Foreign researchers facing stricter quarantine; 'jailed' in hotel

Governments should allow people in quarantine at least some time for daily exercise outside. If restaurants and bars are open with many citizens that could be positive for COVID interacting with each other, I don't see the problem with people allowed to get some exercise outside daily. Even many inmates in prison get daily exercise in the prison yards. Lol. Daily exercise would help keep people mentally and physically healthier as well.

This is elementary. If business travelers get a quarantine of 3 days then it should be universally true that researchers should only be quarantined for 3 days. There is no physical difference between a researcher and a business traveler. In fact, the 3 day rule should now be universal because physically we are all the same whoever we are. Right?

14 not 10

Japanese get 3 day quarantines and foreign spouses of same get 10 days. It completely obvious what that is

This in today from the Dainichi: "Japan's government said Friday it will shorten the COVID-19 quarantine period for vaccinated businesspeople from overseas upon their arrival in the country to three days starting Monday following global progress with vaccinations and requests from the business community."

Business travelers get 3 days and he rest of us get 14 days. Hey, that's not right !!

Vaccines neither keep the vaccinated from spreading or getting this virus…the vaccine only keeps the results of the infection from becoming dire and requiring hospitalization!

Quarantine is necessary and should be enforced.

People , Now you know, bring your PC's and Phones with you , get the free wifi and start binging NETFLIX.

buy beer and chu-hi from your nearest Vending Machine!

Welcome to Japan

Discrimination. No interest in their vaccine status, just lock up the foreigners.

This is false on multiple levels. Japanese citizens are subject to the exact same quarantine rules.

A person may quarantine at home for two weeks, provided they never leave the house, and authorities check in frequently by phone app to track the person’s location. Those without a home address must quarantine in a hotel.

Japan has recently shortened quarantine slightly for vaccinated people, but it sounds like The Japan Foundation didn’t make arrangements ahead of time and thought it easier to keep everyone in the same place instead of letting some out a few days early while the rest are still locked in the hotel.

And it’s not like the vaccine makes it any less likely to catch or transmit the disease. Really, given that the shot only mitigate severe symptoms, from a disease-control perspective, vaccinated and unvaccinated alike should have to quarantine the same.

SUch strict quarantine rules make sense when COVID is contained within the nation (e.g. NZ), but when COVID is already everywhere, what's the point? How does it help per cent COVID, if COVID is already there?!

Can someone help me out with the logic here?

These quarantine rules were implemented nearly a year ago when Japan had almost no cases. This quarantine was the condition authorities set for easing travel to allow passport and visa-holders some ability to travel. It’s remained a consistent rule for all people arriving in Japan.

Discrimination. No interest in their vaccine status, just lock up the foreigners.

They deserve no sympathy! They knew about this strict quarantine measures in place and still decided to come…now they are complaining about it! The world is still facing a pandemic so each country has a right to implement whatever they feel is necessary! These so called researchers have only themselves to blame! Japan is not at fault on this one ( for a change … lol )!

These researchers may not like it, and they can whine, but it’s the same treatment everyone else has gotten for the past year. It’s a two-week quarantine when you enter the country, and the authorities are strict. It’s applied to citizens and non-citizens alike.

Do these people think they deserve special treatment because they earned some special academic degree? Talk about privilege! Rules for thee, but not for me!

Maybe, the researcher was not so important for Japan.

It's a "a precondition" so what are they crying about??

One of the bigger issues here is the retardation of quarantining for 10 days when already vaccinated. Should be less. The vaccine isn't some random magic like many believe.

xenophobia?

it is a strange word to me. foreign researchers just are treated as others. they are not supposed to be favorably treated. if they think they are previleged people, which is a wrong idea or something else. if a japanese researcher enters the US, which requires vaccination manadate or other requirments. It shows each coountry has each requirement for quarantine.

This is somewhat off the point but related. One reason Japan universities have downgraded is because professors are not writing enough in English, which limits their footprint on global scholarship.

The sequestering of visiting scholars only makes the state of Japanese academia worse. I do not mean only the discomfort of being "locked in" in their hotels. The disrespect shown to their scholars will not go away soon, if ever.

