Tokyo area extends shorter business hours over virus rebound worries

@Monty, I understand your frustrations with people who don't have the common sense to wear a mask in public and I'll refrain from getting into the discussion about the right to ask someone to wear a mask. However, having said that, I think you need to re-visit your comment about foreigners mainly being the ones violating "mask etiquette." 90%, really? Where I live I see many Japanese tourists walking into convenient stores w/o masks, all of the foreigners, mainly Nepalese working the counter all have masks. Singling out a group is not productive and is highly subjective and often dangerous and misleading.

Make up your mind j-gov. You remove the SOE for no apparent reason, but then restrict restaurants from normal operations due to increasing Covid numbers.

The four governors decided to maintain 40,000 yen subsidies a day for restaurants and bars that comply with the authorities to shorten operating hours.

While many small businesses deserve compensation for being "urged" to shorten business hours there are inherent contradictions apparent in the Japanese scheme.

Business owners are holders of capital, in property or assets, who assume risk for a variety of economic circumstances outside their control and expect the overwhelming share of profit apart from their workers. Yet they are exclusively being compensated to the exception of workers , who will end up having to contribute to this scheme through regressive taxation.

In other nations , workers are being given no strings attached direct stimulus for multiple months or compensation for lost income of between 70 to 80 percent. In addition, payroll protection subsidies come with sanctions if businesses do not retain workers.

The subsidy plan is as haphazard and illogical as the SOE.

while vowing to work together to stem the resurgence of infections.

Other than talking and extending the closures what are they doing different or in fact what have they ever been doing against the virus. Numbers in Japan are not relatively low in Japan because of government action, they are low despite government inaction.

And for this reason a resurgence can likely happen despite whatever they say. Spread of variants reported on last night’s NHK news is more powerful than their words and inaction

I am a foreigner and I wear a mask when i go indoors, I live in an area where I rarely see any other foreigners (that could be because I don't move around much from my safety bubble) and all of those I have seen wear masks indoors as well.

The most people I have seen not wearing a mask have been older Japanese males. And I don't care I just will not shop at a store which allows them in I go somewhere else or I will wait till they are done.

Anecdotal evidence incoming: There are bartenders and restaurant workers and staff of freelance design offices in Tokyo who have been laid off by their subsidy receiving bosses. Since these subsidies are being paid by the residential taxes, which are calculated on a yearly basis, they are laid off, jobless, and subsidizing their bosses' paid vacations.

Tokyo Gov Yuriko Koike and the governors of Chiba, Kanagawa and Saitama prefectures agreed in an online meeting to continue asking establishments such as restaurants to close by 9 p.m. until April 21, while vowing to work together to stem the resurgence of infections.

They will also keep asking food service operators to stop serving alcohol by 8 p.m.

then why even bother to stop the SOE??

Benny Hill theme....

Alex, I'd like to take "Things That Never Happened for $400"

Monty

But what I see are stupid idiots like yesterday in a full packed supermarket.

4 foreigners, husband, wife, and 2 kids did their crocery in a full packed supermarket.

And all these 4 people didnt wear a mask.

What did I do? Same like always when I see someone without a mask around me.

I told them that they should wear a mask. They shouted at me in the baddest words the english language have, and I thought the guy will punch me in the face.

Unless you are in the bar or restaurant businesses, which can still open for limited hours and obtain some sales, there is no help for other businesses which have had to stop operations and have no sales.

I personally have NEVER seen a foreigner without a mask.

Aly, I have to say, I see foreigners without masks almost every day. They are, of course, in the minority, most of us mask up. It's not just about preventing the spread but it's politeness as well. Maskless people can cause upset and worry. Whether they have the virus or not.

Also, as regards our hosts, the main culprits I've observed tend to be older men.

↑ is that to keep the population in a constant state of fear ?

What did I do? Same like always when I see someone without a mask around me. 

I told them that they should wear a mask.

Good man!

Being foreigners or japanese it doesn't matter, if seeing someone without a mask in packed place, that’s the attitude to have.

I personally have NEVER seen a foreigner without a mask.

Seen TONS of Japanese men

without masks

3 with masks covering their mouths but not their noses.

And I am sorry to say that again, they’re 90% foreigners.

*“You are a foreigner here. You seem to be virtue signalling for some Japanese kudos given how often you incorrectly limit bad behavior to foreigners**.”*

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Weeaboo

Why is the vaccination rate going down despite the cases trending upward?

Yesterday they've vaccinated only 42,054 people and that's down from 73,863 people just a couple of days before.

At this rate it will take 14.9 years to vaccinate everyone in Japan.

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/vaccine_sesshujisseki.html

I wonder if there are any actual statistics on the number of confirmed cases of foreigners being infected. I doubt they are available, but it would be interesting to look at.

Nagoya ChrisToday  11:17 am JST

@Northernlife

Actually, people are well within their rights to castigate others who are potentially putting the health of others at risk. 

They're well within their rights to do so, but people without masks on are well within their rights to ignore them or telling them to mind their own business.

Tokyo area extends shorter business hours over virus rebound worries

Articles here always associate covid with worrying words:

Anxiety, worry, concern, fear

不安、心配、懸念、恐怖

Akaba told a lower house committee that it seems "difficult" to resume the campaign before the Golden Week holidays from late April to early May.

At this point they are probably realizing that simply having an Olympics without another SOE (and the world watching) is more important than risking it all with reviving Go To.

I feel my health is at risk by you trying to cover my breathing passage.

Please do not try to force your beliefs on other people.

Belief? All of the stores announce in some way that they want you to wear a mask. But they never have the balls to confront any anti-maskers.

