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U.S., Japan agree to keep troops on base to curb COVID spread

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By YURI KAGEYAMA

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As a military veteran, I know this ain't going to fun, but you gotta do what you gotta do to stop the spread and fight the virus. I hope the US bases are stocked up enough entertainment-wise to keep them occupied. Even though the number of CoVid-19 cases in Japan has never been as bad as say the US, Brazil or India - it's better to be safe than sorry.

21 ( +26 / -5 )

The US military clocked 430 cases in Okinawa yesterday. As Yubaru points out many live off base. As do the thousands of civilian workers. The horse has bolted on this one. Having the really stupid situation that everyone returning to Japan needed a pre and post flight PCR test and quarantine EXCEPT those returning fot US military duty was criminal. The three biggest outbreaks in Japan are all around US bases. Incompetence on Japan's part and willful arrogance from the US military.

21 ( +30 / -9 )

The U.S. and Japan on Sunday agreed to keep American troops within their bases as worries grew about a sharp rise in coronavirus cases in the country.

Poorly written article here, as this is blatantly false! Thousands of military, teachers, contractors, family members LIVE off base, and they sure as hell wont be restricted to base!

This is half-arsed reporting. There are nearly 80,000 SOFA status personal in Okinawa, and the article only talks about active duty, (typical for these articles) and it's not just military that are catching covid.

Okinawa, a southwestern group of islands that houses most of the 55,000 U.S. troops in Japan,

20 ( +32 / -12 )

I do not know whether it's an issue of generations. I'm a millennial (born 1992) and I see that sometimes in every single corner of the world, the COVID-19 crisis and the vaccines and facemasks become politicized in every single debate and discussion.

About the article, all I can opine, is that every single member of an Armed Forces should follow procedures as told as to how behave and control the spread of a virus that did not arise yesterday. It was declared a pandemic in March 2020, with its initial roots in December of 2019.

Mankind is failing again by making it political, and I detest, not the average citizen, but those in places of power who politicize it all while the vulnerable die.

I hope Okinawa can control this. We must unite against COVID-19.

18 ( +20 / -2 )

You can’t blame my USA soldiers they are all vaccinated 110% so this proves that the vaccines we are being force fed doesn’t help to prevent the spread

And you obviously have no idea what a vaccine for covid is in the first place.

15 ( +27 / -12 )

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, which documents the U.S. atomic bombing of Japan at the end of World War II, and Hiroshima Castle are both closed to visitors.

Totally unnecessary addition, unless your agenda is to make it appear that the omicron variant being here in Japan is because of the US military !

There are lots of other places closed and this is hardly "news" worthy in an article about covid and cooperation between the US military and Japan!

14 ( +23 / -9 )

U.S. military members will wear masks when outside their homes …

Looking at the photo, it seems the message is taking time to filter through…

14 ( +18 / -4 )

So the reality of a USFJ lock down is this (I was in Okinawa for a few of them):

The active duty that live on base are only allowed to transit to/from their base of work and housing. They will not be permitted to stop at stores off base for any reason. Those that live off installation will be told they can go from their domicile directly to the base they work on, nothing more. Last time this happened, they made this punitive, and ~300 dependents (wives mostly of active duty) were kicked off island (lost command sponsorship) because they couldn't live without their Mocha-latte-frappachino garbage from Starbucks. They thought the drive through was OK.

Now, the bigger question is will they extend this to the civilians that live there but work on the base? Also the last time USFJ did this civilian restrictions lasted a week, then the island Commander was told he could not restrict civilians. I expect similar in this instance.

I'm still in quarantine at a base in Kanagawa-ken. It's still 14 days on base only, no public transport, etc... The reason this came to be was the military flying the active folks into Kadena directly and once sent to their base bypassing the 145 day requirement AND lack of testing. I mean, I've been tested 3 times in 8 days. This is not hard.

12 ( +12 / -0 )

Because of the US military bad and ignorant bevaviour, restaurants and bar owners are struggeling again with shorten buisness hours.

The US military needs harder restrictions and they should pay compensation money to the bars and restaurants.