Japanese business hotel with the pay per view tv cards and room service being compared to American jails, communal shower rooms, and jailyard gangs. This researchers need to research reality.

in reply to gobby: yeah, he has some document from the japanese embassy in his country that is some kind of vax passport, but no dice. these are the conditions that were imposed on his entry a few weeks before entry. Seems draconian, but thems are the rules it would seem...

By which I mean taking research and other activities to countries with a more favorable environment. If Japan thinks it doesn't need foreign specialists, well, it's its loss not theirs

Japan seems unwilling to reciprocate steps taken by other countries... so maybe they should instead reciprocate Japan's actions? Like, you know, lock up the arriving Japanese. Would be interesting to see how they would react to that.

Also, if Japan is apparently so eager to return to the sakoku policy, let it do so. I don't think the rest of the world will fall apart without it

But I live here, have a Japanese issued "vax passport", will have a PCR to leave, and another before I return.

If they do this even for Japanese citizens and residents, there will be riots. Did he have the infamous passport :-)

Wrong, my student had 2 doses of moderna, negative PCR test results before leaving, and he must stay in a business hotel at his own initial expense (he will get some reimbursement for part of the amount from the university at a later date) until 15 days has elapsed. It seems it is an ad hoc rule for students and researchers who were allowed to enter Japan.

Another researcher said it is one of the worst cases of "racism," adding, "Japan is dishonoring itself in its contemporary history."

…

Feeling abused and discriminated against then go and file a lawsuit

Ganbare!

In reply to Virusrex, although this is slightly off topic, Japan does have a hard time attracting foreign researchers. In 2013, Abe pledged to have 10 Japanese universities in the top 100 universities by 2023. However, in that time Japanese universities have steadily slipped in the world rankings and Abe's pledge has been quietly forgotten. Now it would be virtually impossible to achieve with 2-years left. One of the problems for Japanese institutions is that part of the ranking is dependent on internationalization. This includes the proportion of staff who are foreign and international students. On both counts Japanese universities are among the poorest in the world. For researchers, The reasons for this are many, but include poor salaries and little in-house money for research (at national universities), non-English working environments, hostile or ambivilent attitudes towards foreigners, and generally not being set up for to handle foreign academics (cue "the cry me a river" or "suck it up, buttercup" comments). However, Japan does not seem to realise that academia is an international market and the current work and research environment in Japan are not attractive for most foreign researchers. This poor treatment of newly arriving researchers and students is hardly going to enhance Japan's reputation in this area...

What should happen is whatever Japan told them before both sides signed into the job, no more no less

Whichever side is not doing what they signed into, is in the wrong and should redress the situation

Easy solution: Don't come to Japan until the corona-circus is over.

Which is exactly what the Japanese institutions focused on scientific research are trying to avoid. Foreign professionals being invited to Japan usually do it to the benefit of the Japanese institution doing the invitation, this is something extremely desirable for the institution and closely related to their international prestige, collaborations and scientific results, which in turn translate into more and better students and researchers working there (and the amount they get in funding for their work). Not receiving international researchers even if they try to invite them is much more a loss for the Japanese institution than for the researchers.

In this case is obvious they are being treated very differently from how they were told they would be (by the institution doing the invitation), the next time any university, hospital, scientific association, etc. tries to invites someone this incident will be the first thing it will appear when they google what to expect when coming to Japan and the invitation will be rejected, foreign researchers, studients, etc. will instead go other countries and Japan will be left behind again little by little.

that's why its a great place to live

Yes, there is. a pandemic in place. That is not the question. The question is one of fairness. Consider: Two people come into Japan. If you are foreigner you are quarantined for 14 days and your vaccinations don't count. If you are a Japanese go straight to your favorite noodle and beer place and fill yourself to your heart's content.

Jailed. Hardly. Using such as a descript is cheap hyperbole. There is still a pandemic in place and a rise in variants. Such is simply wise.

Wrong, my student had 2 doses of moderna, negative PCR test results before leaving, and he must stay in a business hotel at his own initial expense (he will get some reimbursement for part of the amount from the university at a later date) until 15 days has elapsed. It seems it is an ad hoc rule for students and researchers who were allowed to enter Japan.

