Kishida says foreign tourists should follow Japan face mask rules

Right….

Foreigners must be instructed to wear face masks…

This is national news by the prime minister? Rather painfully inward looking if you ask me, but ok.

Actually, I agree with him. Foreigners in Japan, and any country for that matter, should absolutely follow the rules. Problem is there is so much ambiguity.

It’s madness, the have formed no government panel of experts to collate a rule book for foreigners, wear face masks come on! That is seriously not complicated or confusing enough. Every tourist should be given a handbook of rules and sign a contract not to break those rules. Should they it’s deportation and a written apology to the people of Japan. Absolute madness not to have such measures in place.

本当に？

Common sense.

And that’s what many foreigners coming into the country don’t have. The Japanese make the rules, not you. Respect the rules and we’ll all be happy. Nobody wants to go through another wave.

Why is common sense news?

Is there a different set of rules for foreigners?

Does the covid affects them differently?

"We must have them follow Japanese rules of wearing face masks," Kishida said in a session of the House of Representatives Budget Committee.

Kishida just deputized a lot of random Japanese as mask police when they see a foreigner with less than perfect mask etiquette. Probably some of the same Japanese with less than perfect etiquette themselves.

Elvis is here

I bumped into a few Japanese yesterday not following the rules. I know of at least one elderly Japanese man who has never consistently followed the rules since PanStart 19.

Some serious dark racist undertones there.

Every nation has expectations placed upon international visitors these days, and rightly so, given the world we now live in.

Are they all possessing "some serious dark racist undertones", or - perhaps - this is just angst for the sake of angst?

What rules? Wear the mask when driving alone in the car? Wear the mask cycling? Wear the mask walking alone or with you partner in the open with no one around you? ( This is what I see most people doing daily) . In fact I thought recently the government was advising outdoors was NOT necessary.

This statement is just to appease the backlash he is facing by the Japanese masses fearful of the COVID wave that will come with the opening of the country again to foreign tourists eventhough the foreign tourists will be in supervised controlled tours not free to go anywhere.

Wasn’t he shaking hands with unmasked foreigners the other day?

Japan has been bombarded with so much news about ignorant Westerners refusing to wear masks. It has forgotten that 80% of the tourists that come here are from Asia. Western tourists, for the most part don’t come here. And those that do would have no problem following the rules. Relax Japan!

This statement is just to appease the backlash he is facing by the Japanese masses fearful of the COVID wave that will come with the opening of the country again to foreign tourists

Absolutely!

But as more as these kind of rules or requirements for foreign tourists will be implemented, the more less tourists will come.

On the other hand, I think after the first, second or third wave of tourists appeared in Japan, and the Corona Situation will not get worse, nobody cares about such rules or requirements anymore.

But if the Corona Situatuon in Japan is getting worse after tourists came, then we all know who will be blamed.

Think the mask mandate is to protect foreigners from Japanese, so it makes sense.

Dissenting foreigners are free to redirect their vacations elsewhere!

Dissenting foreigners are free to abandon the country altogether.

Japanese make the rules in Japan,

Simples.

I bumped into a few Japanese yesterday not following the rules. I know of at least one elderly Japanese man who has never consistently followed the rules since PanStart 19.

Sure. But the difference is that these tourists, and foreigners in general, choose to come here. Many of them are waiting for idk how long to come here. The lack of respect they’ll show if they don’t care about what the Japanese say. Like I said, a little bit of common sense doesn’t hurt anybody.

Some serious dark racist undertones there.

Yes, we, as foreigners in Japan, know the whole story. And I agree, I mean, I got to. But let’s put that aside and focus on this virus ( haunting us for the past 3(!) years ). Sorry, but in this case, I don’t care about that us vs them Japanese mentality.

That's ridiculous !

Kishida isn't wearing a mask !

There's never been an official rule or law requiring the wearing of face masks at anytime during the pandemic.

Being asked to wear masks isn't a rule !

Well this is a government which gives you and app and then a twenty page booklet on how to use it on arrival because the thing is such an obvious failure.

