Japan to discuss easing travel ban with China, S Korea, other countries

Not yet. Be patient.

Ooen it up already!

For example Korea is doing much better than Japan? Why even block it in the first place?

Prioritizing businesspeople is disgusting.

Why ? I think this should be first and highest priority in fact I think it should drive the covid19 response.

L

Let stranded residents in first

or example Korea is doing much better than Japan? Why even block it in the first place?

Would you like an answer? Ok...

Simply: They could catch the virus in Japan and going home with it, and spread it.

China? Are you kidding me? Probably will allow direct flights from Wuhan...

Super stupidity has super economic cost.

China and South Korea are expected to pose a larger challenge because of the sheer number of people that could potentially come to Japan,

Sheer number? Dreaming? They wont come anytime soon, even if restrictions are lifted.

China doubled her market in the last two months. Unfortunately, Japan missed out.

Yeah, but, do people really want to travel to Tokyo while the virus is still going nuts? Damn sure I don’t.

As some posters already noted, non-Japanese permanent residents are entitled to a fast-track (re) entry. Other than that I think that reopening borders should be decided based on epidemiological assessment rather than political one.

noriahojanen, your "non-Japanese permanent residents are entitled to a fast-track (re) entry" contradicts your "I think that reopening borders should be decided based on epidemiological assessment".

China ..........

Did I miss something? Has a vaccine been invented and produced?

China doubled her market in the last two months

How ?! China technically is in a de-facto recession.

I don't get this "businesspeople" thing.

What about residents!!

And what about ordinary people who held a valid work visa (that got suspended so they're left with CoE) and have their job in Japan but they can't start it because of travel restrictions?! They aren't residents yet but they aren't like students or tourists! They are stuck outside with no salary!!

Japanese nationals can come back with a fourteen day quarantine...

But permanent residents are simply "turned away."

Japanese xenophobia at its finest.

DON'T open up yet!!

The people in charge are really crazy...

As some posters already noted, non-Japanese permanent residents are entitled to a fast-track (re) entry

Nori, can you expand on that, have not heard of any fast track, just if you try its roulette, depends on the immigration officer etc.....

China? No thanks.

Again, no word on foreign residents.

If I were Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam or NZ, I'd be very careful before opening up to a hotspot like Tokyo.

Open it up.

China? Are you kidding me? Probably will allow direct flights from Wuhan...

or even worse... all those asymptomatic, untested carriers in Japan spreading across China.

Due to the limited number of testing performed here nobody but God knows the true number of those infected with the virus. Unfortunately, reporting lower numbers for a look-good image is the objective rather than curbing the spread of the virus. For almost 7 months now there is constant talk about increasing testing, talk of potential to perform massive yet testing is still extremely low. When there has been talk of testing has been increase is just a paltry 1000 test. How can an epidemic be contained or brought under control without testing to track and isolate those infected and grasp the extend if the spread. Where are the real epidemy experts? All I see on TV are nothing but nationalist fan club people.

And what about ordinary people who held a valid work visa (that got suspended so they're left with CoE) and have their job in Japan but they can't start it because of travel restrictions?! They aren't residents yet but they aren't like students or tourists! They are stuck outside with no salary!!

Giulia, I'm in the same exact position like you. I've been waiting to enter Japan for three months with no job and no income. Uuuugh so annoying.

I would wait a bit more and use that well known Japanese embedded cultural aspect called "PATIENCE".

China's numbers are fake. Trusting the CCP now would be foolish and Japan hasn't a clue about its own real case numbers so why would they want to be held responsible when their citizens show up in other countries and get tested positive on arrival. Japan would have serious egg on its face.

No vaccine. No open. Contain the contagion within the population. PR leaves, you can return when there is a vaccine - you are not a citizen. Testing, yeah, yeah, yeah. So what? You have accurate numbers, for what, yr scrapbook? Admitting business people, the economy is a necessary element. And. Where did the virus originate? And whence has it spread? Everywhere. The tourist industry, composed of foreigners, is eventually unsustainable. Kill it off and shift to domestic tourism and a more sustainable form. Next-up, a series of natural disasters and a slew of man-made. The present isn't even a warm-up. Living on an island enables a control other countries lack. Exercise it.