GobshiteToday 01:51 pm JST

So I read the gov site again and this:

If you submit a copy of a vaccination certificate at the time of entry into Japan, 3-day waiting period in the accommodations of the government will be exempt, and part of the 14-day waiting period after entry will be shortened. Vaccination certificates must meet the requirements. Please be sure to check the details.

As anyone who leaves Japan will have the vax passport, and PCR test result to come back, not such an issue.

Can only assume these people didn't have either.

It said they are here with The Japan Foundation. I first came to Japan with that organisation. They were control freaks back then without the pandemic. It was a 10pm curfew at their centre without a special pass.

livvyToday  12:39 pm JST

Japan only recognizes the vaccines already approved for use in Japan. The US's Johnson & Johnson's Jansen vaccine hasn't received approval yet. Chinese and Russian vaccinations are also not recognized for admittance as "fully vaccinated" under the protocols. This is going to create more headaches for travelers.

The European Union is insisting that Japan give the same treatment to EU nationals that the EU is giving Japanese nationals entering the EU. The key word is reciprocal. Because the EU doesn't distinguish between EU nationals and Japanese nationals in travel restrictions, the EU is pushing Japan to reciprocate, but Japan is not doing so. This is creating resentment.

This is totally correct,Japan wants to have privileges abroad but want to discriminate the non-Japanese coming here regardless their full vaccination.

This is called prejudice and xenophobia,but of course their local authorities do not think so.

Easy solution: Don't come to Japan until the corona-circus is over.

So I read the gov site again and this:

If you submit a copy of a vaccination certificate at the time of entry into Japan, 3-day waiting period in the accommodations of the government will be exempt, and part of the 14-day waiting period after entry will be shortened. Vaccination certificates must meet the requirements. Please be sure to check the details.

As anyone who leaves Japan will have the vax passport, and PCR test result to come back, not such an issue.

Can only assume these people didn't have either

Open up Japan, you have no cases anymore, I didn't know the no foreigner rule was still active!

Care to take back the 1.36 million Japanese living abroad then? 

You mean the ones running Japanese companies aboard creating millions of jobs? Sure no problem. Since most if not will return anyway within three years.

You can still keep the difference in immigration to make sure convenience stores can stay open, keep the “trainees”

LOL, if you think Japan needs trainess to keep the convenience stores open. The last two years just proved that Japan does not them.

Another case of mind boggling double standards.

I dunno, they came to Japan willingly so it's not like any of this was inconceivable

Stay away from air travel. The passengers are all vaccinated and shedding virus and variants. They’ll eventually figure it out, but in the meantime a lot of the Covidian cult will become ill in the meantime.

Japan only recognizes the vaccines already approved for use in Japan. The US's Johnson & Johnson's Jansen vaccine hasn't received approval yet. Chinese and Russian vaccinations are also not recognized for admittance as "fully vaccinated" under the protocols. This is going to create more headaches for travelers.

The European Union is insisting that Japan give the same treatment to EU nationals that the EU is giving Japanese nationals entering the EU. The key word is reciprocal. Because the EU doesn't distinguish between EU nationals and Japanese nationals in travel restrictions, the EU is pushing Japan to reciprocate, but Japan is not doing so. This is creating resentment.

The headline reads like when the WHO team that visited China last year to ‘investigate’ the early days of the pandemic. At least they were taken on a ‘class trip’ to China’s Covid museum, weren’t they?

Didn't see this coming

(1)If you are Japanese, your name and information that may contribute to the prevention of the spread of infection may be publicized.

*(2)If you are a resident status holder, your name, nationality, and information that may contribute to the prevention of the spread of infection may be publicized. *You may also be subject to revocation of your status of residence and deportation proceedings.

Why the surprise? I'm planning to go away next month, and have to follow this when I get back

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/covid-19/bordercontrol.html

The same crowd praising other countries for closed borders are the same ones crying about Japan being racist/xenophobic because of it. I guess it is all about which direction the media sways people.