Stretching things pretty far here dont you think? You expect the military to pay compensation to some bar owner in Naha?

10 ( +19 / -9 )

“keep troops on base to curb COVID spread“

Sure, keeping 80,000 foreigners on base will solve any problem, it’s not like 120 million Japanese going to work in overcrowded trains and malls and stadiums can spread anything.

Unbelievable.

10 ( +16 / -6 )

They are not there to explore Japan - they are there to defend Japan.

They are not here to defend Japan, they are here to cement the US military presence in the Far East.

Try saying that to a US MARINE in his face and see what happens lol

What happens?

He guffaws at the idea that his presence in Japan has anything to do with the defense of Japan? Don’t need to be a US Marine to do that.

9 ( +12 / -3 )

and will continue to carry out strict testing before leaving for and after arrival in Japan, it said.

"It?" "Strict?" Who is "it" and when the military says it's going to test within 24 hours of arrival, that alone is far from strict! Test them upon entry! No questions asked, just do it!

8 ( +24 / -16 )

The fact that the vaccines don't stop transmission is a massive disappointment.

Time to grow up and take science seriously. Oh, and wear a mask to protect yourself and others from you.

8 ( +16 / -8 )

Try saying that to a US MARINE in his face and see what happens lol

What, pray tell, do you guess would happen? An act of violence that would have a US military member jailed and deported?

8 ( +12 / -4 )

I suspect then that you expect China to pay compensation to every person and country in the world too!

China got away scot free and hiding as if we all though the virus originated somewhere else.

7 ( +12 / -5 )

Just by looking at this photo with a MASKLESS marine tells the whole story, U.S. personal regardless of thheir status are required to follow the rules of all hosting nations, NO EXCEPTIOS.

7 ( +13 / -6 )

This should have been done from the very beginning, the first measure before thinking what else could be done.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Can it be a permanent thing? They have everything they need within their bases, I was in Okinawa a couple of weeks ago and most servicemen I saw act like if they owned the place, are loud, obnoxious and they seem to love shouting in loud English to local retail workers like if they were back home.

Of course none of them know a word of the local lingo.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

The bulk of the American military will understand the rationale, and respect the rights of others in protecting themselves.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

This is a complete failure by US Forces Japan leadership and conmanders. Not those stationed here. There is not reason there is a double standard for entry into the country. Whether on a commerical flight or military flight.

This has been a problem since the pandemic started with complete lack of consistency and standards across US forces. With each base and military branch stationed in Japan having their own rules that in many cases contradict each other.

As such there needs to be accountability to the USFJ leadership and those who made the decision for allowing this to occur. Especially given the bad press in the past.

Hopefully the Japanese gov takes a more active role in oversight of their borders and USFJ compliance as a result of this.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

@yubaru

I guess according to you, the Okinawn people should all say thank you US army that because of you a SOE is implemented again in Okinawa and many private buisnesses are struggeling because of you?

Do you think the Okinawa Bar Owner is happy that he has to shorten his business hours?

Should he also say, thank you US army?

Things are easy to say if you are not directly related.

4 ( +10 / -6 )

But hey, for the locals, including those that have JUST arrived off flights with infected, they shall only suffer a reduction in drinking party member size from 8 to 4… in three prefectures…. If they want… and no penalty if they don’t.

4 ( +11 / -7 )

Too little too late. The genie is out of the bottle.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

To all anti-vaxxers, you're wrong.

4 ( +11 / -7 )

Outbreaks on US military bases? They are all vaccinated. Also, the Belgium team in Antarctica had a COVID outbreak. The Antarctica Belgium team went through all the cleansing protocols like fully vaccinated, quarantines, lots of testing, extremely isolated, etc and there was still an outbreak. I thought this was a pandemic of the unvaccinated.

3 ( +12 / -9 )

They shouldn't really have had to reach a deal to begin with, Japan should have simply been able to tell the US troops. Sure the bases themselves are American territory, but the land outside them is not. Supposedly at least.

Then again, the Japanese government doesn't have the power to restrict their own citizens, so they legitimately not be able to do that for the same reasons.

