors are all different.

S. Korean government is not like the Abe administration. Even the president can go to jail if he/she ever tries to manipulate or meddle in citizens' grass-root movements in S. Korea.

These Korean politicians complain about everything when it comes to Japan......I doubt if anyone takes them serious any more.

@TakCWAL

due to the Korean government's inability ty to even monitor its domestic organized 'cults

Duh, Korea has the freedom of religion and state cannot interfere, cult or not.

Lee Man-hee.

Lee Man-Hee is tested negative.

That's why Korea has nearly 7 thousand cases and climbing, right?

Yes, Korean government has detected pretty much all of infections.

do you really think Japanese infection would be nearly as bad as Korea?

I believe Japanese situation is worse than Korea's.

@Wellington

These Korean politicians complain about everything when it comes to Japan......I doubt if anyone takes them serious any more.

Oxymoronic. At least you seem to take them seriously. I know several anti-Korean books are best-sellers in Japanese bookstores. Just curious why they take them seriously. Even most Koreans are not interested in it at all.

I just like Japanese beer and shochu.

So S.K has announced the same retaliation measures to all other 99 countries YET? Australia?

Korean posters must know it.

Illogical and Incompetent thinking. ３year-old kid's behavior and attitude.

By Kim Yo-jong

do you really think Japanese infection would be nearly as bad as Korea?

Lol, hang onto your hat. It's about to get bumpy.

@zichi

So is SK also complaining about the other 100 countries, including America who have banned Koreans?

It is even entertaining that some Japanese guys here even can not evaluate what Abe bravely did. No country in the world denied entry based on people's nationality (visa) for the purpose of preventing COVID-19. Japan under Abe was the first ever country to do it. The decision is even closer to racism. Other countries restrict travel by flights based on their origin countries, not passengers' nationality.

South Korean strategy=deflect and blame. Fortunately numbers don't lie.

I suspected it is due to South Korean are worried that their kpop industry gonna suffer because their artists cannot go to Japan to make money

https://www.allkpop.com/article/2020/03/k-pop-industry-suffering-from-losses-in-japan-due-to-coronavirus

The only reason SK has more confirmed cases is because they test one heck of a lot more in one day that Japan has since the beginning of this. They're more likely to catch it visiting than coming from SK. In any case, I just hope Japan doesn't complain in the same way when the shoe's on the other foot; we already know they're upset about the idea Trump might impose some ban on Japan.

@CoconutE3

South Korean strategy=deflect and blame.

Japan's oxymoron is even entertaining.

Japan has lodged a strong protest with India over its decision to cancel all e-visas to Japanese nationals in view of coronavirus cases.

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/japan-slams-india-for-cancelling-e-visas-to-citizens-over-coronavirus-scare-1653287-2020-03-07

Even Korean newspaper claims that the Korean government's quick and loud response to Japan's entry restrictions on Korean citizens and anyone traveling from Korea to Japan, due to the coronavirus epidemic, is raising some eyebrows given that it has not taken any retaliatory action against the more than 100 countries imposing similar or stricter measures:

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2020/03/120_285789.html

Korea's inferiority complex viz a viz Japan is mind boggling.

Just stay home in Korea, please. This COVID-19 will not be defeated by your tiresome petulance, histrionics and throwing your usual temper tantrums aka Hwabyeong!

@Antoine Rasata

it has not taken any retaliatory action against the more than 100 countries imposing similar or stricter measures:

That is a fake news originated from some weird Korean newspaper, later copied in some Japanese media. I would not detail it, but you can check it by yourself through internet search.

The fact is simple that Abe intentionally provoked S. Korea for political motivation without consulting with experts. Even Japanese media details it:

https://www.newsweekjapan.jp/obata/2020/03/post-42.php

https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/article?a=20200309-00070961-gendaibiz-kr&p=1

This may sound like a nitpick, though.... South Korea has counter-measured on "foreigners" coming from Japan. That means, SK nationals living or travelling in Japan are granted entry permission. By contrast, in Japan, all visitors from SK are equally subject to an extra inquiry and control. For regardless of nationality, anyone has a chance to get contracted with the virus.

SK approach is unreasonable as it could bring in "infected" Korean nationals. The measure doesn't bother safety concern. It is rather politically motivated.

Japan is not actively taking measures against viruses in the country itself?

If you are already infected with new infections, you should actively test, but do you limit the test?

Most people in Korea are asymptomatic or have cold symptoms.

Can you guarantee that all Japanese citizens are safe?

Nobody knows how widespread it is in Japan, which still limits censorship, given the speed of the virus.

Although the actual number of deaths in Japan has not increased, are there any other deaths? In China, more people died of disease than just virus deaths. This is scarier.

SK approach is unreasonable as it could bring in "infected" Korean nationals. The measure doesn't bother safety concern. It is rather politically motivated.

This policy is pretty similar to that of the USA and other countries. Not allowing your own citizens back into their rightful country is pretty absurd if you ask me.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/from-other-countries.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Ftravelers%2Ffrom-china.html

American citizens, lawful permanent residents, and their families who have been in China or Iran in the past 14 days will be allowed to enter the United States

Not allowing your own citizens back into their rightful country is pretty absurd if you ask me.

Never-mind, just watched on news that Japan cannot actually enforce this. All they do is ask you to tick a box and choose where you will be "quarantined". You can answer that you will quarantine at home, lol.

After all, that makes sense. Japan did make an advance notice to SK which just couldn't take it and got simply pissed off. That's what is all about. Again SK never betrays your expectation

https://mainichi.jp/articles/20200310/k00/00m/040/008000c

It's time to cancel the Tokyo Olympics. This doesn't mean I don't want Tokyo to have the Olympics. It could be postponed till next year. It doesn't have to be every 4 years.

I know sponsors are going to lose money, but it's better to wait one year. We are the masters of our destiny so just wait a year.

If we are going to launch a rocket or space shuttle and the weather is bad, what do they do? Postpone the launch! Now if they are willing to do that for the safety of a few astronauts, why not do that for the safety of millions? Now you will see greed over reason.

Ahhh Ms. Hashimoto, there's an iceberg warning and low visibility. ( Corona )

Full speed ahead?!? Those who ignore the past are destined to repeat it.

That's 50% of the visitors to Japan.

https://www.tourism.jp/en/tourism-database/stats/inbound/

That's gonna hurt.

There will definitely be a big decline in foreign tourist arrival in Japan for year 2020. Even the Olympics couldn't make it up for it, i reckon (if it is even allowed to go ahead!)

I am fed up hearing about what Japan did 50 or 60 years ago, we cannot change the past only learn from it and move on. Every country has their skeletons, every country and so look in your backyard to find your own and reflect.  There is no Garden of Eden anywhere in this world, and so, in this time of crisis everyone needs to pull together and respect the decisions of one another countries and pray.

The Korean government especially, is immature. They'll never move on (there is a political motive behind this, domestically speaking there, i suspect).

We have SB, still active as armchair all-Japan critic, & now we have SJ xD

Amusing to say the least.

If SK has such an issue, why didn't they accept the cruise ship to go there?