Meanwhile in central Tokyo everyone was out partying their head Off with no mask.

This is national exceptionalism at best.

The tourism ministry plans to create guidelines on anti-virus measures for hotels and other industries before the resumption of inbound tourism, a key driver for Japan's economy before the pandemic's emergence.

Surely this should already be in place as people have been travelling around Japan for a least a year now. In fact, was it not one of the the plans to restart the GoTo program, to have infection control plan for hotels and tourist sites along with vaccine passports or negative tests.

Or is it a Special set of rules be people coming into the country?

So we see the real reason the government does not want foreigners coming into Japan. This has not been the first time. They haven’t changed since Edo.

Elvis is hereToday  07:13 am JST

Some serious dark racist undertones there.

No, in this case you're looking for "racism" where there isn't any. Since the pandemic started, people in Japan have been wearing masks for the most part without issues. In contrast in the US and parts of Europe there have been demonstrations and mass resistance towards wearing a mask. It is prudent for Japan to let tourists know that wearing a mask is "normal" in Japan, and if they don't like it they should reconsider visiting. Rather than coming to a foreign country and creating an issue/incident by willingly not following the local rules.

There is a spectacular art show going on now, but because they demand a mask be worn to enter, along with a temperature check,

I’m giving it a hard pass.

And I’m not someone who has to spend inordinate amounts of not so readily available cash to get here; endure a long flight with all manner of hoops to jump through, just to get here.

Like my decision to avoid the gallery, many will do a hard pass on visiting Japan.

Take off the mask, it stops nothing but your ability to breathe correctly.

What rules? There are no rules, only onegais that can be ignored without consequences.

Wearing of masks in Japan had become a permanent thing.It has become a taboo not to wear one.

I was walking alone with no one in sight along a local path near my house and happened to meet a Japanese young lady who saw me and immediately ducked for cover onto the other side of the road and almost got hit by a car while doing that...At my workplace,we work more than 10 meters away from from each other but everyone still wears a mask.

I see many people driving alone, windows rolled up but still wear a mask.

I think masks will stay forever in Japan.

@rcch

Common sense

And that's what many foreigners coming into the country don't have.

And what makes you an authority of knowing what many of the foreigners common sense is ?

You should be ashamed of making ambiguous racist predujice predictions .

The truth is you have absolutely no knowledge of what the common sense of the foreigners will be ,as you cant have possibly have met them.

Perhaps you mean because they want to visit Japan as a foreigner represents their lack of common sense ?

"We must have them follow Japanese rules of wearing face masks," Kishida said in a session of the House of Representatives Budget Committee.

What rules? There has never been a mandated face mask wearing rule in Japan. How will they enforce it? The Japanese government is now flapping its mouth because once again their xenophobia is talking. News flash: Covid is already in Japan and Japanese people are not immune to receiving or spreading it. Stop this hypocritical BS and either open properly and treat both locals and tourists equally or keep the borders closed.

I don't think masks prevent COVID transmission, but when in Rome...

Does he mean the rule to STOP wearing masks at all times as announced by his Government last week?

Ken,

I agree. This is a major reason I left Japan. Lived there for almost 20 years. It was great and the people are nice but the obedience to the government and believing the television is a reliable source of information has put me off. It’s not their fault, they are just in this safe bubble and most men don’t stand up for anything. Just do what your told and avoid confrontation as much as possible. I had plenty of Japanese tell me how sick of wearing the masks but they never take initiative and just do as other do out of fear of being called out.

its not changing until a strong opposition happens and it won’t until the television says so.

Kishida is full of contradictions.

He is also adverse to mask wearing himself as his many instances of not doing so are well recorded.

By singling out tourists who may have a valid reason for not wearing a mask Kishida’s comments may lead to cases of victimisation.

Extremely foolish…

Kishida says foreign tourists should follow Japan face mask rules

Without being able to rely on the japanese culture of uniformity and obedience of the rules this will not make much difference. In other cultures it is even a mark of pride to disobey instructions and rules as much as you can get away with.