@Oxycodin

Try saying that to a US MARINE in his face and see what happens lol

The implication here is that the US military is so poorly disciplined they'd strike a civilian for an insult? I mean, I don't disagree but I don't think that is the argument you wanted to be making.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

Good. Seeing as they can NOT think of others. It's the only way.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

To those who are not going outside:

everything is crowded. Japanese people are eating, drinking, talking, laughing, and shouting in closed spaces without their masks.

the numbers would have grown regardless.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Shut the door after the horse has bolted, well done.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

The three biggest outbreaks in Japan are all around US bases

Yeah, those local spikes are statistically significant or deviant, especially for Iwakuni and its neighbor Hiroshima where daily case numbers had earlier been close to nil for long. Unlike Okinawa, the region also has a high vaccination rate. With DNA analysis the causality will become clear.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Teach the troops to wash properly and gargle and drink green tea and eat nattou

Out of all the useless habits I have had the opportunity to witness, gargling is by far the most meaningless yet disgusting one. It has been proven to bring no benefits, yet still so widespread.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

US troop must be inside of the camps for sure.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

“I thought this was a pandemic of the unvaccinated.”

Indeed, it was. It was the pandemic of the unvaccinated which has been infecting the vaccinated.

Sorry that is blunt but this will go on forever if both the vaccinated and unvaccinated are not trying a bit more to maintain prevention protocols. If everyone can do so we will be able to keep restrictions to minimum and political leaders don’t have to blame things on this group or that group or each other so use inappropriate language.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Richard Gallagher

Omicron is far less deadly than Delta, scientists agree and the data backs it up.

1 ( +8 / -7 )

… or use inappropriate language

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Can someone tell me, assuming you can accomplish entry into Japan and stay at your Quarantine Facility…WHO PAYS for that ? I had some Japanese person say it’s free and that sounds hilarious to me…nothing is free in Japan

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Richard Gallagher

There is no scientific evidence that the omicron variant is less virulent than delta. There is only anecdotal reference from physicians and healthcare workers that it seems milder than delta. Since a vast number of individuals are inoculated against he SARSCoV-2 virus, this factor certainly impacts the virulence.

Um, this seems to disagree with your diatribe:

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20211229/Omicron-analysis-shows-no-clear-evidence-for-increased-virulence-or-lethality.aspx

0 ( +3 / -3 )

The Sicilian

You should have read that properly mate, it says no signs it’s more virulent yet it’s more contagious.

Heres a link and there’s tons out there showing data from South Africa and U.K. that show that Omicron is far less deadly and it also doesn’t effect the lungs like other variants. The most common symptoms are the same as the common cold in the vast majority.

https://www.statnews.com/2021/12/22/omicron-oddity-case-numbers-dont-predict-deaths/

0 ( +3 / -3 )

They should use "absolute risk reduction" but since the FDA gets much of their funding from pharma and since 95% sounds so much more impressive than 0.8%...

That you like to minimize the role of vaccines is not an argument to say the FDA "should" use one specific measurement instead of the most pertinent. What institution of science and medicine says the "absolute risk reduction" should be used for the vaccines (in general)? it makes no sense. For every other disease for which vaccines have allowed herd immunity to make a thing of the past this would be a ridiculous low number, which would not do anything to deny the fact that vaccinated people have a much diminished risk if infected. COVID is not different in this aspect.

If your argument depend on every institution of the world to supposedly be controlled by funding (that would surpass for much any profit actually made from vaccines) that means your argument is not worth listening to.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

USA not taking responsibility for its actions but wants to lecture others on right or wrong.

I think they should.

USA citizens defending bad behavior

No one is defending any bad behavior.

and conduct of its soldiers in Japan, how many times did we hear this??? Even when you make mistakes you still blame Japan??Western logic at play as always.

How so?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I think it's a bit of both. If the US were to leave that would leave Japan and Guam and eventually Hawaii open for the Chinese to easily launch an attack on the West Coast and put it in the worst vulnerable position and they're not going to let that happen, why would they?