 I wonder why the Japanese government is paying for these crybabies to be in the country,

I don't see that Bob Macaroni's MEXT student is being a crybaby at all. It's Bob that's complaining about the student's treatment. Keep sticking up for your student, Bob. It can be hard at the best of times being a stranger in a new place where you don't know anybody.

Another researcher said it is one of the worst cases of "racism," adding, "Japan is dishonoring itself in its contemporary history.

Freer, democratic states like NZ or Taiwan have imposed stricter and more costly rules on int'l arrivals. Are they also racist? What about China? ....oh, a bad example :)

It’s not embarrassing Japan is being cautious.

they don’t want the covid situation to get out of hand.

it is not like the researchers did not know the rules before they came. They signed an agreement to even be able to come in the first case and now are complaining about it. In Japan rules are rules.

if anything it makes foreign researchers embarrassed, than Japan.

This sounds like highly intelligent and motivated people wanting to get to work but are frustrated because they have to wait.

It may also mean that these researchers are coming from hot zones or countries where the vaccination rate is low or they received the less effective vaccines made in China or Russia.

Japan has not stopped stereotyping people. We need more information!

I have a MEXT scholarship student in quarantine here in Kyoto. He has had 2 vacinations and has tested negative consistently. He is required to quarantine for 15 days (the arrival day is not counted). He is allowed to buy things from the combini in the hotel, but that is it. For young active people, it is pretty rough to have to stay in a Japanese business hotel which are renowned for their tiny size. Nothing luxury going in there. Easy for all of you to write "cry me a river" when you are not living it. It is not easy for them despite many of you claiming how easy it would be or how much you'd enjoy this 'break'.

People who test negative before getting on a plane are much less likely to have Covid than the general (untested) population. Quarantine makes no sense. But nations are not behaving logically. I don't see Japan opening any time soon, which means South Korea has an interesting decision to make.

They have been trying to match Japan's tourist trade for years. Kpop and the Korean wave made them popular, especially amongst the young. Now, with kdrama streaming to mainstream, older global audiences, esp. Squid Game, if they open to vaccinated, insured tourists before Japan, they could effectively pinch Japan's entire international tourist economy. South Korea has economic issues and could use the enormous financial boost.

Covid is offering rebooting opportunities like that. Any nation that can live with Covid can bank serious cash, as long as vaccination levels are high enough to prevent health services being overwhelmed. There will be big winners and big losers, globally. A covid zero policy will absolutely hammer China. Brexit will hammer the UK. Other nations will pull revenue from them.

My Japanese wife and I had our two vaccinations in the same place (sitting next to each other) and our vaccination date is at the city hall. Suppose we travel abroad, My wife can go straight home, guaranteed. What happens to me could be problematic.

@ego one week ago the news read:

”A total of 55 scholars in Japanese studies, including those from other Asia countries, Europe and the United States, are scheduled to arrive in Japan on that day”

In any case, unless the Japanese government has groundbreaking science on the matter, being part of the G7 doesn’t protect from the virus (quite the opposite in some cases…) and two people on the same plane, one Japanese one coming from the country of origin of the flight, should go through the same procedures IF the goal is to limit the spread of the virus.

They knew about the restrictions prior to departure. The rest is just cry baby stuff.

I don't see any surprises or sensational news in this story.

Yes, the two-week requirement is tough and unreasonable, but that's a different story.

I actually know who these guys are and where they're from. Let's just say, we aren't talking G7 countries... this may be a factor.

Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, according to the medical establishment. Someone needs to tell that to Japan's authorities.

Unfortunately, that's not the case, vaccinations will not prevent the "spread" of this virus, just look at Singapore, virus cases are raging, more than 84% are vaccinated, and as such the recovery rate is 98.6%, but as you see vaccination is not preventing the spread of virus.

https://sg.yahoo.com/news/3635-new-covid-cases-12-more-deaths-in-singapore-154213820.html

The govt. here could avoid all this outcry if they'd just have equal quarantine rules for everybody regardless of race, nationality, or occupation and base it on human biology which is the same for all of us, the last time I checked.

"Has the prime minister started his 15 day quarantine after returning from the UK?"

Don't be silly. Politicians' immune systems are out of this world.

"Has the prime minister started his 15 day quarantine after returning from the UK?"

I love it.