This will be for Japanese businessmen only. Or Japanese tourists. So don't get your hopes up.

Richard Gallagher - you think a Japanese citizen returning to Japan has some form of immunity that a non-Japanese resident hasn't? A bit like Aso's delusion? In one sentence you say contain the virus in the next you say international business is necessary. Then you say kill the foreign tourist industry. Do you have any idea how many Japanese will be made redundant and go bankrupt if you did this? Whilst writing that the economy is a necessary element. And then you ridicule testing. I should have ignored your post right at that point..

japan is going to be back on the banned list the way it's going. Ironic if the standard Japan sets for other countries numbers of infections is lower than Japan currently has.

Hey, Tiger, since you want to get personal. A Japanese citizen returning to Japan is exactly that and immunity is not factored into that statement, quarantined upon arrival is the requirement to isolate any carrying the virus. A non-Japanese is not a citizen and does not carry or hold the same right(s) as a native - you leave you are gone which is a policy intended to protect the citizenry, which excludes foreigners no matter the status - for some reason there seems to be difficulties among foreign residents and the realization you are neither native or a citizen, no matter that you pay taxes, which is an incredibly weak and completely dubious argument. Reducing the contagion to community spread and eliminating outside sources, so as to burn out the virus requires barring foreign tourists for a prolonged period. Purposefully limiting the range of one's travel and reducing it to habit and routine is simply wise and will contribute to reduced numbers of infections, along with protocols already in place.

Controlling and limiting visitors to Japan businesswomen and men is fairly simple and manageable and limits contact and implements requirements for immediate testing in order to permit travel to and from specific & limited destinations. The necessity for such is fairly limited as large corporate international concerns, EXXON for instance which has offices in Japan, have had protocols in place beginning in February, same with international finance and banking - none of which waited until 'Tokyo' signaled such protocols & protections were to be enacted, they prepared early on, unlike the governing powers - nor are they going to engage in unwarranted risk that would impinge on profit.

International business far outstrips the domestic and has absolutely naught to do with industrial tourism. The industrial foreign tourist economy is unsustainable and has adversely impacted local and regional business. The proliferation of franchise operations and corporate hoteliers that are the expanded base of such impact cash flows which do not return to where such profits originate. Starbucks, chain drugstores, large corporate hotel, franchise restaurants, the number is large, already adversely effect small businesses, shops, cafes and the like which are independently owned by individuals, many run by women. Industrial tourism is not sustainable and is completely divorced from any social ecology. The influx of foreign tourists have numerous detrimental effects which have been commented on by 'experts'. The expansive nature requires capital outlays that are afforded to large companies that are exploitative and offer mostly low-wage positions in a service economy which is dependent on sources of supply that are less than stable. It requires an upward adjustment which does little to enhance the localities where they prey and indeed they are predatory. The past five years have revealed an unhinged excess in the nature of a mode of tourism cultivated to peak with the, at the moment, non-existent Olympics. Take a look at the economic studies of such. The economics of domestic tourism are smaller scale and have a tendency to directly profit independent, local and regional business. There are studies of medium sized, independently owned businesses, mostly restaurants, citing the finances and economics of such and the impacts of industrial tourism, which are negative. I am very aware of impacts of foreign tourism to businesses and the culture, it is overwhelmingly negative and the profits limited to a very certain determined sector by the very nature of its structures and strictures. Critical awareness in examining the economics of the past five years, doesn't hold to emotive opining, it reveals institutional and systemic values which have generated very real and negative impacts on various economies within Japan.

Testing, what is the point of numbers? Academic, scholarly and scientific studies, which do not intend to ridicule, reveal that what is of import is identifying clusters and managing those cases to contain the spread - because of the frequency of contact and large numbers of individuals involved, it is too late for testing. It has to be specific and wedded to a determined outcome. Otherwise it is merely a curiosity. Unless you have the magical ability to test everyone at exactly the same time and have a plan in hand for those who test positive.

Quite correct simon g. Abe and Aso are a pathetic example of how smug this government is. They think that being Japanese is enough to save them.

If anyone wants to know how Taiwan overtook the dominance of Japanese electronic manufacturing, then the handling of this pandemic is a good example.