How is that a 'bit of both'? They're there to protect Guam, Hawaii and ultimately the West Coast.

Not Japan.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

El RataJan. 10  11:10 am JST

Can it be a permanent thing? They have everything they need within their bases, I was in Okinawa a couple of weeks ago and most servicemen I saw act like if they owned the place, are loud, obnoxious and they seem to love shouting in loud English to local retail workers like if they were back home.

Of course none of them know a word of the local lingo.

There are certain rules and standards for US military pesonnel for when they are off base. If they cause a rukus with the local-yocals they can be held accountable for it in accordance with the UCMJ. As for the local lingo, militsary veterans I know who've been stationed in Okinawa get 'boned up' in the Japanese language before deploying there. It certainly is true for those who've been in the Middle East. They've told me that exotic as the Arabic language and alphabet appears, it's not really that difficult.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

falseflagsteveJan. 10 05:06 pm JST

The Sicilian

You should have read that properly mate, it says no signs it’s more virulent yet it’s more contagious.

Heres a link and there’s tons out there showing data from South Africa and U.K. that show that Omicron is far less deadly and it also doesn’t effect the lungs like other variants. The most common symptoms are the same as the common cold in the vast majority.

https://www.statnews.com/2021/12/22/omicron-oddity-case-numbers-dont-predict-deaths/

That is my point. It is more virulent (spreads easier), but is less lethal. That is what the study shows.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Because, if the US military followed the implemented testing rules and did not just ignore them, this bar owner do not need to shorten the buisness hours of his bar.

I suspect then that you expect China to pay compensation to every person and country in the world too!

You comment shows your ignorance. You are like Denny, all you want to do is point fingers because you can not accept that guano happens. Quite the "entitled" person you seem to be!

-1 ( +8 / -9 )

Thankyou for your servitude.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

Do you know the difference between "relative risk reduction" and "absolute risk reduction" as it relates to vaccines? I asked you previously. You didn't answer the question, merely provided a link which I think explained it. Not sure. I didn't look.

Well, that is the problem, willingly rejecting information that proves your argument is false do not help actually defending that argument, it just means you choose to live in denial.

Vaccines and every other drug should be evaluated according to their relative risk reduction. because that is their role, to reduce the risk for those affected. Lets say bacteremia happens to 1 in every 1000 people, and antibiotics save 99% of the people that get it.

According to you antibiotics only provide a 0.09% reduction of risk, but for people with bacterial infections of the blood the actual reduction is of a 99%.

This is something that you would have understood if you read the article that I provided, which explains it much better, but nobody can make someone rejecting science for irrational reasons to do it, the most you can provide is the information that proves the ideas wrong, the honesty of the person is the one that will decide if the information is received or ignored.

And do you know why a placebo group along with a vaccine group is used in vaccine trials?

Yes, this is something you apparently ignore, you also apparently ignore that when people are included in clinical trials there are ethical considerations that must be fullfilled by the researchers. If something proves above any reasonable doubt to be beneficialj and safe, ethical studies MUST stop the people on the placebo arm from not receiving this something and switch them to the treatment group. This is something that is included in the study design and can't be skipped, even if unethical people would like to let people die unnecessarily.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

They are not here to defend Japan, they are here to cement the US military presence in the Far East.

I think it's a bit of both. If the US were to leave that would leave Japan and Guam and eventually Hawaii open for the Chinese to easily launch an attack on the West Coast and put it in the worst vulnerable position and they're not going to let that happen, why would they?

What happens?

He guffaws at the idea that his presence in Japan has anything to do with the defense of Japan? Don’t need to be a US Marine to do that.

Coming from a military family, they would just probably ignore and laugh at the insults from people, after all, it's just name-calling.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

How is that a 'bit of both'? They're there to protect Guam, Hawaii and ultimately the West Coast.

Not Japan.

That is just complete nonsense, of course, they would protect Japan 100% if it were attacked, now I will agree with you that for some reason the military in Okinawa (specifically) is always running into one problem after another, and I don't know if it has something to do with the ranking leadership, but it is a problem quite frequently and something should be done. I live about 70 min away from Sasebo and they have a large Naval base stationed there and for the most part, they don't have any of the problems that Okinawa is always having.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

What about camp Zama, Atsugi, Yosuke navy base and Yokota aiforce base??

