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Japan to extend state of emergency again; set road map to lift curbs

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I feel the urge for a steak coming on….

18 ( +22 / -4 )

They keep moving the goalposts.

28 ( +31 / -3 )

dumb! more and more people will more and more ignore the 'rules', I think.....

13 ( +22 / -9 )

As long as we can drink at a bar after 8pm like normal people

20 ( +24 / -4 )

Suga is stepping down after just a year in office amid criticism over his handling of the pandemic, with his public support in tatters and LDP lawmakers questioning his leadership heading into a general election this fall.

Suga was a fall guy from the outset.

Say what you will about Abe, but he is not a political fool and he saw the writing on the wall with they way the pandemic was developing. So once he got his tenure past the day of becoming the "longest serving PM", he immediately got out.

At that point, with the pandemic on its way to creating the disruption and uncertainty that it did, the path to any sort of success was a massive gamble, with criticism inevitable and failure very likely no matter what choices were made. Only a fool, a puppet, or a narcissist would have dared attempt to take the helm.

18 ( +21 / -3 )

Does that include abolishing self isolation rules for returning fully vaccinated permanent residents?

16 ( +22 / -6 )

Good news!!!

-11 ( +4 / -15 )

A Japanese citizen married to an American and who has a green card wants to come to Japan to renew the Japanese driver's license by June 6, 2022. That person has a month before the birthday and a month after the birthday to renew it, but cannot take time off because that person is an RN in California. Is there any way to avoid retaking the expensive driving courses after the final expiration date? The Japanese government does not respond to any email requests. HELP!

5 ( +12 / -7 )

There are no 'rules', unless you are entering from another country (but if were connected to olympics, then those 'rules' didn't apply) Any 'rules' inside the country were obserbed the same as riding your bike using an umbrella - basically ignored.

13 ( +14 / -1 )

@Noriyon73: Not the end of the world. I know several people who have run over the date. There is an 'Expired' window at the proper license centres, so won''t be able to renew at a Police Station (even if Gold) OR on a Sunday which is for 'clean renewals'.

Just make sure he/she has all the right paperwork, the only problem I foresee is still having a registered address here as I believe with an expired license you need to turn up with a hard copy of residence from your local city/ward office.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Currently, people have been asked to refrain from traveling across prefectural borders, but such trips are possible if people have completed their vaccine regimen or can show proof of a negative COVID-19 test, the sources with knowledge of the plan said.

Huh!!!

is this correct? Is this talking about Japan? You have to show proof of a negative COVID test to do cross prefectural borders? To who ? Do they have police at the prefectural borders? ( Last timeI drove across one there weren’t any) What about on the trains as they cross the prefectural borders? (And how can you even get a COVID test anyhow). Are they really asking to see a negative covid test result before one flies anywhere domestically in Japan?

If all this is the plan for the future it does not sound good to me. We do not need the Australian model here.

12 ( +14 / -2 )

Readers, the story has been corrected to show that you do not have to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test before crossing prefectural borders.

Avoid crowded places but not the overcrowded trains to work.

People need to realise this is all about control.

Pandemic, really? No one has the flu anymore?

5 ( +15 / -10 )

49% of Japan's population has been fully vaccinated (two shots).

It has taken seven months to get to this point.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Just in time for the high school sports competitions to start, the Haruko Volleyball, High School Football (100th anniversary by the way) and the Hakone Ekiden. So this could go either really well or really badly.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Japan to ease COVID-19 restrictions around November

Then watch the testing drop abysmally in the next 2 months

11 ( +16 / -5 )

Remains to be seen. Many other countries have announced relaxation of restrictions more than once, only to backtrack in the face of increased infections or new variants.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

Ease?

Right, I’ll believe it when I’m actually able to travel to the States and back without having to be locked up in Tokyo for two weeks upon arrival before going home.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

In the last 12 weeks I have ridden the Shinkansen three times and flown on ANA and JAL. Nobody ever asks to show our vaccine papers. They do politely ask about the red tag with the cross. Planes more crowded than the bullet trains.

For the person that asked about the driver’s license. It used to be for an American license, you just had to sit in a refresher course and they would issue you the Japanese license. Am not sure anymore, but will ask around.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Easing up the restrictions equates to spreading more COVID.

-9 ( +5 / -14 )

@Noriyon

The J-D/L can expire. It is not needed in the US since it requres an Intntl Drivers Permit (issued by JAF) and it's only valid for 1 year anyway. Upon return to Japan and with a registered address ( 住民票) in Japan a new J-D/L can be obtained without any driving or written test. The only requirement is that the person had a valid unrevoked J-D/L in the past, even if currently expired. So there is no need to come back to Japan just for the D/L at this time when travel is a P.I.A.

As a J-national living in CA, the person can apply for a CA State D/L with a CA address. If a PR in in posession they will get a normal D/L. If the PR is still in application, they will get one but is stamped not authorized to work.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

The Japanese government plans to relax COVID-19 curbs

See, it doesn’t matter what the result of the election is, the government has already set a course anyway.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Didnt know they have had restrictions

5 ( +7 / -2 )

I like the measured approach Japan has taken instead of the extreme "police state" tactics seen in Australia and France.

6 ( +13 / -7 )

do they have a crystal ball telling them what the numbers and conditions will be in November? wow

2 ( +5 / -3 )

@theResident and @Ossan. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. He/she hopes to find an 'Expired' window at the proper license centres in Hamamatsu or Shizuoka since the DL was issued in Iwata. Both of you are the GREATEST.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

do they have a crystal ball telling them what the numbers and conditions will be in November? wow

How have you gotten this far in the pandemic and don't know what 'modeling' is?

