Crowds disappear from Tokyo streets amid virus, snow

It is not going to matter one bit of difference if everyone now jumps on the morning rush hour trains!

It's a start, but remains to be seen how much the populace will adhere to "social distancing."

I'm not very optimistic.

and 100 reporters listening to Abe report the news in a small room.

Social distancing, staying at home to stop the spread...

Let me tell you about how absolutely packed the pachinko parlor parking lots were yesterday...

Tokyo Tower, a popular tourist destination in Minato Ward, was partially operated with shortened business hours, but only a few visitors showed up.

They couldn’t even shut down Tokyo Tower?? The attraction that mainly consists of cramped elevator rides. Gotta keep that open for some reason.

Japan is trying to say the right things while not really practicing them. Case in point, my Japanese company tells us to telework from home but then schedules me for three meetings at the office today smh...

Still no lockdown, tracing and massive testing. This is going to be bloody.

I just really think that Japanese do not or cannot wrap their heads around social distancing. Every TV program, they show there is no studio audience, which is great, but then you have all these hosts, or panelists crammed together on the set. Even NHK's announcers are all standing so close and not abiding by the 6 foot rule.

Some young people were spotted eating out and shopping Saturday despite the governor's request, 

Well, yeah, if you keep all the temptations open, like, THE TOKYO TOWER, you’re going to have people wanting to go. Duh!

If only someone in the know would speak up about actual infections and do some understandable and probable extrapolation. The next few weeks in Japan will be interesting, if not more than a bit frightful. Just follow cleanliness protocols, and if your employer won't allow it, quit.

Bars and night clubs are as busy as ever. The train will get more congested if they allow students to return to school next week as planned. These past 3 months, Japan could have done more to prepare, but they were focused on saving the Olympics. Now, they are focused on saving the economy.

Covid-19: You're gonna get me.

Tokyo Resident: No, I can't. It's Monday today. I can only get you on the weekend.

Covid-19: Ah goshdarn it. I'll try again later then.

More companies, including mine, has started teleworking from this week. Even last week when boarding the train I though there were less people than usual.

Something is indeed changing.

Some young people were spotted eating out and shopping Saturday despite the governor's request, while many department stores and movie theaters remained closed Sunday.

Young people have been hanging out at the popular station anyway. The only way to get them to stay home is to close the popular shops, game centers, karaoke, bars and clubs. Also, in the local neighborhood, the park has been packed with children almost everyday.

A weekend lockdown just makes it seem like the government actually did something.

The "young people" thing is nonsense - since this whole mess started the oldsters have by and large been every bit as active as the young. Moreover, the people with decision-making power - who could actually issue stronger warnings, declare a state of emergency, close down offices (even if only their own) or even appear on TV remotely instead of in a press conference surrounded by flunkies - are all old.

The cherry blossoms is a complete red herring too. If you have to take the train to work every day - as about 70% of people seem to have been doing, at least prior to today - then having a picnic under a tree at the weekend is way, way down on your list of infectious situations. Get people working at home (or just staying at home) ON WEEKDAYS or just let everyone go about their evenings/weekends as usual. This middle ground is completely pointless.

When they will shutdown Tokyo?? C'mon

Dango bong:

Japan is trying to say the right things while not really practicing them. Case in point, my Japanese company tells us to telework from home but then schedules me for three meetings at the office today smh...

Teach them how to do a meeting on line.

‘Non-Essential’ businesses should be closed and people ordered to stay at home except for necessities.

It may be a good opportunity to reconsider and modify conformist culture and social behavior in Japan which often cause crowds in particular places at a particular moment. In downtown Tokyo, it is structurally difficult for people to keep enough social distance. Diversity in lifestyle and business schedule can also contribute to the public health.

Japan is trying to say the right things while not really practicing them. Case in point, my Japanese company tells us to telework from home but then schedules me for three meetings at the office today smh...

I haven't had to go in but some people in my department still choose to go in even though they can telework. Some even for reasons like their gym is near the office (which they should be avoiding in the first place). I'm wondering now if I should complain to the powers that be. If you can force people to change their working hours, can you force them to telework?

Just read an article in the NYT about whether or not people should even take walks, as in stepping foot out of their homes. Here we have politicians and journalists packed together at press conferences, a regular commuter week on tap, and major tourist attractions are taking dramatic steps like "reducing hours." Way to bend that curve... upward.

Shimura Ken has died.

Perhaps things will feel more real to the general public now.

I trust that Tokyo people will continue to show their understanding by keeping home and follow the recommendations, as they did sunday.

Narrator: They won't.

@ socrateos

Teach them how to do a meeting on line.

Surely you jest! You obviously do not work in a Japanese company. If it were a video meeting how would the bosses see you nodding, bowing and agreeing while they talk?

Crowds disappear from Tokyo streets amid virus, snow

And appear the next day on the streets, is it some sort of hide and seek with the virus.

Well on the bright side, if one is a foreigner no worries with social distancing as it happens already. The good thing is not worrying about the blasters and nose pickers sitting next to you on the trains. Plenty of space on either side, almost a luxury.

I trust that Tokyo people will continue to show their understanding by keeping home and follow the recommendations, as they did sunday.

An absolutely pointless gesture.

I’m amazed there’s not a lockdown. Japan is about to get hit hard I am very very sorry to see.

It was so cold yesterday no one in their right mind would have been out on the streets yesterday.

Anyway, a current observation is that there's a panic buying going on at the moment... I guess the general public have realized that a lock-down is inevitable.

I am writing this on the basis of my own study. At the time when Wuhan suffered from a high rise in corona virus cases the temperature was around 10 degree Celsius. And the cases started to drop down when the temperature got warmer around 17 - 18 degree Celsius. And currently if you look a the temperature of Europe mainly Spain and Italy the temperature is below 10 degree Celsius and the rise in the case has remarkably topped China. Which means, the virus is much active and is easier to spread around the temperature below 10 degree Celsius. I was expecting for the rise in cases in Japan after the snow fall and It happened. Stay at home and Be Safe people.

Yesterday, the streets of Kyoto were deserted.

Hotel lobbies devoid of people.

Easy city to now avoid others unlike Osaka, Tokyo, Nagoya

Only tokyo ???, I think osaka & kyoto is much more dangerous ???.

Before the cherry blossoms people were doing really well from the start staying home and distancing, however, after the blossoms bloomed peoples' brains exploded, clearly. They were out in droves and were acting like the virus had all but disappeared quite shocking and frightening.

I left Japan just as the cherry blossoms were starting, and my experience was completely different. In Kyoto, no one seemed to be staying home or following social distancing measures. There were fewer tourists, but trains had plenty of commuters on them, streets were full of people shopping, and bars and restaurants seemed no less busy. Aside from the closure of schools and museums, people seemed to be doing nothing out of their usual routine.

One good thing I'd say is that most public places including shops had hand sanitiser pumps, and people seemed to be washing their hands more (despite what people say about Japanese cleanliness, just like anywhere else before the outbreak I observed plenty of men not washing their hands after going to the toilet). Now if only public toilets would add soap/handwash and driers...

@mmwkdw

It was so cold yesterday no one in their right mind would have been out on the streets yesterday.

This. It seems bizarre to attribute people not going outside to anything other than the unusually cold weather. I don't feel that the severity of the virus has become clear for many Japanese people. Now that the Olympics has been postponed, hopefully the government will be more forthright.

It's impossible for some young people to stay at home.

Worst than prison staying home with their parents.

They might have to talk with their father.

Is what we are witnessing is a Biological war fair !? Or am I dreaming? I hope it's the later.