-2 ( +9 / -11 )

You expect the military to pay compensation to some bar owner in Naha?

If the bar owner in Naha has to shorten his buisness hours: Yes!

Because, if the US military followed the implemented testing rules and did not just ignore them, this bar owner do not need to shorten the buisness hours of his bar.

-2 ( +13 / -15 )

@virusrex

Do you know the difference between "relative risk reduction" and "absolute risk reduction" as it relates to vaccines? I asked you previously. You didn't answer the question, merely provided a link which I think explained it. Not sure. I didn't look. I know what it means. I actually took the radical step of researching it myself. Do you know?

And do you know why a placebo group along with a vaccine group is used in vaccine trials?

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

WA4TKG  10:51 am JST

Can someone tell me, assuming you can accomplish entry into Japan and stay at your Quarantine Facility…WHO PAYS for that ? I had some Japanese person say it’s free and that sounds hilarious to me…nothing is free in Japan.

The Japanese government pays, which inevitably means large amounts of taxpayer money gets transferred to certain businesses favored by certain politicians.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

If the correct way to determine the effectiveness of medicine is "relative risk reduction", why does the FDA say "absolute risk reduction" should be used?

They should use "absolute risk reduction" but since the FDA gets much of their funding from pharma and since 95% sounds so much more impressive than 0.8%...

Omicron is far less deadly than Delta, scientists agree and the data backs it up.

That was first noticed in South Africa, which has a low vax rate. So unlike what some people say, the lower virulence is not thanks to the vax.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

The restrictions imposed on ALL SOFA members are far more stringent than any measures in place for Japanese citizens.

All SOFA members from three years old and up are tested a minimum of three times and subject to quarantine on arrival to Japan. Each and every person is tested prior to leaving their departure point, on arrival, and then one last time before leaving quarantine.

US Installations throughout the pandemic have mitigated the spread of the virus by limiting the numbers of people in the base stores, maximizing teleworking, imposing travel restrictions on its members throughout Japan, and placing most adult entertainment off limits.

I recently left Japan after 6 years of living there and moved to Hawaii. For the entire month of November I stayed in a hotel on Waikiki full of Japanese tourist. You should ask yourself will those Japanese citizens be subject to the same restrictions? How many times are those returning Japanese citizens tested? Will there be anyone to check and see if they follow a strict quarantine upon their return? Will they go to purchase their groceries at the busy Aeon mall? If they break their quarantine will their be any consequences for them?

I get it it is easy to scapegoat the US military, but if Japan actually made test available the numbers of infected would likely be far greater by proportion than that of the US military. You would have to live under a rock to actually believe that the busy stores throughout Japan and trains slammed full of people aren't breading grounds for COVID.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

USA not taking responsibility for its actions but wants to lecture others on right or wrong.

USA citizens defending bad behavior and conduct of its soldiers in Japan, how many times did we hear this??? Even when you make mistakes you still blame Japan??Western logic at play as always.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

The restrictions starting Monday will last 14 days,

The measures, which last through the end of the month, include the early closing hours for restaurants, at 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. Some restaurants also must stop serving alcohol.

Why for the military just 14 days and for the japanese public until end of months?

For the US military it must stay UNTIL the situation improved a lot, especially because these idiots are responsible for that.

Because of the US military bad and ignorant bevaviour, restaurants and bar owners are struggeling again with shorten buisness hours.

The US military needs harder restrictions and they should pay compensation money to the bars and restaurants.

-3 ( +14 / -17 )

The three biggest outbreaks in Japan are all around US bases”

The three biggest testing sites in Japan are all US bases.

-3 ( +9 / -12 )

There is a gross ignorance concerning vaccination, mask wearing, social distancing. existent protocols and the virulence of the omicron variant. Though it has been two years since SARSCoV-2 arrived in Japan via a tour-bus load of visitors from Wuhan. It is astounding that individuals are unable to comprehend the basic facts regarding the covid-19 virus and the means to preventing its spread. As stated above by one of the more aware individuals, the virus has been politicized and by doing such ignores obvious scientific fact.

