Suga dodges questions on whether Olympics can be held under state of emergency

@Goodlucktoyou, and so they should cancel next year's winter games, considering where this whole virus/pandemic mess started.

Suga’s politics life & Unconventional Olympics would be succeeded.

He showed a strong confidence again .

Is that so meaning full for Tokyo to hold The Olympic games? It takes a lot of money, vaccine,,, What they are thinking? If they are unable to host it perfectly, our country's reputation will be declined and the economy as well. As one of Japanese opinion, there is no special effect on holding or not holding it.

Suga is a curiosity shop keeper .

PM Suga Address ; The Olympics looks like cure like . So then successful he believes .

Ah. Suga. The Artful Dodger (or not-so-artful). Former hatchet man for Abe. Continues the arrogant ways of his predecessor.

The Olympics. Completely passé. A corporate formulated spectacle intended for the masses. The cult of sport. Under the IOC, a corrupt endeavor in which myriad parties line their pockets with cash, while the taxpayers of the home country fund a rather nonsensical event that has every manner of weird and queer drama hung upon it.

Chemically enhanced athletes training in corporate sponsored or created facilities, the overall intention to peddle shoes, sportswear and keep folks 'down on the farm'.

Either the IOC should pay for the entirety or the IOC in league with its corporate sponsors. It is a ludicrous enterprise that will cost the people of Japan upwards of 30 billion dollars (3 trillion yen). The people have no say in the event, their concerns are ignored, the incredibly healthy & sane opposition, the concern about holding a super-spreader event during a pandemic is tamped down with ridiculous platitudes and vague assertions that 'the games will go on' as if it has an element of courage and honor to it.

There are still some athletes that are not, essentially in the employ of shoe manufacturers or equipment makers who represent 'true sport' in terms of athletics, but they are few and marginalized. AND there are events aka World Championships that allow competition on a larger field, that are minus all the hoopla and embrace the outstanding athleticism. The best stance is to oppose the games and refuse to watch or participate in the quite mad intent of those in the IOC and the ruling party of Japan. As one poster intoned: this will be a Biblical Event.

@starpunk: Its amazing..that after all that has been printed that some if you still believe that Suga has the power to cancel this charade solely.

I hope none of the athletes sign the sleazy IOC waiver and none turn up.

Maybe the Japan medical association (whatever it is called) should take out advertisements on all the world main atheletics websites and in atheletics newspapers to explain the strained hospitals, overworked staff, and risk of a super-spreader event to inform the athletes about public negative opinion in Japan/Tokyo about holding this Olympics and advise them not to come.

HoldingYouAccountableToday  06:44 am JST

Suga can't respond because he is getting to much pressure. He is trying to find a creative way to cancel the Olympics. Mark this down, screenshot this.

"The Ol¥mpics will NOT be happening.

Suga keeps on skirting the issue and passing the buck, but he's really being derelict in his responsibilties as PM. He's already got egg. on his face, mud on his shoes. And I agree, he'll wait until the last minute to call them off but it'll be too little, too late to salvage his image and political career.

Very sad for the premier.

@Sylph: You are incorrect. Pfizer already proven to reduce transmission. Again - more anti-vaxxer BS trying to stop the world from returning to normality.

Yes - The first point of the vaccine was to cut the need for the disease to progress to its worst stages. Cutting transmission is our way out of this.

and you have those exact terms about 'death' as a hard copy do you @smith? I'd love to see that piece of paper. Feel free to post a link to that PDF please.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga sidestepped questions Friday on whether the Tokyo Olympics can be held under a state of emergency, saying only that the government will "carry on with preparations while listening to a range of opinions."

One of those preparations is requiring athletes to sign documents saying the IOC and JOC are not to blame if the athletes die from the virus or extreme heat.

I'd like to see the founders of Rakuten/Uniqlo/Softbank to be handed the keys to the Vaccine rollout. Far more useful than trying to stop something taking place that is inevitable.

