Tokyo governor says people can enjoy cherry blossoms next year

damage is done folks. but some action better than none I suppose.

The modern-day cherry bloom viewing is not really a real Japanese tradition to keep. It's more artificial as most cherry blossom trees planted across Japan are genetically duplicated (that's why full blooms can be predicted rather accurately).

But please, starting Monday get on a packed train with six thousand of your closest friends...

Have your booze up at home and look at a picture of a Sakura tree instead. Pretty much what Hanami is anyway.

British prime minister Johnson revealed he was found positive. I see all Japanese politicians appear without masks before people. They are meeting many people everyday. I guess some of them are positive already. Prince Charles also revealed he is positive too. I think it is brave and good that they do not hide it. In Japan, it is a stigma. It is not the case. It is not that we visit bad places and bring back venereal diseases.

It is a public duty to take the annual hanami photo. Social distancing is a responsibility, not a suggestion. I have no doubt that Japan is sitting on the cusp of a major increase in virus infections due to so many people ignoring social distancing guidelines.

But next week on Monday, millions will be jamming themselves into trains and buses all over the country

She should have told the world long ago. It could be a very dangerous game, the Olympic game. Shame on the shamed.

kurisupisu, based on the urgent urge, Tokyo has to be shut down, no alternatives.

Will a two day weekend make enough of a difference?

Tokyo governor says people can enjoy cherry blossoms next year

For safety reason people can enjoy Olympic another four year not next year to be safe.

Social distancing may be needed for ‘most of year’

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-51977802

quercetum, you had asked something that shouldn't be asked anymore. Two day isn't enough, as simple as that.

And another day goes by without a meaningful government response to this.

hanami is off but the millions packed onto the underground everyday is on!

what the f@ck!

Security personnel stand guard at Ueno Park in Tokyo to discourage people from entering to view the cherry blossoms on Friday

I see one person slipped past the security personnel.

Amusement parks, zoos and aquariums, as well as some coffee shops and department stores, will be closed for the weekend. 

People will go to the supermarkets instead and clean out what's left.

People will go to the supermarkets instead and clean out what's left.

May as well make it a family outing...

We called the early learning school to ask when they expect to start their new term, it’s open today (Saturday). Apparently they wanted to close but pushy parents insisted they stay open and continue with classes.

Ive looked out of the window this morning and see people milling about on the streets. Nobody is listening to this soft lockdown, things are about to get real ugly.

Serrano said "People will go to the supermarkets instead and clean out what's left."

Very interesting comment. Obviously you are better than the HOPE.

My advice is for Abe to make announcement on Monday. No later than that.

I look at the death count.

Japan had 47 up until yesterday. 49 today.

2 people.

Very slow. If more people really had the disease, more people would be dying, considering its contagiousness. Even allowing for a long incubation period, it’s very low.

I’m not saying be foolish. But why not look at what Japan is doing right compared to other countries? Keeping clean and just a usual polite distance. Instead of listening to these crazy commenters on here.

Actually, what I worry about is Japan letting sick people into the country.

Basically, I’m so happy to be here in Japan.

YES Mam, and home we shall stay. Staying home is not much to ask for when it saves thousands of lives. The next step will be and a LOCK DOWN when many IDIOTS do't follow instructions.

It is impossible to prevent large cities with their populations from going out.

Quarantining a village or very small town yes but millions of people no.

A weekend at home is not going to do much, if people head back out to Monday morning rush hour trains!

I’m not saying be foolish. But why not look at what Japan is doing right compared to other countries? Keeping clean and just a usual polite distance. Instead of listening to these crazy commenters on here.

Because it was just days ago that Italy had only 49 deaths, and half measures won’t cut it? And its not just Italy, its Spain, Iran, the US, et etc.

Thinking we’ll get out of this by “just keeping clean and a usual polite distance” IS foolish.

No problem. There are so many parks that have some cherry trees all over. You can still enjoy beautiful blossoms there. I saw some groups enjoying under trees the other day.

Will a two day weekend make enough of a difference?

Because the next election is near, I'm sure she will come up with something else soon.

Why am I going in to work Monday? Crowded room—50 people.

Sensible people will stay home. Foolish people will go out. I guess it’s a kind of natural selection.

Better a tad late than never.

Tokyo Gov Yuriko Koike, next priority is the over-crowded, rush hour “pack em in like sardines”, transport system.

This is a tough and tricky nut to crack, so will require more commitment from the businesses community.

Non-essential staff will have to stay at home. Employers must be more responsive/responsible in making these decisions.

Memoryfix

I look at the death count.

Japan had 47 up until yesterday. 49 today.