I don't think masks prevent COVID transmission, but when in Rome...

The experts do based on very clear evidence of efficacy of masks reducing transmission while used properly.

To be fair, it was in response to a question from the opposition when they asked Kishida to explain how the government intends to ensure entering tourist wear masks.

Not much else he could say without upsetting to many people.

"We must have them follow Japanese rules of wearing face masks,"

There are no rules. Many (by far not all) just choose to wear masks. This is nothing but a cheap and obvious appeal to the common xenophobic notion of Japanese people having superior hygiene.

Shall we ask at least half of non-Japanese men to, at most, rinse their hands for one second in public toilets as well?

How many more years are people going to breath back their expelled germs and bacteria by wearing masks ? People still living in fear of something called covid that has a recovery rate of more than 99 percent, just like the common Flu.

Humans have been living for thousands of years without hiding their faces. As for this social distancing, it is just nonsense as people are continually close to each other every day and no one is dying from it.

It is ridiculous to see people walking at night, in their cars, jogging, playing sports, road and construction workers, car mechanics etc. with masks on.

Yep, do what your masters tell you on advice of their own medical advisers and completely ignoring what thousands of specialists and experts in virology around the world tell you other wise. As ex CEO and chief chemist of Phizer Michael Yeadon will tell you. " masks don't do anything against viruses "

This is not directed towards the foreign tourists, he is talking to the Japanese people and attempting to keep the sheeples feeling safe!

YES, FOR SURE.

As ex CEO and chief chemist of Phizer Michael Yeadon will tell you. " masks don't do anything against viruses "

Yeadon is a nutcase.

He also claimed the vaccine makes people magnetic and women infertile. Hero for antivax loons and Facebook conspiracy posters.

I can see why you’d believe him, but for most people and respected scientists he’s a joke.

@Lamilly

There are many social conventions that are followed by people all over the world that are ‘rules’

I guarantee that tourists not wearing masks will be pounced on by some xenophobic moron as Japan begins to open up due to comments from up above.

The government has recently said wearing face masks is not always necessary outside and it recommends people to remove their mask when they are more than 2 meters from another person, given the heat and humidity of the coming months and the increased risk of heatstroke.

This I completely agree with this. In my town in Ishikawa perfecture even last summer every morning you would here over the over the towns morning 放送 to not wear masks outside because of the risks of heat stroke.

given the heat and humidity of the coming months and the increased risk of heatstroke.

What needs to change is If you not within two meters or talking with a person who is not a family member, wearing masks outside sould be discontinued entriely even after the summer.

Mask mandates aren't a problem. SK also requires this (for everyone) for its opening in June. I wore one for my entire trip to Japan in Jan/Feb 2020 as the pandemic began, even though many locals were not.

Japan has stacks of police to enforce a mask mandate, so what's the issue? Just get airlines to remind everyone and hand out a free mask.

The tour group requirement will put most tourists off from even booking, China has locked everyone in, and Europe is now further away courtesy of the Russian airspace block, so don't expect a lot of tourists in 2022 anyway. I'm tempted by SK this year but not expecting JP to open to normal tourism until much later. I wouldn't advise booking until the tour requirement ends because it might be permanent, and it will take some time for the infrastructure to pick up again.

At least a few more planes might persuade Japan Post to restart air packet transmission, as the lack of service is costing a lot of Japanese exporters serious money.

JP will do things its own way, so don't hold your breath. One planet, one virus, each government behaving differently. Just be grateful you aren't in China or waiting for it to open, as it may be closed for years.

This government is sending so many mixed messages. Just a few days ago there was an article here talking about the J-gov telling people not to wear their mask outdoors unless your near others, again makes no sense.

There is no contradiction, wearing masks when indoors and in close proximity of others is still a valid recommendation. The problem is seeing everything only in extremes, either wear the masks 24/7 or not wearing it ever.

As ex CEO and chief chemist of Phizer Michael Yeadon will tell you. " masks don't do anything against viruses "

So when companies CEO repeat what the evidence says (vaccines are effective) they are always lying, but when they say something that has been repeatedly debunked by evidence suddenly they become reliable and people should trust them? The evidence is the one that matters and it clearly shows masks are useful at reducing transmission.