I'd like for a wealthy influencer (Rakuten founder for example) to fund and coordinate the production and shipment of 'No Olympics' posters and signs for distribution to all main sites of the Olympics and ParaOlympics, as well as hospitals, clinics, and other organization who are concerned about hosting the events.

These could be posted in private residences and business along the main transport routes and near main venues to show the public anger at the event. This kind of grassroots definance of the public party line, spouted by Suga and the IOC and JOC cronies could help push countries towards not sending teams. It would create a lot of international media traction and embarrassment for the JAC and government.

I think in many countries, this kind of action would have already happened. I wonder how supportive Japanese business and individuals would be though for this kind of thing. At the end of the day, most Japanese really care about global perception and may think twice about such a direct public statement, rather than an online petition or comment on a web discussion.

Has anyone else noticed this is a trope in recent politics? Instead of actual policies or strategy, weak and out-of-their-depth "leaders" resort to magical incantations.

Haha maybe they're just countering the curses and divinations that jt readers are casting on japan

Office going folks typically are crammed in trains - but mostly all are with masks, windows are partially opened and no one talks - so risk of spread is much much lower - would say that is main reason why this daily commute has not turned into a super spreader activity as many people suspected/worried about...

On another hand - these out of these 79,000 foreigners - only 15,000 are athletes - rest are media, supporting officials - you expect them to follow the same level of discipline and adhere to their so called "bubble" and not venture out to explore and enjoy their once in a lifetime company sponsored jamboree to Tokyo?

Other point - of the 15,000 athletes - many are close contact sports like boxing, judo etc - also they will come in close contact with local Japanese support staff and volunteers

Are you comparing the above two scenarios the same way as everyday commute crowd in subway trains?

It comes down to how many are vaccinated and how well-behaved they are (most foreigners I've seen wear masks, and I don't think these will be any different), but number-wise they are nothing compared to the number of Japanese out and about each day. And nowhere near as dangerous as schools. One of my kids has gotten sick 4 times already since they re-opened schools last year, 3 times passing it on to me. For families with elderly living together, they are much more likely to get infected from kids than some random short-stay foreigner they have no connection to outside of the TV.

The worst Japanese PM since Tojo.

People shouldn't be too worried. By July, most of the world will be vaccinated, except Japan.

What this fossil means is they will carry on with the preparations and ignore everyone and everything else!

Such a moron.

Yes, Olympics can be held during state of emergency as SoE is simply a meaningless play of words like "premium Friday" and "mainamba number."

Suga always dodges questions since when he was chief cabinet office secretary.

This year, He ignored questions from Reuters when press conference at summit with US president.

Recent government of Japan disrespects press freedom, PM press conference that wants to conceal his incompetence has no even freedom of questions.

You can still get, carry, and pass on covid even if you are vaccinated. The vaccine only makes your chance of showing symptoms less. That's all. So, it doesn't matter if Olympic athletes get vaccinated or not. The number of people gathering in one place is what really matters.

So I can sit with 10,000 people at a baseball game.

but I cant have a beer at a small restaurant at 3pm on a Saturday?

Spectators can be allowed without much risk, Suga said, noting that professional baseball and soccer games are currently being held with the attendance caps.

Suga can't respond because he is getting to much pressure. He is trying to find a creative way to cancel the Olympics. Mark this down, screenshot this.

> Why don’t they just refuse to issue entry visas to any non residents “for their own safety as Japan is now in an ememergency situation” No need to cancel the games, only Japanese athletes and media will be able to attend, but they don’t have to if they are worried about the virus. No need to forfeit any penalty clauses, everyone stays safe, only the big business advertisers lose out and no-one cares that their profits will be down by 0.2 % year on year .....

> Also, how do I exit the “quote” and write my own message ?? Can’t get the keybouard to pop up on ipad unless I delete the “quote” ??

>

The Olympic Games are of critical benefit for the Government. The execution of the games will be a bold statement on how Japan’s leadership and the IOC can confront an epidemic with strength and resolve.

It may actually be a positive event if the government focuses on the seeming endless epidemic(s) impacting the nation: Which are a precipitous birth rate, and a high suicide rate. Numbers that overwhelm anything Covid ever brought on.