2 people.

Very slow. If more people really had the disease, more people would be dying,

Name me one country that you have you seen corpse on the streets.

The most vulnerable are the old and those with underlying diseases.

With the ministry of health having a firm grip on all data how will we know of covid-19 related death.

Families can lose someone from the virus and stay quite for of being discriminated upon.

Shimura Ken is infected and he is apologising for causing society problems as if he knowingly caught it. There are thousands of people with mild symptoms afraid to seek testing for fear of losing their job or being discriminated upon.

Until the ministry of health releases data of the number of deaths from pneumonia or those classified as due to an underlying disease.

Suspicion will continue as it is clearly evident there is no transparency. What a shame that They are making the ccp look so transparent.

How long will the pretending continue and how is it going to be covered up.

What they have going for them is an ultra pathetic mainstream media and a sheepie population making it easy to get with murder.

It is impossible to prevent large cities with their populations from going out.

Quarantining a village or very small town yes but millions of people no.

Uh, New York? Milan? Wuhan? Madrid?

Seems it is possible.

Koike was overreacting to ban cherry blossom viewing in Tokyo when people just wanted to stroll around in parks while keeping enough social distance from other strollers. She’s coming up for re-election in June. Maybe she wanted to sell the image that she’s the governor who can do the job.

Wait, isn’t that like taking hugging away from Italians!?

It's alright, they can come on Monday, after they've been to work and been squashed onto public transport. After all, the virus is only a problem at weekends, isn't it?

Hopefully she's right and it's over soon and we can all enjoy the Hanami next year and hold the Olympics in 2021.

Meanwhile, Trump is saying it will over by April, and then Americans can get back to work.

But I don't think politicians should be making such sweeping statements.

In reality, i's just going to run it's course, unless of course we get a vaccine (but it may all be over before a vaccine even comes online).

But what about the experts? They don't agree, but some are saying it may take up to two years.

There are still too many unknowns.

 It's more artificial as most cherry blossom trees planted across Japan are genetically duplicated (that's why full blooms can be predicted rather accurately).

This comment has been downarrowed but is true. Most trees are branches from the somei yoshino variety grafted onto other roots. Its an age-old model of genetic modification, used heavily among fruit growers. It a tradition of course, but one will celebrates a very controlled form of nature.

Sensible people will stay home. Foolish people will go out. I guess it’s a kind of natural selection.

The danger is that the foolish people may only get mild symptoms and then spread it to the less fortunate, like health workers. Or they fill up the hospital, meaning people will heart attacks and strokes can't be treated.

Meanwhile, the Association of Coronavirus Infected Droplets (ACID) has agreed to also pause its activities in the country to abide by the Governor's request. The official spokesperson of ACID has said it will resume normal operations from Monday, like the rest of the population of Japan.

Meanwhile, Tokyo is testing for COVID-19 at a rate of 150 tests per million people which is substantially lower than the 215 test per million people rate that the whole of Japan is currently testing at.

By way of comparison, Germany is currently testing at a rate of over 5,800 tests per million people. Thailand, Peru, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Ecuador, and Costa Rica, to name a few, are all testing at a higher rate than Japan.

It is impossible to prevent large cities with their populations from going out.

Quarantining a village or very small town yes but millions of people no.

Uh, New York? Milan? Wuhan? Madrid?

Seems it is possible.

Yes, India with more than a billion population is currently under 3 week lock down, definitely possible.

Tokyo will not shut herself down, nomatter how hysterical the panicmongering is. The humans have coexisted with influenza and will coexist with this.

Good stay home, rest and pack the trains on Monday morning. Starbuchs will be packed to the hilt, and all the 1 cup coffee, 3 or 4 hrs of just sitting regulars will be back in their favorite seats hogging up the free wi fi bandwidth talking about how they went to the cherry blossoms out of Tokyo anyway.

Meanwhile, the Association of Coronavirus Infected Droplets (ACID) has agreed to also pause its activities in the country to abide by the Governor's request. The official spokesperson of ACID has said it will resume normal operations from Monday, like the rest of the population of Japan.

I see what you did there ;-)

The only hope Tokyo has is not from the HOPE party, but from mother nature. If we have a sudden temperature rise Monday, perhaps 40 celsius, then everything will be fine. Of course, it is a reckless thought.

But please, starting Monday get on a packed train with six thousand of your closest friends.

I knew I was popular!

wipeout said "Because it's doing a lot of things wrong..."

Keep low infections isn't wrong !

By way of comparison, Germany is currently testing at a rate of over 5,800 tests per million people. Thailand, Peru, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Ecuador, and Costa Rica, to name a few, are all testing at a higher rate than Japan.