Do Japanese people wear masks when they sleep?

Masks don't do anything against viruses other than slow the amount released into the surrounding air from an infected person. which is pretty important considering you can be a carrier without being sick.

Plus it also gives a psychological feeling of safety to others around you.

I imagine they will only need to wear them when they leave the bus to go sight seeing or when they leave their hotel room it isn't like they have to wear them 100% of the time. I would expect the bus driver and tour guide to have to wear them more than the tourists.

No problem. Visiting another country and thinking you don't have to follow the rules there is toddler-tier asshattery.

We have been in Koh Samui the last 5minths waiting for Japan to open and almost all Thais and most tourists wear masks. No biggie. Yes, a bit stifling when it's over 31c but a small price to pay to be in the larger community.

Their country. Their rules. Don't like it don't come. Japan the same... just on a much slower reopening train but that's not too surprising given public sentiment.

I have never abided to the subservience of the mask madness, like everyone, I suffer from hypoxia.

This is going to cause a huge backlash against foreigners when larger numbers enter and they don’t do it.

Japanese people have gone through the school system as well as worked in companies where certain social behaviour is expected and reinforced to the extent that very little is questioned and the expected norm is to just follow.

Foreigners, on the other hand, need to be told to do something because they haven’t partaken in the same system that readies them to follow rules automatically without question or without applying simple common sense - no matter how nonsensical.

This statement from Kishida goes to show that the government doesn’t believe that people can use simple common sense to behave in a responsible way. Yet another irrational fear of the foreigner.

I understand why he's saying this. Still, it reminds me of late 2020 and the J-government advised to people to please stay home but to please go out to hotels & restaurants. But on the same week they asked again to stay home but then asked people to travel around but then to stay home.

@rcch

Japanese make the rules .not you

Actually the Japanese constitution was written by foreigners

And foreigners in general

A lack of common sense to assume foreigners are all the same

Yes,we, as foreigners in Japan know the whole story

Don't represent your self as being the voice for all foreigners in Japan because your not !

Furthermore you cant possibly know the whole story because your not Japanese and a foreigner both !

Arrogant pantomaths know diddly squat !

So the insanity of wearing face masks inside and isn’t going away in a hurry.

My well of goodwill toward humanity in general has almost run dry. I think most people would rather be slaves living under a perceived feeling of security than free people having to make their own decisions about what is right and wrong based on reason and evidence.

I was quite positive about wearing masks earlier in the pandemic.

But at this point, I think they are a waste of time. You only have to look over in Korea - they also wear masks religiously like they do here and when omicron arrived, within the space of three months 1/3rd of the population had tested positive (and no doubt with the 65% positivity rate in testing, it was more than that). If Japan has done any better, it was because of reasons other than mask wearing.

It seems to me that omicron spread through the Korean population almost as though the masks weren't there at all. Maybe the most it achieved was a slight slow down in spread - instead of ripping through in two months it did so in three months. So what?

I can understand if we are trying to do everything we can to slow down the spread to prevent the hospitals being overwhelmed like we were in the early stages of the pandemic. But now, what are we trying to achieve with it? Every scientist now agrees that the virus is becoming endemic. We have an endemic virus that spreads much like colds or the flu except with some 10 times greater speed and efficiency, that we do not build long-term immunity against reinfection against (similar to the other coronaviruses in circulation), that even amongst a highly vaccinated, and fully masked population (in Korea) infected 1/3 or the population in 3 months (i.e. spreading way quicker than colds or flu without any protections in place). We all get infected with colds and flu multiple times during our lifetimes - why is it going to be any different with Omicron? Is there something I'm missing here? What is special about it when compared with colds or flu that is going to stop that happening?

The only precaution worth bothering with at this stage is to get vaccinated and boosted if you are at high risk.

There should be more context added with the article probably.