Nothing to see here for the LDP. Carry on.

Here is the clearest signal that the IOC playbook to "protect" is fake.

No one has actually seen the finished playbook because it doesn't exist yet it is still being made.

The fact the IOC felt is necessary to add a specific clause regarding covid in the liability exemption waiver the athletes must sign says it all. Never has a specific disease been included.

When you buy a product no company has you sign a liability waiver in the event of injury or death that may occur if following the manufacturer's instructions, safety guidelines, etc...

"a safe and secure games."

Has anyone else noticed this is a trope in recent politics? Instead of actual policies or strategy, weak and out-of-their-depth "leaders" resort to magical incantations.

Keep repeating the same expression over and over again, and you're somehow cosmic ordering your dream to come true.

"A strong and stable Brexit" - Theresa May

"We are making America great again" - some fat loser

"a safe and secure Olympics" - everyone with their fingers in the pie of this boondoggle.

Just do something. Have a policy, and act to bring that policy into reality.

Don't just stand there like you're studying at Hogwarts. "Disparate virosum" . did it work? No, OK say it again. How about now? Again! Say it again!

https://youtu.be/0z3Rs7VMIs4?t=28

The only difference is this time, we have the tooth.

They will hold this one no matter all the deaths, but cancel the Chinese one next year in a brushstroke

“Concerns are also growing about the highly contagious Indian variant of the virus, which health experts warn could quickly become the dominant strain in Japan.”

Now, how did this Indian variant enter Japan is the question? I thought international travel has been restricted right? If not, then immigration at the airports is failing and they are not quarantining people properly. Now remember how this started spreading in Japan: The Princess Cruise Ship! They let those people from the boat who were supposedly cleared, use public transportation and it started to spread.

We should be like South Korea but no we failed here in Japan with that damn “Go to Travel” campaign!

@rainyday

Yup, in other words we, the tax paying residents of Japan, are screwed either way while the IOC is contractually guaranteed to be walking away with boatloads of our money no matter what.

Remind me again why I’m not supposed to be angry about that, please.

I believe 100% that you are supposed to be angry about that so no reminder is needed. I fully agree with your statement as I am also quite angry (cannot use the adjectives to fully describe my feeling here) so no reminder is needed. I believe the risk of holding the games, even considering the punitive factors, outweighs the benefits.

Ah, yes. There’s nothing like clear and proper leadership to care for the welfare and best interest of the people of a nation.

Of course the Olympics can be held under a state of emergency. And it can be held without a state of emergency. Because all of this is unenforced and pointless optics that didn’t have any significant effect either way.

We went from quasi-lockdowns, to GoTo programs, to free Abe mini-masks, to Work at Home, to repeated States of Emergency, to whatever.....

Maybe the Olympics will “flatten the curve” once and for all. And flatten the LDP if we’re even luckier.

Bring on the Covidiot Games.

@ rainyday, you are however aware of the financial cost to Japan if they solely decide to cancel, and not together with the IOC? Estimated at 1.81 Trillion Yen.

Yup, in other words we, the tax paying residents of Japan, are screwed either way while the IOC is contractually guaranteed to be walking away with boatloads of our money no matter what.

Remind me again why I’m not supposed to be angry about that, please.

Sorry to appear heartless, but I really don’t see the point in taking this personally. Wasting time that could be focused elsewhere.

I’m not necessarily taking it personally, this is objectively an outrageous situation that has damaged the public interest at large solely for the purpose of further enriching corrupt private interests (the IOC). Voicing opposition to this is not wasting time.

The argument that if Japan cancels Tokyo would be responsible to Pay damages.

Is not fully factual.

If the National government declares that the games would violate the SOE, Tokyo would submit a cancellation request to the IOC.

If this is made clearly public and the world made aware the IOC will have little choice but to cancel removing any possible responsibility from Tokyo.

If by some crazy power Trip the IOC rejects and Tokyo has no choice but to cancel on it's own, No Japanese court would side with the IOC or any other group or entity trying to sue.