I don't think it is necessary denoting PCR test per million people, just giving the average test for a period is ok. There are smaller countries with population below a million.

I hope those persons have a cherry blossom tree nearby.

And if you go and view CB in large crowds you may just become terminally ill from the virus.

rainydayToday  08:31 am JST

I’m not saying be foolish. But why not look at what Japan is doing right compared to other countries? Keeping clean and just a usual polite distance. Instead of listening to these crazy commenters on here.

Because it was just days ago that Italy had only 49 deaths, and half measures won’t cut it? And its not just Italy, its Spain, Iran, the US, et etc.

Thinking we’ll get out of this by “just keeping clean and a usual polite distance” IS foolish.

No doubt you are correct but so many people don't care.

>

Tokyo will not shut herself down, nomatter how hysterical the panicmongering is

oh make no mistake if infection spread like the US France Italy UK then Tokyo will shut down, either that or thousands will die. Blissful ignorance is the killer here

The security guards should stay farther away from each other even if they are wearing masks.

I keep telling my Japanese friends,

"You have the chance to save the human race by staying at home in front of the television. Surely even you can't screw that up!!"

She warned of a possible hard shutdown of the city if the spread of the virus doesn't slow.

Thanks Ko-iks......guess what. The spread ISN'T slowing down. It's rising.

@Bruce Chatwin

Meanwhile, Tokyo is testing for COVID-19 at a rate of 150 tests per million people which is substantially lower than the 215 test per million people rate that the whole of Japan is currently testing at.

Good information ! Can you post the source?

Last weekend was the big hanami weekend, but of course the Olympics were still in play then, so there was no virus in Tokyo at all. It waited until the announcement, of course, so most people fortunately made the cut, because I can tell you, no toilet paper and masks is one thing, but no Hanami?? That would have been unforgivable.

Please, please, pretty please stay home isn't going to cut it.

And yeah, what are they going to do about the crammed trains that start up again Monday? because they are not going to lock the place down and close all that. No way.

No thank you. I'm gonna enjoy all the cherry blossom as I want right now. If Abe san's wife can enjoy the cherry blossom right now, why shouldn't I?

I don't think it is necessary denoting PCR test per million people, just giving the average test for a period is ok. There are smaller countries with population below a million.

What number would you prefer then?

Per 100,000 people? Germany is testing at a rate of 580 tests per 100,000 people. Japan is testing at a rate of 21.5 tests per 100,000 people.

Per 10,000 people? Germany is testing at a rate of 58 tests per 100,000 people. Japan is testing at a rate of 2.15 tests per 100,000 people.

Notice a pattern?

@Tora

Good information ! Can you post the source?

Good ol' wiki:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_testing

Also, the site below is an official accounting of the number of tests done in Japan. Divide the number of tests by the population of Japan and you have the rate.

27,005 tests divided by 126.5 (million) = 213.48 tests per million people

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000164708_00001.html

I don't think it is necessary denoting PCR test per million people, just giving the average test for a period is ok. There are smaller countries with population below a million.

What number would you prefer then?

Per 100,000 people? Germany is testing at a rate of 580 tests per 100,000 people. Japan is testing at a rate of 22 tests per 100,000 people.

Per 10,000 people? Germany is testing at a rate of 58 tests per 10,000 people. Japan is testing at a rate of 2 tests per 10,000 people.

Notice a pattern?

Typo in the previous post...

Let's say we blindly believe the numbers the ministry is putting out, and do some number crunching.

With a simplified calculation anyone can do in a couple of minutes, we can see what a real numbers might be.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14r5aEJzMl-epEn6e562MiV0WJXuH9HVKEp3U_9rkEcg/edit#gid=0

Of course, the reality is probably not this simple, but it gives a guideline.

During the swine flu pandemic of 1918 and 1919, the year 1919 was actually worse in fatalities than 1918, by which I mean to say that next year might not be any good for viewing the blossoms, also. Unless a vaccine is created soon, it will be necessary to go through two or three years of the COVID-19 flu before there is enough herd immunity to stop epidemic conditions.

If you cannot enjoy with your neighbors maybe no, olympics means all of us, money second.

Cherry blossom viewing is just an excuse for Japanese to booze it up and get wasted. I would think there would be better ways to do that. Furthermore, Japanese people should have more consideration for their fellow man and practice social distancing especially during these volatile times. Apparently, they just don't get it or rather don't care about anyone but themselves and their own wellbeing.

According to NHK, Chiba Prefecture has announced 57 new cases. All the cases are in one facility for the disabled.

Shocking.