They are being treated like we would, coming to Japan without a private residence for them to do their quarantine in. I think one legitimate gripe they could have is why Olympic officials only had to do three days quarantine.

Also there was a DJ guy recently who also only did three days quarantine. Of course these researchers were told ahead of time so there was no surprise, but I have no idea why a DJ got extra special treatment

Has the prime minister started his 15 day quarantine after returning from the UK?

Racism in Japan ?

How could that possibly be ?

Japan is a developed nation of superior people.

There must be a mistake and that's shameful.

Its not called racism or prejudice in Japan because Japanese think its normal to be racist to Gaijin , foreigners also known as outsiders.

It's baffling to live in Japan and often hear how there's no racism here like it doesn't exist.

As far as Japanese are concerned it doesn't exist because is normal part of their culture.

Antiquated and a bit pathetic in my opinion

I don't think I'd mind spending 14 days for free in a luxury hotel. 

Also, who's cleaning the rooms and changing the sheets?

Conditions vary. If you are a couple and are lucky enough to be permitted to stay together in a larger suite type room with desk, large screen TV and sofa in an upscale hotel, reports of such experiences are not that bad. Food, fresh linens delivered to the suite and garbage removal daily was part of the service. No cleaning though.

On the other hand, if you are in a no frills business style hotel where the bed stretches across the room with a small TV on a desk without fresh linen or cleaning and food garbage was not removed either during the entire stay, needless to say the place began to stink. People were also not allowed fresh air as it was forbidden to open the window.

Why is Japan acting like China?

Another researcher said it is one of the worst cases of "racism," adding, "Japan is dishonoring itself in its contemporary history."

This is NOT racism or the racist policy, but the violation/negligence of the policy committed by the Japan Foundation. Essential outing is still possible. Also note that some other states impose much stricter quarantine rules.

And aside from the fact the quarantine hotel is not luxurious (what they are saying is that it’s luxurious compared to jail, despite the other conditions being similar or worse), there are guards on their corridors, no space between the bed and the wall, and a loud speaker going on for meals and other announcements.

What we are debating is on what ground people who were tested negative before departure, on arrival and have for the most been vaccinated, have to go through a procedure vastly more constraining than your Taro coming back from a business trip, going to shop at the nearby Aeon and getting in the packed train and office 10 days (soon 3 days) after landing. What is the scientific reason for that exactly? It is simply a punishment for the representatives of foreign institutions that asking for reciprocity have imposed this exception to Japan, who thought sending thousands of Japanese abroad with no quarantine without opening the borders was a divine right coming all the way down from Amaterasu (of course using the ‘Japanese only’ elevator).

The article is quite poorly written and biased to provoke reaction, and it lacks relevant background. At this time, foreigners (excluding Japan residents, relatives of Japanese nationals, and "special" cases such as diplomats or sport-related) are not allowed in Japan. Regardless of nationality, vaccination status, etc. However, the foreign ministry started accepting requirements for "special permit for entry". After a quite lengthy approval process, visa is issued and they are allowed in, only after a strict quarantine of 14 days. The situation is fully explained, and they sign an oath that they agree to these conditions.

More relaxed quarantine conditions were for the batch of people allowed in last year during October-December, or for Japan residents, spouses, etc.

 don't think I'd mind spending 14 days for free in a luxury hotel.

Some people value their time much more than others, it seems.

Complaining afterwards about preconditions? Racism? That alone gives me enough information to get a quite detailed colorful impression…lol

"Japan is dishonoring itself in its contemporary history."

Said by a researcher in Japanese studies good enough to be awarded a scholarship, so not someone who doesn’t understand Japan, its history and its culture.

Welcome back to Edo.

Don’t forget that those scholars had certainly at least twice negative pcrs.

This harsh quarantine is a joke

Specially when we hear business persons will be only quarantine for three days soon

GaijinjlandToday  07:57 am JST

I don't think I'd mind spending 14 days for free in a luxury hotel. I would totally abuse room service and milk i

Have you been in an hotel for quarantine?

I did.

Forget the room service !

Japan is trying to stay safe.

No it isn't. If it were, it would make vaccination the prime requirement. Instead, it ignores their vax status.

Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, according to the medical establishment. Someone needs to tell that to Japan's authorities.

15 days enjoyment in a hotel with internet access and you still get people crying out that they are being jailed. Back in my days, we would kill to just get a free day off from work. If you ask me, humans has become too spoiled in their living standards.

Just go read some books online, watch tv, play some games or something to pass the time. 15days isn't the end of the world. Especially when you willingly enter the country knowing full well that there is still a pandemic going on.

Well if everyone, regardless of nationality (including locals) are subject to the same rules then fine.

If not, then it is a legitimate gripe.

Raise your hand if anyone is shocked by this. Anyone? No? Figured. This is just par for the course for Japan. Anything non-Japanese is treated as dirty and diseased but hey, they're still sending out their students and researchers to countries abroad who have welcomed them openly.

Utterly ridiculous. 15 days in a hotel? Not even allowed to go out for a walk to get fresh air and some exercise? You'd go spare. Also, who's cleaning the rooms and changing the sheets? Japan needs to get its act together.

From above: "The scholars were required to sign a written oath, under which no outings are allowed, including going for a walk or grocery shopping, and they will stay only in an assigned room. It does not ask whether they have been vaccinated or not."

It is does not matter if you are vaccinated or not. It actually does not matter what nationality you are as longer as you live here and as a foreigner don't travel abroad and come back. if you are non-Japanese coming here or returning from abroad you are the boogie man.

Meanwhile, the restaurants and drinking places are coming back. That is where you would expect the virus to be hiding out.

This goes back to the Abe mentality: Foreigners are ipso facto diseased and the Japanese are somehow immune.

Japan is trying to stay safe.

If some foreigners do have Covid and spread it among locals, you won't like the news when it's blaming foreign travelers.

I support in working with them to make them more comfortable, maybe allow more time outside in a safe location. When it comes to Covid we should be on the same team.

Being quarantined is understandable, and it is also logical that people coming invited by a government affiliated institution being excempted would be taking terribly bad. The problem I see here is that apparently the people being invited were promised something very different from what they are being subjected. A shorter quarantine if vaccinated and tested, some small time outside, etc. As other people entering the country do enjoy.

This unfortunately will have a very negative effect on other scientists that were planning to visit Japan for similar purposes, when politicians, businessmen and athletes are easily given exceptions to enter the country while researchers are subjected to even harder conditions than normal it would be obvious that no other researchers will risk sharing that experience. Japanese universities, hospitals and research instituties will have to resignate themselves to not having foreign scientists visiting for the time being.

Good. They are grown ups so am sure they will survive this terrible ordeal of a 'luxury jail' for 15 days.

And being allowed outside once a day for walks is probably just so house cleaning can come in and tidy up.

Not sure why there are double-standards here for these foreign researchers.

Read that line again, your "answer" is right in front of you! They arent athletes, they arent politicians, they aren't anyone "special" other than they are "foreigners"!

I don't think I'd mind spending 14 days for free in a luxury hotel. I would totally abuse room service and milk it for all it's worth. What are they complaining about? Yeah, really compares to a jail!

My child (Japanese citizenship) returned from a study abroad. They did a 14 day quarantine at an approved hotel near Narita. This was even before vaccinations were available in Japan. My child was also allowed to leave the room briefly for walks and even to buy groceries at the Aeon mall nearby. Not sure why there are double-standards here for these foreign researchers.

If you can’t do the time, don’t sign on the line.

most scholars should be smart enough to figure that out

If they are researchers, maybe they needed to have researched the rules before they arrived. These are a variation of the rule in place here since last year.

These rules seem no different to the number of YouTube vlogs posted by JET teachers arriving in Japan. As I posted before, as an individual traveller the quarantine seems to be less strict which I think is not so good.

If it was set as a "precondition", all of these scholars should have known what they were getting into, and therefore can't really complain.

Let's not forget, Japan does not really value scholars.

"We could at least leave the room for a walk once per day or so," one of the scholars said.

This sounds reasonable to me, depending on vaccination status. Perhaps the prejudice is not against the individuals but against the vaccines used in their home countries. Not everyone got the same quality of vaccine.