The arbitration clause is irrelevant as Tokyo and Japan cannot be forced by any foreign entity to pay and the arbitrator does not have the power to seize anything.

Nor does any non Japanese court.

And it would have to be a Japanese court to uphold any arbitration ruling and force payment, which under an SOE order no Japanese court would do.

It is quite simple Tokyo could not be held responsible if the National government orders the games halted due to a "force majeure", the contract is with Tokyo not Japan.

@therougou

Let's also not forget the number of people cramming in trains to go to work and school every day in Tokyo. That was supposed to be the doomsday super-spreader according to JT experts. That never happened of course, but now the tested and largely vaccinated foreigners coming to participate/work at the Olympics are somehow worse? I'm not buying it.

Office going folks typically are crammed in trains - but mostly all are with masks, windows are partially opened and no one talks - so risk of spread is much much lower - would say that is main reason why this daily commute has not turned into a super spreader activity as many people suspected/worried about...

On another hand - these out of these 79,000 foreigners - only 15,000 are athletes - rest are media, supporting officials - you expect them to follow the same level of discipline and adhere to their so called "bubble" and not venture out to explore and enjoy their once in a lifetime company sponsored jamboree to Tokyo?

Other point - of the 15,000 athletes - many are close contact sports like boxing, judo etc - also they will come in close contact with local Japanese support staff and volunteers

Are you comparing the above two scenarios the same way as everyday commute crowd in subway trains?

Sorry to appear heartless, but I really don’t see the point in taking this personally. Wasting time that could be focused elsewhere.

There could be benefits still from all of this. Now they are saying they might start vaccinating the general population from June, an improvement from earlier estimates. OK, its not as if they are listening to JT posters, but they are taking the public opinion into account.

@Jim...thanks for the good wishes. Yes for those who have been here for the long haul we kind of understand what the deal is.

I will not bring this up with the in laws (it gets them really wound up...and they are not the type easily angered).

Ironically they were supporters of the LDP and the government but this changed around 7 years ago and the issue with the Olympics has almost "radicalized" them....they just do not know what they can do.

Considering their position on this it makes me wonder how many millions more Japanese citizens feel the same way but also do not know what to do. Almost like a "silent majority"

You are kind of missing the point of why people are angry about this. Its not just fear about it being a super spreader event, though that is part of it.

There is no evidence that it would become a superspreader so the fear is baseless.

Its also that the government has been diverting resources and attention that should be allocated to fighting the pandemic instead to holding the bloody games. Even if they are lucky and it doesn’t end up as a super spreader, we’ve already suffered incalculable harm by these games.Thousands of medical professionals are being diverted from a health system that needs them.

As far as I know nobody has been diverted anywhere. The Olympics start in over a month. By that time if the new infections down trend continues people might as well be diverted. Again, let's wait and see.

Political and management capital that could have been used to speed up vaccinations is instead being squandered on defending the games, leaving us all months behind the rest of the world. And don’t get me started on the financial cost.

Aren't vaccination implementation going parallel to everything that has to do with Olympics? How about the financial costs of canceling the event and Tokyo being left with billions to pay in compensation to IOC etc? Has someone calculated these costs? I think the Japanese government might have and in spite of what everyone here says about their incompetency, I think they need to be given more credit. I'd rather trust the government than mob on a news website... To be honest.

@Jax

Just let them do it!

Why are people so obsessed with a mere 79,000 people (Olympics related) comming in to Japan where most of them would be strictly controlled, with multiple PCR tests each day etc?

Why do most of you forget about the thousands of people (Japanese and foreign residents) coming to Japan every single day, who are not controlled in such a strict way and end up breaking quarantine ( approx. 30 percent, according to a recent research)

Olympics is NOY gonna be a superspreader, as you doomsday apocalypse people would like it to turn out to be!

Good points. Let's also not forget the number of people cramming in trains to go to work and school every day in Tokyo. That was supposed to be the doomsday super-spreader according to JT experts. That never happened of course, but now the tested and largely vaccinated foreigners coming to participate/work at the Olympics are somehow worse? I'm not buying it.