Hint: it's not a crystal ball.

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

@anon99999

We do not need the Australian model here

Well said.

13 ( +16 / -3 )

hmmm1Today  06:56 am JST

They keep moving the goalposts.

Literally in the case of the Club World Cup.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

First it was August, then September, now November. I’ve got a weird feeling someone is leading us by the nose.

Yep!

And there will likely be another wave starting in November, just in time to extend the restrictions till next spring...

9 ( +11 / -2 )

I love going to sushi shops, but I don't go now because of the coronavirus.

When I drive by my favorite sushi shop at lunch time and look at it longingly, I can't believe the parking lot is packed with cars and people are standing in line waiting for a space to open. A lot of people are apparently not afraid to gamble when it comes to eating sushi.

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

@noriyon73

Japan govt and regulatory agencies don't usually allow for exemptions. To have a drivers license in Japan you need a residence, so that would probably be their first problem unless their jyuminhou is at their jikka, then they will be fine. They should call their local driver license center, (not an embassy, etc). ask to speak to a higher up, email them, get a firm answer in writing.

Most likely, it will be a scripted response that you have to reapply for license. again, japan doesn't like exceptions to the rules.

If they have been in USA for over 3 months consecutively, and have a USA drivers license for those 3 months, they can do what is called gaimenkirikae. You transfer your USA drivers license to Japan license, and you do not have to go to the school again. There is a simple test true false test, and actual driving test. If you are a good driver you can pass the driving test, and the true false test is so easy, if you fail, then you shouldn't be operating 1200kg moving steel box.

Easiest thing is just come back to Japan to renew. As a Japanese citizen they can still travel freely, just have to quarantine at present state.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Well @Raw Beer... You know what to do if you want to play your part in that NOT happening.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

This is all so ponderous. Clueless gov't with clueless measures.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

62,000,000 million people fully vaccinated as of September 7th. That now puts the anti vaxxers officially in the minority. We are well on track for the plans above and not have to return to measures after.

-11 ( +5 / -16 )

lol I'm sorry, what restrictions are there now?

5 ( +6 / -1 )

62,000,000 million people fully vaccinated as of September 7th. That now puts the anti vaxxers officially in the minority. We are well on track for the plans above and not have to return to measures after.

Pro-vax team, RAH, RAH, RAH!

"Anti-vax team", BOO, BOO, BOO!

2 ( +10 / -8 )

Mm. 'most of us' would define something above 50%. So that is an incorrect statement. As are your continued claims about Ivermectin. It's almost laughable.

-10 ( +3 / -13 )

theResidentToday 11:39 am JST

62,000,000 million people fully vaccinated as of September 7th. That now puts the anti vaxxers officially in the minority. We are well on track for the plans above and not have to return to measures after.

62,000,000 is less than 50% of the population, around 49%

I am vaccinated, but not for covid yet, and I am not an anti vaxxer. Please refrain to mix both, and to always refer to non vaccinated as anti vaxxer.

4 ( +11 / -7 )

@didiou - Its actually probably more than 50% as those under 12 are not eligible. Also - I am not referring to the non vaxxed as anti-vax - merely pointing out that their views and opinions have not held weight with the public at large as the pace of vaccinations is unabated at around 1,000,000 a day.

-8 ( +4 / -12 )

theResidentToday 12:24 pm JST

@didiou - Its actually probably more than 50% as those under 12 are not eligible.

You are right.

Also - I am not referring to the non vaxxed as anti-vax

Understood.

As for Japan, there is not any anti-vax movement. Just people are keeping quiet as often here.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

There are indeed anti-vax/anti-mask/covid denying groups here constantly protesting outside major train stations.

Please read this appalling article: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210522/p2a/00m/0na/008000c

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

You intentionally wanted and insisted in the strategy ‘living with the virus’, so just show that you can do that and abide to it and stop crying all day long about those misleading errors you made. Thanks.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Japan Gov't: Let's extend a state of meaningless emergency, and then let's make a road map because by the time our meaningless SOE is over the Virus will be G O N E!

3 ( +6 / -3 )

divinda:

Say what you will about Abe, but he is not a political fool and he saw the writing on the wall with they way the pandemic was developing. So once he got his tenure past the day of becoming the "longest serving PM", he immediately got out.

Exactly. Anyone with a brain cell could see right through him. He just needs one more fall guy (or gal) before he makes his comeback after a miracle recovery.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

people are being urged to avoid crowded areas

My employer has decided we are all returning to normal school on Monday. I was informed today. So, exactly how do I avoid crowded areas?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

As long as necessary.

And keep on jabbing..

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

Noriyon

International driving permit may suffice for the Japanese citizen with a green card who lives in USA providing they have a driver's license .

Or is that why the Japanese license needs renewal ?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The road map is as follows:

The new incoming PM will announce the end of the SoE and take all the credit for doing so.

This will boost their approval rating.

General election announced.

The media spread the approval rating around.

The high approval rating convinces enough people to vote for the PM.

LDP stay in power.
4 ( +4 / -0 )

@bo

Pandemic, really? No one has the flu anymore?

Here in the UK last year there were barely any cases of the 'flu... thanks to lockdown and people not mixing the virus couldn't really spread. This winter might be different, but lockdowns don't just slow down Covid infections.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

@Noriyon73

Not sure but I would suggest : apply in US to have a valid US driver license. If not possible to come back before the expiry date of the japanese one. Ask for the valid US one to be converted in japanese one (there will be a test, except if it is an Indiana one and a fee) :

https://jref.com/threads/driving-in-the-us-japanese-or-international-license.37111/

https://jp.usembassy.gov/services/driving-in-japan/

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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