Richard Gallagher - nothing personal here at all, my posts aim for fact. Many non-Japanese residents here have made Japan their home for 20 or 30 years or so. That is longer than these irresponsible young Japanese spreading Covid around these clubs. This government are happy to block longterm and sensible non-Japanese residents from re-entry, but will not lift a finger to close these clubs or pachinko parlours.

In response to your, I must say quite insulting, comments aimed at non-Japanese residents here, most of us have Japanese families. That means Japanese spouses and Japanese children speaking Japanese attending local schools. Now take as an example Taiwan, the biggest success story with Covid-19. They have no issues with permitting their non-Taiwanese residents re-entry (as long as a test is taken at the airport with a 14 day quarantine). Are you saying that Japan knows how to deal with this issue better than Taiwan? The facts tell us otherwise.

And as for your argument that the free movement of Japanese businessmen is safer than the re-entry of non-Japanese. Did you forget about the 2 Japanese businessmen who were flown home from Wuhan by this government and who refused to quarantine for which this government did nothing about? Yes, one of those "safe" Japanese brought Covid-19 straight into his own home in turn infecting his child and probably anyone else on his journey home.

And to argue against recording statistical numbers during this pandemic virus? Without numbers of new cases, without numbers of deaths by Covid-19, without numbers of tests, you tell me how else are you going to work out when this pandemic is declining or spreading? You say that we need to identify clusters instead. Thats way too late by then, the virus would have spread. And anyway, how do you identify clusters without test statistics?

Tigers:

Don't forget, I think the other G7 countries are allowing long-term or permanent residents back in. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong. Right now, I think Japanese can return to UK if they live there (and go through the UK/EU immigration gates at Heathrow, might I add). Reciprocity doesn't seem to exist in Japan. And I said it before, but Hong Kong is continuing to help bring back foreign residents from India, Pakistan and Nepal, despite many of them continuing to test positive as soon as they arrive in HK. Why? Because like other nations and unlike Japan, they have compassion and empathy. They know that residents have family, jobs and houses in their host countries.

Richard Gallagher:

I don't know where you are, but if you're stuck in Japan, just pray that nothing happens to your family back home. It's going to be a choice between attending their funerals and being locked out of Japan, or attending an i-funeral on your computer in Japan.

Right at this moment, my advice to countries doing quite well like NZ, Vietnam and Taiwan - don't agree to opening up flights to Tokyo yet. Let them get their sh t together first. Tokyo is NOT setting a good example.

Giulia, I'm in the same exact position like you. I've been waiting to enter Japan for three months with no job and no income. Uuuugh so annoying.

No one seems to care about our situation. We aren't like students, we should be able to enter ASAP as well! We need to work too!!!

Well considering that it’s from countries that have a pretty good grip on the coronavirus (mostly) I’m not really against this.

in terms of the business people argument, hey, you got to start somewhere. And yes, with family members of residents who are stranded, they should be first priority. And also, you have to start with a small number of people, to see how it goes. So that way if there is any spike, it’ll be minimal because of it.

Pukey - that's correct. Japan is the only G7 nation not to allow its foreign residents re-entry. I can't help thinking it's just a racist decision. If you leave Japan for a funeral etc they make you sign a document that re-entry is not guaranteed. Disgusting.

Now if Japan had a blanket ban on everyone re-entering Japan, regardless of race, it would be acceptable. Just like New Zealand did. But no, they even flew positive-carrying Japanese back from Wuhan itself, and then let them wander off onto public transportation.

Dear Giulia - don't be too upset that they have barred you. In my opinion they have no idea how many people are positive in Japan, and the atmosphere surrounding foreign residents here is very right wing. This is a wonderful country and the people are friendly, but this current regime have a right wing agenda and this decision is an example of that.

Dear Giulia - don't be too upset that they have barred you. In my opinion they have no idea how many people are positive in Japan, and the atmosphere surrounding foreign residents here is very right wing. This is a wonderful country and the people are friendly, but this current regime have a right wing agenda and this decision is an example of that.