I can't believe that there is a politician that ALMOST makes yearn for Abe to come back.

Aly, that may have been the plan all along mate. Abesan is doing the rounds of selected, friendly talk shows and is looking a picture of health, slick and full of some sort of confidence. Maybe poor old Suga san was set up to take this fall, for the team. Like what he has done for his whole career. A team player in the Real Japanese sensei of the word.

@Tokyo-Engr

The risk reward ratio is so heavily weighted against the games it is unreal they are even being considered at this point.

I guess this is why long timers here in Japan know - logic has never worked here and will never work in future too....

Sorry to hear about your in laws situation - take care and enjoy the time with them over the weekend!!!

There is a simple question that no rah, rah, rah IOC supporters will not answer with a straight reply.

The question is:

If foreigners cannot enter Japan without quarantine, tracking devices and testing, why is it ok to let the nearly 100,000 athletes and officials into Japan without the same precautions?

That is as simple a question as they come.

Up to now the only reply has be something along the lines of the following:

"the IOC says their experts say the games will be safe"

@ rainyday, you are however aware of the financial cost to Japan if they solely decide to cancel, and not together with the IOC? Estimated at 1.81 Trillion Yen.

@theResident - similarly are you aware of the Japanese economist who demonstrated the risk to the Japanese economy if the games are held and another wave in infections result are much, much higher than the cancellation cost (a fraction of Japan's GDP)

Also I am surprised this is not getting more news (it is worth of an article here in my humble opinion). Almost 70 % of Japanese companies want the Olympics cancelled or postponed.

https://www.metro.us/olympics-most-japan-firms-say/

The risk reward ratio is so heavily weighted against the games it is unreal they are even being considered at this point.

Some municipalities will begin inoculating people with underlying conditions in June and all people aged 65 or older will be fully vaccinated by the end of July, he reiterated.

He still makes and stands by this claim that all aged 65 or older will get two shots and fully vaccinated by end of July - see below link - Komeito party (which incidentally is supporting party to LDP) did an independent survey of 248 municipalities - 75% said they cannot meet this deadline of end July. Main reason cited is lack of resources... Komeito did this survey as they did not believe LDP survey result was giving clarity (and hiding truth...)

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14360351

Suga said he expects to secure more medical professionals to administer shots, enabling the rollout to ramp up to 1 million doses per day after mid-June.

What is he waiting for till mid-June? Some special auspicious day coming up that we are not aware of?

Also why are you diverting valuable SDF teams for your wretched shitty Olympics and not using these same resources to support the 75% of 248 municipalities who are not having enough people to do the needful? Why not start doing this NOW?

This is how you as PM is supposed to take care of your population, show some leadership in times of pandemic? Utterly pathetic and embarrassing - but of course these jokers dont care for normal Taro & Keiko here.....

I am no supporter of the Olympics taking place, but I strongly believe that they will, and will in all likelihood be a successful event, at least on TV.

@ rainyday, you are however aware of the financial cost to Japan if they solely decide to cancel, and not together with the IOC? Estimated at 1.81 Trillion Yen.

Sorry to appear heartless, but I really don’t see the point in taking this personally. Wasting time that could be focused elsewhere.

Cancel the sick trainwreck NOW.

@ReasonandWisdom

I stand with the 80% of Japanese Citizens who want the games postponed or cancelled. As to whether or not the games would become a super spreader event: we do not know so correct actions need to be taken based on risk.

@ReasonandWisdom: My 80 year old Japanese in laws are coming over today. Why don't you come over and explain to them why it is more important to vaccinate young healthy athletes than it is to vaccinate them. I will ensure you are seated far enough away from my Mother in Law (who I adore) to ensure your safety.

It is truly interesting to hear their perspective on this as well as that of my wife's 97 year old great uncle who was in WW2.

He is quite lucid and articulates very well the analogy of what the leaders of Japan did to the Japanese citizens during WW2 and what the leaders of Japan are doing now.