In the west nobody at even large event wears a mask. So when Japan sees this, they probably feel the need to inform everyone that in Japan we want you to wear one too.

what rules?

and how they will force foreigners/tourists to follow these unknown rules?

will they give them some leaflets at airports or what?

i dont wear mask in most cases even live and no one-again no one had any single issue with that.

He's right! We should follow the law cals and wear them on our chins 90% of the time, ignore rules about talking in restaurants with mass lowered (but still catching spittle and sauce on our chins!), but I'm guessing hell want mask “suggestions” with foreigners enforced, unlike with locals.

I haven't seen my family in 3 years...all I want is for them to be able to come and stay at my house to see my child whom they haven't met yet. No crazy traveling. Just to see family. But they cannot because only tourists going on elaborate trips are allowed to enter? I'm not going to lie, it's very upsetting.

Thankyou PM Kishida. Perhaps the masks the overseas tourists wear could be of a special color or design too.

It is also important that the local coronavirus infected Japanese people keep away from the fully vaccinated, Covid19 negatively tested and healthy visitors from abroad.

The lack of respect they’ll show if they don’t care about what the Japanese say. 

Maybe they will care more if the Japanese express their unhappiness in English.

Why do people assume that tourists wouldn't wear mask if not told to do so?

Even the people here who say they don't believe in masks wear them.

If people want to go to Japan during these times it's inconceivable they don't know that wearing masks is the norm here.

Why wouldn't they wear it?

lol... what a moron.

lol

What rules?

I think the rule is that if you feel peer pressure from all the people wearing masks indoors, outdoors, in a car by themselves, you put your mask on. In that sense, the foreigners coming in will also follow the rules, same as everyone else.

Hey Kishi, worry about them getting into the country first and spend their money.

Then maybe try your little plan.

You and your boys wrecked this economy up enough, don’t keep prolonging it.

Maybe when the tourist get off the airplane at the airport they should get issued Abe masks. I understand there is quite a surplus of them available.

@antifun

I think you're right. However, I'm pretty sure there'll be more peer pressure on foreign-looking people than on locals if public officials keep suggesting we are vectors for disease, as they consistently have.

package tours with guides

Way to make everything unnecessarily difficult for everybody. They say, there are guides and ushers everywhere with arms stretched to their side to stop tourists from straying away from a defined "path".

They are not allowed to use vending machines, enter convenience store and can only go to predetermined shops.

Tourists aren't also allowed to make eye contact with locals. This last one I just made up.

I really want to know what or who will be the trigger to get Japanese people to take off masks outside. I try to set an example for them, but so far they mostly still wearing them even in the park running or playing basketball. It’s silly.

maybe need to make a mascot? Like “outside-Kun” who shows that outside is (and always has been) safe.

I haven't seen my family in 3 years...all I want is for them to be able to come and stay at my house to see my child whom they haven't met yet. No crazy traveling. Just to see family. But they cannot because only tourists going on elaborate trips are allowed to enter? I'm not going to lie, it's very upsetting.

Me too! I posted something similar and was told on these discussion boards that if you live here, your close family members can visit you. Having searched though, I could not find any official information about this anywhere.

Me too! I posted something similar and was told on these discussion boards that if you live here, your close family members can visit you. Having searched though, I could not find any official information about this anywhere

If you are a permanent resident or citizen then yes you can. Your relatives should just call the embassy at their location to apply for a visa.

Stupid is what stupid does

I have always taken the measures to combat Covid 19 in Japan to be guidelines.

My doctor refers to be Coronavirus Manners.

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2234.html

anon99999Today  07:24 am JST

What rules? Wear the mask when driving alone in the car? Wear the mask cycling? Wear the mask walking alone or with you partner in the open with no one around you? ( This is what I see most people doing daily) . In fact I thought recently the government was advising outdoors was NOT necessary. 

This statement is just to appease the backlash he is facing by the Japanese masses fearful of the COVID wave that will come with the opening of the country again to foreign tourists eventhough the foreign tourists will be in supervised controlled tours not free to go anywhere.

