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Japan sees heavy New Year holiday traffic after COVID-19 downgrade

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We finished the shopping today and we ain't going anyway for the next week.

5 ( +12 / -7 )

And yet, just a week or so ago the brains of the nation were baffled by the extremely high levels of flu and Covid. Hmmmm...

-12 ( +7 / -19 )

Thanks for sharing.

-3 ( +7 / -10 )

A very long-overdue return to normalcy!

6 ( +12 / -6 )

Great to see things finally back to normal.

since the government downgraded the legal status of COVID-19 in May and greatly relaxed health restrictions after three years

Any but the least logical and most panic-stricken would argue that is three years too late.

Over that time, there has been so much disinformation from big pharmaceutical companies and their sponsored epidemiologists producing flawed predictions and garbage statistics, censorship from the governments and bias from the mainstream media beholden to them - that even now there are people demanding more masks, lock downs, and that unvaccinated people are sent to holding facilities... to keep us safe from the Big Bug.

Fortunately, backed up by the findings of the world-leading epidemiologists, virologists and immunologists who *aren't* financially beholden to Big Pharma, 95% of us can now see clearly through these attempts to command, control and indoctrinate us with their money-making ideology.

Never again, and happy new year holidays to you all.

-6 ( +8 / -14 )

95% of us can now see clearly

Who are these 95%?

What media are they watching?

-3 ( +7 / -10 )

Eastman, where are you? Japanese aren’t so interested in overseas travel because of high plane fares and the weak yen. Also, they may start showing up now; yesterday was the last working day for many.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Marking myself safe from irrational fears of living and enjoying life without a mask.

-1 ( +8 / -9 )

many of their shinkansen (bullet train) seats reservation-only

"Many" shikansen seats have always been reservation only. Only cars 1 to 4 are open seating. What the devil is the writer trying to say?

0 ( +6 / -6 )

So glad my normal involves taking time off when everyone else is back at work.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Deceptive Covid19 downgrade that government conceal cases or deaths from public eyes and mainstream media or society pretend as if Covid19 ended despite failing to even reduce deaths.

Government, corporations and media distract eyes from even rapidly increasing excess mortality to prioritize corporations' profit than the lives of social vulnerables.

-12 ( +2 / -14 )

I never go travelling at this time of year, everywhere sooooo packed, it’ does my nut in, lol

Staying local you see, out on bikes for a family day out tomorrow, curry will likely be involved.

Heading to Okinawa in 12 days, not going during the busy period, no way Pedro. Only 70,000 for 3 of us inclusive for a couple of days and staying at a four star hotel with a massive room, lovely stuff.

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

COVID wasn't any more dangerous this time last year. Just saying.

1 ( +8 / -7 )

everywhere sooooo packed, it’ does my nut in, lol

Tokyo is nice and quiet. Usually is this time of year

out on bikes for a family day out tomorrow, curry will likely be involved.

You going cycling with the in-laws.?. On 大晦日, I can't imagine many Japanese people not visiting family. Unless they don't live in Japan. Just saying.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Tokyo is nice and quiet. Usually is this time of year.

Yes, I lived through one winter in Tokyo many years ago and it was eerily quiet. My neighborhood in the central-north part of Osaka City is like that now. Very comfortable for taking long walks in the brisk air.

How are you spending the holiday, Elvis?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Any but the least logical and most panic-stricken would argue that is three years too late.

that is the whole point, the most logical and less likely to be panicking by rational recommendations easily understand the downgrading of the disease could only come after the risk from the infection was sufficiently reduced by vaccines and effective treatments (and fortunately less severe strains becoming prevalent)

Over that time, there has been so much disinformation from big pharmaceutical companies and their sponsored epidemiologists producing flawed predictions and garbage statistics, 

You have never been able to disprove what the scientific consensus of the world (as in every single institution of medical science of the world) concluded about covid, no disinformation on that part, no flawed predictions, no garbage statistics.

censorship from the governments and bias from the mainstream media beholden to them

Censorship of people repeating proven falsehood is not negative, it is actually desirable and correct.

that even now there are people demanding more masks, lock downs, and that unvaccinated people are sent to holding facilities... to keep us safe from the Big Bug.

Experts are recommending masks, lockdowns, effective medication being distributed more freely, and this saves lives.

Fortunately, backed up by the findings of the world-leading epidemiologists, virologists and immunologists who *aren't* financially beholden to Big Pharma,

Not a single institution supports your point, only people that become infamous for openly lying and using false data to support their personal profit, that is not something people should be proud of supporting.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

How are you spending the holiday, Elvis?

With Mrs Elvis. NHK (we pay the fee), おせち, a drive, 初詣...Just like JnBox described. No curry thanks.

Peace on earth and good will to all.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Over that time, there has been so much disinformation from big pharmaceutical companies and their sponsored epidemiologists producing flawed predictions and garbage statistics, censorshipfrom the governments and bias from the mainstream media beholden to them - that even now there are people demanding more masks, lock downs, and that unvaccinated people are sent to holding facilities... to keep us safe from the Big Bug.

True, especially as there is no specific scientific consensus on this.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

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