Suga does not care about the Japanese citizens or their wishes (that is so obvious now). He cares more about foreign IOC officials and foreign athletes than he does about my wife and her family.

It is really sad actually and one reason I am taking this issue so personally.

Classic Mr.Suga.

"I'm aware many people are anxious or worried," he said at a new conference . "Taking those concerns seriously, we will continue working toward a safe and secure games."

The fact that you continue working on what has been described as a 'suicide mission' is precisely why people are anxious and worried.

He's the true incarnation of Alfred E Numan from the old MAD magazine.

Everyone: 'We see serious obvious problems with this plan.'

Suga: 'Wot, me worry?'

Just let them do it! 

Why are people so obsessed with a mere 79,000 people (Olympics related) comming in to Japan where most of them would be strictly controlled, with multiple PCR tests each day etc?

Why do most of you forget about the thousands of people (Japanese and foreign residents) coming to Japan every single day, who are not controlled in such a strict way and end up breaking quarantine ( approx. 30 percent, according to a recent research) 

Olympics is NOY gonna be a superspreader, as you doomsday apocalypse people would like it to turn out to be!

You are kind of missing the point of why people are angry about this. Its not just fear about it being a super spreader event, though that is part of it. Its also that the government has been diverting resources and attention that should be allocated to fighting the pandemic instead to holding the bloody games. Even if they are lucky and it doesn’t end up as a super spreader, we’ve already suffered incalculable harm by these games.

Thousands of medical professionals are being diverted from a health system that needs them. Political and management capital that could have been used to speed up vaccinations is instead being squandered on defending the games, leaving us all months behind the rest of the world. And don’t get me started on the financial cost.

What if the Olympics happen successfully and safely? ? ?

Sounds like that is not a possible outcome on JT.

IOC, USA, Europe, Japan have discuss this issue in detail. The Olympics was postponed already from 2020 to 2021 before we had a vacinne. If they didn't care about the athletes and people The Games would have happened already in 2020.

Now we have multiple vaccines proven to work and be affective. Many countries start to reopen again, not use masks.

I saw today that the IOC is "so confident" of having a successful Olympics in the midst of a local Pandemic Emergency, "so assured"...that they're requiring all athletes sign contractual wavers assuming 100% COVID risk while participating in the Games???

"The waver includes updated language that protects the IOC and organizers specifically against consequences of the coronavirus that has infected at least 169 million people worldwide.

Section 4 of the waiver reads, in part: 

"I agree that I participate in the Games at my own risk and own responsibility, including any impact on my participation to and/or performance in the Games, serious bodily injury or even death raised by the potential exposure to health hazards such the transmission of COVID-19..."

Yet more votes of "confidence". CYA, IOC. CYA!

Suga would be better off tending strawberries-they don’t ask questions ...

Thanks for that. I can seriously picture that as his eyes never look up. Good skill for picking strawberries.

On a serious note, the unelected new (dear leader) made his position by constantly apologizing for Abe and Aike’s corruption.

The government extended the COVID-19 state of emergency in Tokyo, Osaka and seven other prefectures by three weeks to June 20 -- just over a month before the Olympics begin in the capital -- as the pace of decline in infections remains slow.

While an(other) extension was approved rather automatically, we haven't got any feedback about the previous SOE. Unfortunately, none of press guys asked about this critical point during the conference.

I remember the government officials said that they decided to impose a SOE in order to clarify impacts and characteristics of variants. I wonder whether and how much they have fulfilled this objective.

So the press conference was useless?

I mean what other topics were there on hand? I mean besides The Olympics and Corona vaccine related stuff?

But that pretty much sums up Suga.

Hey, why not throw out another stimulus check while you’re at it already?

Another day, another chabangeki. Meh.

A “ creative “ way did you say, “ holding you accountable” ?

that will be the day.

all he needs to do is firmly and unilaterally declare a POSTPONEMENT because that checkmates IOC. They know that and that is why they have been so vigorously avoiding it. But it means it would be very difficult to make Tokyo pay fines, IOC needs to wait one more year for broadcasters money. But their are zero pragmatic or logistic reasons for any of the concerned parties not to postpone. That includes the longterm IOC interests. Only 6 individuals and their satellites have the need to see the Games happen in 2021

If there is still any doubt that the central government prioritizes the Olympics over the health of the people, just consider that it chose June 20 as the SOE expiration date to coincide with an IOC-imposed deadline.