Sorry that was supposed to be 1 2 3

I personally have NEVER seen a foreigner without a mask.

Come to Kutchan and that'll change as soon as you start seeing people. Also lots of young Japanese "adults" that couldn't care any lesser.

@Gooch

yes! personally, if I see someone doing anything that seems it might impinge on my comfort or safety.... I simply move away. so easy, and no stress.

Will the pols, lobbyists and bureaucrats obey their own edict this time?

I see Japanese/Asians also without Facemasks wandering around the place - so don't pin the blame upon us non-locals please!!!!

Is this really the best time for the Olympics?

@Northernlife

you have no right to walk up to anybody and tell them off.

Yes he does. If they're maskless and near him, they are potentially posing a serious threat to his health.

UPDATE: The State Of Emergency continues but for the Olympic Torch Show, the Japanese Government officially ended it but continues to ask everyone to do the same things as when the official State Of Emergency was declared. If the official State Of Emergency was in operation, The Olympic Torch Show could not be held. ABOUT MASKS: Wear a mask everyone. Please.

Aly, I have to say, I see foreigners without masks almost every day. They are, of course, in the minority, most of us mask up. It's not just about preventing the spread but it's politeness as well. Maskless people can cause upset and worry. Whether they have the virus or not.

fair enough brother

Also, as regards our hosts, the main culprits I've observed tend to be older men

agree

Everyone feels uncomfortable if people are around them without masks. Especially if they are foreigners.

Because of such bad behaviours, the virus will continue to spread and waves like 2, 3, 4...whatever can probably come.

I dont understand why people, now after more than one year, dont even follow the simplest, basic preventions.

You know, I do not wear a mask when I know I do or will not interact with people. This is in the street, the train, etc, and my company too. I have never had any problem, and fortunately, do not meet people like you. I will wear a mask if someone with an authority will tell me, not a stranger who I will completely ignore.

I do wear most of the time when I know I will interact or talk with someone.

You will not get the virus in a supermarket, unless you have really close contacts with people , subject to the following conditions :

They have the virus, do not wear a mask, and talk or scream.

If I remember from your past posts, you said you will keep going to your local papa mama restaurants to support them. So, when you are there, I guess you do not wear a mask, at least to eat. Don’t you feel people around might be uncomfortable ?

Pkease try, total shut down.this move save lives and move forward to faster recovery.

As an aside, it is now 2 weeks since Texas has ended all mask mandates and totally opened up.

Many on this site promised it would be absolute carnage with bodies in the streets.

Instead infections continue to fall and have fallen 24% since then.

Where are all the experts?? What happened??

This is a virus that 99% plus recover from. Unless your high risk there is no need to wear a mask or reason to be bothered by other's not wearing masks.

Coronavirus is here to stay so I don't plan on wearing a mask forever.

Have to agree with Monty on this issue. Dr. Fauci, the planet's most recognized expert on the pandemic, and President Joe Biden, the leader of the Free World, both agree wearing multiple face coverings over just one mask is preferable. We here in the states believe in following the science: The more masks the better.

@northernlife

Thats why I am happy to live in Japan and not in America.

But when I feel my health is at a risk because of other peoples bad behaviour, I will always tell it to them...in whatever country it is.

Wear your mask. Wash your hands. Maintain social distance. Keep your outings to a minimum.

Feel free to do whatever you wish in the privacy of your home, but have consideration for others when you're out and about.

There's a pandemic going on, for those of you who haven't noticed by now.

@Northernlife

Actually, people are well within their rights to castigate others who are potentially putting the health of others at risk. Please don't make comparisons between here and America. The USA is far from being a barometer of acceptable and decent behaviour.

@Monty

I agree with everything you wrote.

@ P.Smith

Nobody is claiming that 'some' Japanese people don't wear masks. However, it does seem that a disproportionately greater percentage of non-Japanese seem to think that it is ok to not wear one.

We had this discussion about who is wearing masks, foreigners or japanese people, already many times here.

Yes I agree, japanese people also do that.

But, everyday I see, lets say 1000 japanese people, and about 10 foreigners, during my daily life.

From the 1000 japanese people there are about 2~3 who dont wear the mask.

From the 10 foreigners, there are 5~6 who dont wear the mask.

And P.Smith, if you remember one of my older posts, I said the same thing to a young japanese couple standing behind me in the line at starbucks without a mask. And these 2 japanese people at once put on their masks on and appologize to me.

No shouting, no try to punch me...

Nakagawa said strong anti-virus measures should be in place ahead of a potential "fourth wave.

Fourth wave?

I didnt even see a second and third wave here in Japan.

But what I see are stupid idiots like yesterday in a full packed supermarket.

4 foreigners, husband, wife, and 2 kids did their crocery in a full packed supermarket.

And all these 4 people didnt wear a mask.

What did I do? Same like always when I see someone without a mask around me.

I told them that they should wear a mask. They shouted at me in the baddest words the english language have, and I thought the guy will punch me in the face.

But you know what? A japanese couple came and defend my stance against these idiots.

After that, many japanese people came towards me and said that this was a very good thing from me to tell them.

Everyone feels uncomfortable if people are around them without masks. Especially if they are foreigners.

Because of such bad behaviours, the virus will continue to spread and waves like 2, 3, 4...whatever can probably come.

I dont understand why people, now after more than one year, dont even follow the simplest, basic preventions.

And I am sorry to say that again, they are 90% foreigners.

Therefore the government thinks, the foreigners are responsible for the virus in Japan.

To go back to a normal life, to go back to normal business for Izakayas and bars, people should first learn how to do best personal preventions.