There is no scientific evidence that the omicron variant is less virulent than delta. There is only anecdotal reference from physicians and healthcare workers that it seems milder than delta. Since a vast number of individuals are inoculated against he SARSCoV-2 virus, this factor certainly impacts the virulence. What is apparent is the spread of omicron which can be deduced from simply numbers, it is a matter applying arithmetic to arrive at a fairly accurate count, it is highly contagious. One unique factor is the spread among school-age children. Another obvious indicator is that hospitalization is most prevalent among the unvaccinated.

Add to this the large number of cases among U.S. military personnel who arrived in Japan infected with the SARSCoV-2 variant and its exponential spread in Okinawa and other military posts in Japan. They were not tested upon arrival. Had not received booster shots - booster shots are highly effective against omicron. Military troops exhibit no compulsion to effect protocols established amongst the Japanese citizenry, among these protocols is the wearing of masks anywhere outside one's abode. On base personnel were not restricted to base. Indeed there are U.S. military personnel who do not live on base and Japanese are employed on base - which may or may not be a factor, this has not been established. However, and importantly, the omicron virus was transmitted from individuals in the U.S. military upon arrival from the U.S. or its territories, into the domestic population of Japan. It was not the other way around. The virus was transmitted to Japan by US citizens serving in the armed forces.

There is absolutely no scientific fact to support the ineffectiveness of vaccines applied to U.S. troops stationed in Japan. Though this has been alluded to by ill-informed opinion. Exactly the opposite is true and can be attested to by myriad studies based on substantial scientific research.

And yes, the responsibility falls upon DOD and the upper echelons. However, being cognizant, even in the slightest as to protocols among the natives would impel one to follow such. And restrict one's entertainment choices or better yet, however difficult because of one's youthful vigor, remain on base or if living off-base, self-isolate at home during 'off-hours'. After all it's a pandemic, which needs to be squelched. That requires cooperation for the common good. Certainly, the US armed forces is not a democratic assembly, it is a strict hierarchy, policy and orders are not a result of a conses among the lower ranks. It comes from above and ultimately DC. Established policy regarding testing and vaccination should have been formulated long ago, not ad hoc. An obvious failure by higher-ups. Among that a revolving cabinet within the central government of Japan. Which is not to wholly shift responsibility as those 'leaders' are beholden to the US.

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

Try saying that to a US MARINE in his face and see what happens lol

Frightening..... Though if that US MARINE is unarmed, almost certainly only a risk of physical violence for women and children.

-4 ( +5 / -9 )

If the correct way to determine the effectiveness of medicine is "relative risk reduction", why does the FDA say "absolute risk reduction" should be used?

Well, that is the thing, the FDA do not say so, this again is included in the article that terrifies you so much that you had to avoid reading it.

https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-thelancet-riskreduction-idUSL2N2NK1XA

You have not addressed my example, according to you a life saving intervention that would save 99% of people with bacteremia "should" only be described as reducing one tenth of a percent? That is obviously nonsense.

200mg of Oxycontin is an absolutely perfect medication for a headache but what good is a medicine that kills one before the sickness it's supposed to be treating?

What has this to do with anything, The vaccines proved to be safe and effective in the comparison between the treated and placebo group, so decisively that it surpassed the ethical threshold put in place since the planning of the clinical trials to unmask and treat the placebo also.

To that end, do you know how many people died in the placebo group vs the vaccine group in Pfizer's trails?

Everybody interested knows, without any deaths attributable to the vaccines, and much more importantly, with results of safety and efficacy that have been corroborated with literally millions over millions of vaccinated people where the vaccines kept their profile of safety without any problems.