Excellent post here,and let me add that with this xenophobic statement of Kishida it will give to some random Japanese right wing gaijin haters the authority to harass the foreigners randomly on the street,and now this will include even us residents living in Japan.

I am afraid to say that their xenophobia (fear for the outside) is becoming more evident day by day.

When in Japan, do as the Japanese do. Why does the question of foreign tourists wearing masks rise to the level of the Prime Minister? Stop distracting Mr. Kishida from the important task of studying the economy.

@Starbucks.

Thanks - do you know if you have to be a permanent resident or just here on a 3 year work visa OK. I am on the latter, but I am married to a Japanese national. Wonder if I would qualify like that? As I said, I haven't been able to find any official information anywhere - any search I do just gives me the usual blanket border restrictions for foreigners and nothing else.

Sorry - this is probably off topic.

I'm sure if my mum visits she would absolutely be wearing a mask along with the locals and would give me a clip around the ear if she saw me doing anything different!

Of course one should follow local guidelines. Quite egotistical to think your rules trump the rules of the country you’re living in/ visiting.

@ Nihon tara

I believe it’s only the PR or citizenship. My daughter is on a student visa so I got a firm no. You can only ask the question of your local embassy and hope for the best.

Good luck.

Why be afraid of tourist ? I haven't seen any country difficult like Japan !

They get very excited about foreigners following Japanese rules, because the media keeps telling them that we don't, as with the gomi issue.

What rules?

No rules, but the custom appears to be: wear masks at all times outdoors, even when you're in the middle of a huge park with no one around you. When you go into a restaurant, take you mask off and laugh and clap and shout all you want.

The experts do based on very clear evidence of efficacy of masks reducing transmission while used properly.

Factually flat out wrong. There is no consensus about that and there are plenty of scientific evidence disputing this assertion.

https://swprs.org/face-masks-evidence/

The mask thing in Japan has become just bizarre and grotesque. A silly culte driven behavior that has no base in science. Japanese are just trying to convince the world that they wear masks regardless of science and rationality. In the eyes of the old dudes running this country, the mask has become a way to express some sort of nationalism and uniqueness of Japanese.

In reality though it serves at this point no purpose other than a national pride. The virus has become so endemic and banal in its symptoms that at this point the Japanese attitude is coming close to be characterized as madness.

You won't see me going there anytime soon. I go by my own rules and that includes not wearing a mask when told to do so. End of story.

You won't see me going there anytime soon. I go by my own rules and that includes not wearing a mask when told to do so. End of story.

You're cool bruh. Good thing you signalled your virtue here. People must like you.

Japan had extremely low deaths from covid, with extremely high mask usage. Covid is an airborne virus...

I hate wearing the mask as much as the next guy, but you do get used to it after a while.

I do not wear it when no one is around if I am walking or when I am driving.

And pull it down below my nose whenever I can without getting dirty looks.

Unlikely that police will police "rules" as it would mean their nap time in their patrol cars would be interrupted.

Maybe they could be incentivised to ensure an adequate quota of visitors are apprehended daily. They could institute body searches- instead of looking for weapons- masks. Naturally, Japanese residents would be exempt as 100% are masked.

Nihon Tora and others looking for explicit info on entry of relatives you might fight it on the japanese embassy website for your country.

Here's the one for Australia

Under the heading:

4. Short Term Visas for other relatives of Japanese citizens, Permanent Residents and Long Term Residents

https://www.au.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/covid19spouseandchildvisa.html

Seems border is open now even to nonrelatives of residents except for tourists

No rules, but the custom appears to be: wear masks at all times outdoors, even when you're in the middle of a huge park with no one around you. When you go into a restaurant, take you mask off and laugh and clap and shout all you want.

yep, this is the custom. It’s undeniable but you’ll get down voted for it anyways.

I think it’s fascinating that people will downvote something even when they’re telling the truth. but if people wear their masks the way you mentioned so it only makes sense to downvote. Just being consistent I guess

The Kishida regime continues with its populist "foreigners are covid-riden bags of germs" narrative, while also balancing it with the "I don't want international news to criticize me when I go to London without quarantines and maskless", which is why his approval numbers are high even though he has done little to nothing relevant during the time he has been the prime minister.