If Suga and his ilk really cared about the people they serve, they would have said "We will end the SOE when it is safe to end it." Instead, they continue to kiss the feet of Lord Bach.

Suga dodges questions on whether Olympics can be held under state of emergency

It's easy to 'dodge' questions when they have to be pre-approved, or you risk not being invited to future press conferences if you stir things up.

What a spineless pissant.

I thought you said "peasant", because given his background, that's factually correct.

Either or, BOTH are factually correct.

I can't believe that there is a politician that ALMOST makes yearn for Abe to come back.

But maybe that's the plan. Screw everything up, take the blame for the super spreader event while blaming the foreigners at the same time, bow, apologize, promise to hold a study to examine what happened, resign, collect a fat pension and retire in a lap of luxury while Abe swoops back in with pledges to vaccinate everyone while Bach and Coates make their money and grease everyone involved with brown envelopes.

And everyone will live happily ever after. Everyone, except of course, the rest of the country.

It is IMPOSSIBLE to vaccinate ALL people over the age of 65 because only 60% want to be vaccinated.

Realistically, it is not so much the question as to wherher or not the Japanese peoples want to host the games, but a question as to whether or not other countries athlete's wish to participate. They are the ones who have to participate at their own risk.

To be fair to Suga he was the top government spokesman for the Abe mob, so his training, experience, judgement, grasp of the skills needed, understanding of even the slightest need for honesty have been overlooked. But he is young enough to learn from his mistakes and as he matures I'm sure he will blossom.

He's a gambler, as are most politicians. If the Olympics are held, and there isn't a disaster of viral proportions, he might just get to keep his job. If the Olympics are cancelled, or they are held and the virus spreads massively and creates more of a mess and causes more loss of life, then he will certainly be looking for other employment.

I wish he would just say NO to the IOC and protect the Japanese people. Plus, I want to come back to Japan, and at this rate 2021 is looking like a lost year for travel to Japan.

the government will "carry on with preparations while listening to a range of opinions."

Indeed, the small range from the global corporate side of the socio-economic spectrum.

Suga would be better off tending strawberries-they don’t ask questions ...

Jax, it's called, to err on the side of caution, and I doubt anyone wants it to be a doomsday tragedy. Given this government's track record it doesn't give me any comfort in knowing that they're going full steam ahead on this. They've already had disastrous policies that border on insanity and farce. To refresh your memory, Diamond Princess, Abenomask, and Go to. Also, go read the article in the New England Journal of Medicine and see what the IOC's playbook is all about.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga sidestepped questions Friday onf whether the Tokyo Olympics can be held under a state of emergency, saying only that the government will "carry on with preparations while listening to a range of opinions."

What a spineless pissant.

So Suga can't commit to a safe Olympics. His bosses Bach and Coates won't like that.

Just let them do it!

Why are people so obsessed with a mere 79,000 people (Olympics related) comming in to Japan where most of them would be strictly controlled, with multiple PCR tests each day etc?

Why do most of you forget about the thousands of people (Japanese and foreign residents) coming to Japan every single day, who are not controlled in such a strict way and end up breaking quarantine ( approx. 30 percent, according to a recent research)

Olympics is NOY gonna be a superspreader, as you doomsday apocalypse people would like it to turn out to be!

Pathetic coward.

You know the government is usless when asked pre approved questions they are unable to answer.

Gloriously vague. On pretty much everything.

Suga can't respond because he is getting to much pressure. He is trying to find a creative way to cancel the Olympics. Mark this down, screenshot this.

"The Ol¥mpics will NOT be happening.

"manageable level so that we don't see a large rebound down the road

The virus and mutations don't care about your "manageable" levels...

What a mess, this isn’t going to end well no matter how vague the government responds.