Again, read the references that prove you wrong, being afraid of the evidence is a terrible argument to defend mistaken points.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

The military have done Japan a favour. Can't stay locked down for ever trying to resist the virus, just let it spread like the UK is doing. Then we can return to normal

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

@Addfwyn

Definitely not the argument I’m making. Military men are one of the most disciplined men/women. Someone was being very disrespectful to the US Armed forces. Stating they should be locked up on base and too never leave the base as there only existence and meaning here in Japan is to defend Japan only . If this article went viral on all us military bases in Japan, a lot of military personnel could get mad at such disrespect comment.

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

Probably safer for the troops seeing that Japan's testing is so minimal even compared to the USA military.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Great. For all the non-military affiliated foreigners living in Japan, prepare to be ID checked every time you pass a koban.

-7 ( +6 / -13 )

he crux of the problem was the mistaken belief that vaccinated people didn't need to quarantine because the vaccine stops transmission.

Who spread that misinformation to the US military?

Antivaxxers? Because transmission even between vaccinated people has been scientifically proved since the beginning of the Delta spreading, at this point only antivaxxers are the ones repeating this mistaken belief. So either the US military need to have better sources or stopped quarantines well knowing it would cause wild spreading of the infection.

-7 ( +5 / -12 )

100% vaccinated people should not be transmitting/getting COVID at that rate.

-9 ( +11 / -20 )

> Fighto!Today 08:22 am JST

US Military should be kept on base - permanently.

They are not there to explore Japan - they are there to defend Japan.

Try saying that to a US MARINE in his face and see what happens lol

-10 ( +9 / -19 )

Good news.

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

Japan has set up stringent border controls, barring most incoming travel except for returning residents and citizens.

What a giant employment scheme this has become. Anyone who has been through quarantine at one of Japan’s international airports realizes what an an enormous number of industries are making money off the Omicron variant. Excessive numbers of workers guide any arriving travelers who have spent recent time in a list of over 160 countries through a four-hour maze of about seven stations extending over a two-kilometer walk and for many ending with a superfluous team of bus attendants to shuttle the travelers to local quarantine hotels staffed with huge teams of attendants to check the travelers in and guide them to their rooms and feed them — all at the expense of the Japanese taxpayer.

-11 ( +20 / -31 )

Try saying that to a US MARINE in his face and see what happens lol

What, pray tell, do you guess would happen? An act of violence that would have a US military member jailed and deported?

No, Japanese are cheap and can be bought. A wrecked Japanese face is worth ¥2,000,000 in compensation, I believe.

-13 ( +0 / -13 )

Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting. Classic. And I mean a CLASSIC example of japan yet AGAIN blame shifting by directing attention away ftom their OWN homemade mess.

Let's look at a few things here, shall we?

-ALL American military personnel are vaxxed. Fact. The biden administration made it mandatory. Remember?

Certain parts of japan are seeing a MAJOR uptick in cases. Fact. Lock people in their houses. Right? Same difference.

THOUSANDS, and I mean THOUSANDS of japanese citizens work on American bases. What about them? Lock them on base? Lock them out? Which one? They are free to come and go? If so, it makes this whole 2 week lock in/down look absolutely ¥¥¥¥¥¥¥ stupid.

-Those japanese citizens are also vaxxed so why worry? The vax is effective, right? It's supposed to protect, right? Why the masks? Why the fear? Gosh, it's as if people don't believe in this magical ilixir.

Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting that the j govt time and again gets away with their glaringly blatant racism and discrimination against the very same people they rely on to protect them.

Some ally. What a ¥¥¥¥¥¥¥ joke.

-13 ( +2 / -15 )

You can’t blame my USA soldiers they are all vaccinated 110% so this proves that the vaccines we are being force fed doesn’t help to prevent the spread. Wake up call to the public but no need to put all the blame on us military. We American and enlistee know this

-17 ( +18 / -35 )

Teach the troops to wash properly and gargle and drink green tea and eat nattou

-22 ( +13 / -35 )

U.S. military members will wear masks when outside their homes …

Perhaps Japanese should consider a fresh perspective on repetitive habits that have no basis in science, such as outdoor masking among the socially distanced as a preventive measure against the Omicron variant, which according to the latest data, “appears causes less severe illness.”

-29 ( +14 / -43 )

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