His regime has been extremely misleading about the actual role of the government on mask wearing, trying to imply that the government has put "rules" in place, while in reality the only thing they have done is put "recommendations" in place, and have pushed for private business into putting the actual discriminatory policies, so that they can bear them under their "freedom to do business" label.

I mean, they kind of said once that business "should not discriminate against people with developmental disorders, but in practice they care very little when that kind of discrimination happens, and with this narrative that "foreigners need to follow the rules" and forcing them to sign some document which say they have to wear masks, will only make it seem more like these are actual "rules" by the government.

When Japanese start dying of heatstroke then they will and only then, put 2 and 2 together….unfortunately.

just wear mine indoors now, mainly as a token gesture on entering a restaurant then it’s straight off with the first drink. Outside I never wear it now unless it’s really crowded. I live in Shizuoka and I’d say about 1 in 50 don’t wear outside, it’s bonkers and completely pointless. As I’m a foreigner of course I feel people judge but I simply don’t care anymore. I followed all the rules strictly and now it’s all over and I’ve had enough, it feels weird now, especially the isolationism without any science to back it up. (When I say I’m a foreigner I’m a resident and pay my taxes to the govmnt and have as much a right to choose this now, just feel I have to say that as it is Japan) Basically there is no need to be afraid anymore.

you first

@Blacklabel: If we followed your example in how you live your life and what you believe in then we would be in anarchy - quite literally.

I think 99% of tourists who do get to come here will respect how life is here. There are no hard and fast rules in any case although the train companies and shops DO have the right to request you wear masks too and come on, lets all be realistic if you do go maskless in certain places, Japanese or Foreign you DO either get asked to masked up or moved away from .

Plenty of sensible reponses above and plenty of OTT comments from funnily enough the same crowd who are the anti-vaxxers and anti-lockdown people. Just being difficult for the sake of it. Sad individuals.

Nihon Tora and others looking for explicit info on entry of relatives you might fight it on the japanese embassy website for your country.

thanks for the info. I’ll check that later!

It makes sense. Neither PCR tests nor vaccines provide 100% certainty. Also, the world, unfortunately, will face a war, one of the weapons used effectively and not overtly could be a new virus. Wearing masks and carrying them in public makes sense.

Sounds like more virtue signaling in the form of political cover. The ambiguity of never citing statistics and data then referring to “government experts” chosen by the Kishida government.

How many outdoor infections have occurred? Hmmm…let’s err on the side of political survival. Let’s increase the gap between haves and have nots.

Let’s promote a 4th shot because of our self-interests while an estimated 1 billion of the world’s population hasn’t gotten one due to lack of access.

Has humanity become fodder for achieving political agendas? Who’s following the science? What data has credibility? Should we trust the rule maker’s decision as fiat? Why has critical thinking gone into the rubbish bin?

Rules, law, social etiquette..:which should be codified? If you put rules in writing, everyone is bound to follow them. Where would the wiggle room exist then?

Let’s follow the science, but the government has the responsibility and social obligation to cite the data. Otherwise, there’s an appearance of governing by decree.

Interesting nobody referred to the question made by Tamaki of DPP which led to this statement

Look at all these downvotes to certain comments. This love hate relationship with Japan you all have is blurring your vision. Yeah let’s just say it’s a political show from the JGov, masks don’t work and the Japanese are racists. Well, I’ll still go with common sense, respecting the culture and people of the country you’re visiting and caring about other people’s well-being.

Why has critical thinking gone into the rubbish bin?

Sadly, starting 2020 critical thinking was seen as "dangerous", because it can question the measures of the moment, which would put "people at risk".

@Blacklabel

I really want to know what or who will be the trigger to get Japanese people to take off masks outside. I try to set an example for them, but so far they mostly still wearing them even in the park running or playing basketball. It’s silly.

No dude. You don't become a hero by not wearing a mask. It also doesn't make you smarter than everyone else. Stop feeling special.