Yes I know, unfortunately. It's just upsetting to see that while other countries let in foreigners (and by foreigners I don't mean tourists, but residents or people who obtained working visas) without any problem, Japan is thinking about businesspeople instead. We have our jobs there and we can't start simply because they decided that since we are foreigners we are more likely to carry the virus than Japanese business men. It's unfair, and living with no income is not a joke. Shame on them.

So, nightclubs, host/hostess clubs, nightlife disctricts, and "unknown" (hmmm, who'd confess to visiting a soap parlor) are spreading this and remain open. Meanwhile, people who have a LEGAL RIGHT to live (reside) and work in Japan, have Japanese families, but a non-Japanese passport, are banned from returning. From RETURNING to Japan. Unless something terrible (death) has happened to one's family abroad, or one's own health (surgery or post-op checks, as they say), and even then it's not guaranteed. How about visiting families in time of crisis for many other reasons, mainly that one wishes to see dear ones BEFORE they died or are on their deathbeds? Does the word "empathy" exist, or only "tatemae"/"honne" where now the latter is showing its head openly?

Japan has plans to resume travel for: business people, then students, then tourists. "Spouse or child" of Japanese national is hardly any of those. Granted, some could be also students, some also could be very active in business, but definitely not all.

In current situation, I'm either trapped in Japan, or, I'm trapped abroad (in countries that are not Japan and are on Japan's ban list - do I have to travel by sea on a ship from a country that's not on the ban list to be able to come back? I mean, people can do that, because airplanes from those countries usually don't have direct flights to Japan, so... people just can do that. Perhaps, even those, who don't have a legal residency permit in Japan, in theory, since the countries are not on the "denial of entry" list.). That's not a nice situation at all. It's causing me additional mental distress in already troubling times, affecting my mental and subsequently physical health in a very bad way. People who have legal grounds of residency in Japan (permanent or long-term, which is either over 3 or over 6 months), and especially those who have Japanese families, must have exemption from re-entry bans. Are we not family? Do we not have a right to be together? In this way, Japan now has encroached on legal rights of Japanese passport holders, or Japanese citizens, or Japanese nationals - dear government of Japan, what about rights of your nationals to be with their families? Even if Japanese national's family member is a foreign legal resident of Japan, you separate them - why? Japanese nationals have a right to be with their families, don't they? What you're doing to your own citizens now, separating Japanese nationals from their foreign spouses and/or their foreign children who have legal permission to live in Japan - I have a question, is that constitutional?

noriahojanen, your "non-Japanese permanent residents are entitled to a fast-track (re) entry" contradicts your "I think that reopening borders should be decided based on epidemiological assessment".

Akie, if "reopening borders should be decided based on epidemiological assessment", that means that Japanese "nationals" should also be banned from re-entry. If Japanese "nationals" are not banned from re-entry, then neither should be other people holding LEGAL RIGHTS to LIVE IN JAPAN, right?

A non-Japanese is not a citizen and does not carry or hold the same right(s) as a native

Richard Gallagher, sure, but uhm, there are those who are LEGALLY RESIDING in Japan, and are "supposed to have" the same rights as their "citizen" counterparts, of course minus the voting which should always be for citizens only, but... ever heard of HUMAN RIGHTS? Currently, Japan is separating families. (Can go both ways - separating foreign residents from their families abroad, or separating them from their Japanese families. And also, Japan is separating their own citizens from their foreign family members. Now, that is more serious of an issue because now Japanese nationals are suffering, because who cares of feelings of legal foreign residents? But now, for citizens, is this unconstitutional to separate law abiding Japanese nationals from their foreign legal resident law abiding families?) Did China ban its foreign residents from re-entry? Well, what else was China doing in its pre-pandemic days? Is that a good example to follow? (Imho, real numbers do not surface from there to be known to the rest of the world.) If Japan would start to resemble China in some ways, that would be discouraging in several ways. Coming from the old continent, where human rights are very important (notice how allowing foreign family member re-entry in EU is actually protecting rights of EU nationals) , and definitely families are not separated, I didn't expect a nation as seemingly progressive as Japan to do something like foreign resident re-entry ban. This situation is starting to remind me more and more, how many things I took for granted in the old continent. To repeat myself, in current situation, I'm either trapped in Japan, or trapped abroad (in countries that are not Japan and are on Japan's ban list).