A very stupid thing to say. Monkey see monkey do isn't the law. Cops can't enforce laws that exist let alone those that don't. Tell us what's happening with tests on arrival? That's a far more pertinent question.

No dude. You don't become a hero by not wearing a mask. It also doesn't make you smarter than everyone else. Stop feeling special.

Oh of 120 plus comments mine caught your eye. Wonderful.

yes I have not, do not and will not ever, ever, ever wear a mask outside. I am special and smart thanks for noticing me out of everyone here.

Cause I have no idea who you are or why you talking to me like you know me

It's a wise rule !. And please don't eat while walking down the street too !

and there you have it …. The start of some common sense rules . The most basic while relying on sound science data.

Factually flat out wrong. There is no consensus about that and

If there is no consensus it would be very easy for you to provide examples of well respected institutions that say masks have no role in preventing transmission, right? because if that would not be possible that by itself becomes proof of that consensus, so what are those institutions?

there are plenty of scientific evidence disputing this assertion.

If your only source of "scientific" evidence is a site well known for misrepresenting or fabricating things in order to push disinformation and conspiracy theories

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Policy_Research

The Swiss Policy Research site has been criticized for spreading conspiracy theories including claims that QAnon was a psyop of the FBI[4] and theories relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2][5] German public broadcaster Tagesschau calls SPR a propaganda tool.[6]

In 2017 a University of Zurich report on media in Switzerland analyzed "six of the most-discussed 'alternative media'", including SPR, that "resort to conspiracy theories." Daniel Vogler concluded that SPR appears to be a "a pseudoscientific media research project."[8]

The site list not only misrepresent a lot of the studies it present, it also makes no mention of any of the well discussed studies that completely contradicts the conclusion it wants to push. That is not scientific and it can explain why it was not possible to publish this "collection" in any scientific journal.

How about an actually scientific source? there are many published studies about mask use and reduction of transmission of SARS-CoV-2, some with epidemiological analysis of data or even experimentally studying the transmission, I already put some examples but there are many others available, maybe you don't link to them because they systematically conclude masks are a very useful tool.

Stop demonising foreigners.

Wearing of masks in Japan had become a permanent thing. It has become a taboo not to wear one.

As soon as the sun goes down, the tatemae is dispensed with and 赤信号みんなで渡れば怖くない kicks in as daytime’s virtue signallers switch allegiance to the dark (honne) side.

I mean, I don't really like all this xenophobia around foreigners in Japan. But it should be common sense that when you visit a foreign country, you follow the rules of that country.

Just to add, better to send a memo to our our fellows americans and chinese, you know how they are when you need to follow masks rules....

Unfortunately, the way of thinking about masks is different between foreigners and Japanese. Foreigners use masks to protect themselves, while Japanese use them to protect others. This can result in friction.

As a military veteran who was trained in PPE ( masks included). We know what works and does not work for protection against viruses. People should also be reading the warning labels on these box of masks to see what their capable of. Cloth masks are useless and the N95 are only partially effective with protection ranging around 30% effective. As a previous person commented on here, you are re-breathing the germs and bacteria that you just exhaled. Not good for your health and can cause lung infections along with other health issues. I get people trying to protect themselves but it should be by choice and not dictated by government officials not following the science.

Cloth masks are useless and the N95 are only partially effective with protection ranging around 30% effective

Different masks have different efficacies but when worn properly the scientific evidence is that they do help a lot, specially when other measures are also in place, scientific evidence clearly points out to this.

 As a previous person commented on here, you are re-breathing the germs and bacteria that you just exhaled. 

And that is a tiny fraction of the microbes being produced inside the body, which is why there is no evidence of it having any clinical importance. Which is fortunate because the huge amount of pathogens inside of the respiratory airways means you are rebreathing them even without any mask.

I get people trying to protect themselves but it should be by choice and not dictated by government officials not following the science

In Japan the recommendations have perfectly valid scientific support so this criticism is not valid. And for any personal choice that have an effect on public health there is need for rules.