politics

Suga thanks people for helping to hold safe Olympics during pandemic

56 Comments
By MARI YAMAGUCHI

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56 Comments
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It’s going to take a lot more than “thanks” to stop the opinion of him and his party declining further.

Speed up the vaccination process

Get more nurses / doctors / beds now

Give more financial aid to struggling people, families and businesses

then, and only then will the trend stop declining

26 ( +30 / -4 )

I once got mugged in a back street of Manchester.

It wasn't a voluntary transaction, but as he walked away with my wallet, the thug who held the upper hand in the negotiations said "Cheers, mate"

And I feel better about that robbery than this,

Because that thief robbed from me once, and was very persuasive.

Suga's empty words from his charisma-vacuum face are a precursor to an ongoing robbery every month until the day I die.

If you are going to steal from me, do me the courtesy of having a little pizzazz.

26 ( +26 / -0 )

What? No “Thanks” for paying for OUR Party ?? 

… and paying, 

… and paying, 

… and

22 ( +28 / -6 )

Ah! I love the smell of condescension in the morning.

20 ( +26 / -6 )

But the Games were a testament to perseverance

They certainly were. The IOC saw its broadcast revenues under threat, yet it persevered in ramming the games down our throats while Suga and other leaders quietly acquiesced.

20 ( +21 / -1 )

Like the people had a choice?. Should and probably is actually saying thanks for not actually mass protesting and sending me and my octogenarian buddies to the wroth of the crowd.

18 ( +21 / -3 )

Threw tax payers money at IOC and filled the corrupt executives pockets with tax payers money. They stayed at luxurious hotels, wine and dined like kings, got expensive presents and departed happily to return for round 2 during the para-Olympics while the infection rate in Japan skyrockets and local people suffer. Still citizens of Japan don’t get proper financial assistance for COVID 19 impact! The LDP led government rather give money to these corrupt IOC executives than it’s own taxpaying citizens!

18 ( +19 / -1 )

This old man a definitely far away from reality. I wouldn’t call this Olympics safe. By the way, there is still the Para Olympics.

15 ( +18 / -3 )

thanks people for helping to hold safe Olympics during pandemic

That thanks won't help declining support but listen to people voice will help.

Surveys of public opinion show support for Suga's government is steadily declining, a trajectory the governing party hopes the end of the Olympics will reverse before elections that are expected in the fall.

13 ( +18 / -5 )

Japans' weakest president in their history, Not just by the action, even by the looks. His seat should be occupied by rather interesting character.

13 ( +21 / -8 )

Still, whether they will vote for the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan remains uncertain as the party has yet to gain momentum to bring about a change of government

Suga and the LDP (and Komeito) probably have little to fear, and they know it, because the opposition parties are largely disorganized and lack any substance. The Constitutional Democratic Party probably won't even field candidates in every possible election, so in many places LDP or Komeito will be the only choice.

I'd love to see an opposition party take a bold stance... of even a basic stance... on any issue largely agreed upon by the public and just run on it, from women's workplace issues to child-rearing to female empress to over-work to pay gaps to wasteful spending to over-bureaucracy to US military issues and pacifism... but sadly, despite some grumbling rhetoric, much of the "opposition" is just as conservative, corrupt, and "old boys" as the ruling party.

like the Democratic Party of Japan did in 2009.

The (now defunct) DPJ squeaked in during the turmoil of the "Lehman Shock" financial crisis, yet held power for less than 3 years since they were in near constant disarray and never did much of the "change" the claimed.

13 ( +14 / -1 )

Condescending man! And just what the heck does "hold safe" supposed to mean?

12 ( +15 / -3 )

No matter what he says…his administration’s approval rating won’t change!

12 ( +12 / -0 )

It would be more than thankful if you gave back all our taxpayer money that went into this wasteful event

12 ( +13 / -1 )

Guess he had to say it, just what the people wanted to hear. The sheep are happy again

11 ( +13 / -2 )

Did we had any option as it was rammed down our throats when 80% residents wanted either a postponement or cancellation?

More of PR stunt, to check the checkbox & clear one more to do item in his list

11 ( +13 / -2 )

Well, although he wasn't addressing me (as I can't vote) I feel so much better after hearing the moving, passionate words from this charismatic and brilliant man.

Or something.

11 ( +13 / -2 )

also isn't this a premature announcement, aren't the games still going on ? ParaOlympics??

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Suga is weak sause, whenever he does a press conference annouching something he looks around the room to judge reactions.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

SMH

The first article I read this week is about an old clown's boring joke.

HAHAHAHA.......

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Suga always looks like he hates his life.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

OMG if culminating in getting 15000 a day sick with covid & who knows how many killed.....""safe""

Then what on earth is considered UN-SAFE!!!!!

I DONT want to know the answer to that question!

6 ( +7 / -1 )

GWToday 10:33 am JST

OMG if culminating in getting 15000 a day sick with covid & who knows how many killed.....""safe""

Then what on earth is considered UN-SAFE!!!!!

Hey GWToday, they already told us...AMAGEDDON was their standard.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Only cost us 17 billion dollars ....

Cheap for a nonsensical loada rubbish ..

What is wrong with the world when we can't afford to divest from fossil fuels and invest in clean energy but we can afford to spend 17 billion dollars on a sporting event.

Absolute disgrace! shameful waste of our tax!

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Don't mention it Mr. Suga ... I mean DON'T MENTION IT!!!! Really, the less you say the better. I've just had my second covid jab and I'm trying to move on from feeling anger that you gambled with everyone's health. So, for goodness sake, can you just avoid reminding us that you couldn't care less about our health and safety.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Suga thanks people for helping to hold safe Olympics during pandemic

LOL!

5 ( +8 / -3 )

For Suga, the Truth is a malleable fiction.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

@CoconutE3

Good job Japan for pulling off this difficult feat. Don't think it could have been done anywhere else.

Not canceling the Olympics does not mean that it is was a success. Faulty logic

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Best thing about the Tokyo Olympics:

They are over.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Suga, shut up.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Now cut emissions you useless muppet

3 ( +10 / -7 )

Safe?

A building made of flammable materials, without proper fire exits, is not "safe" just because it did not burn down this week.

Suga and the IOC took a high-risk approach to staging the Olympics, putting people's health and lives at stake, and got lucky.

Will that luck hold for the Paralympics too?

3 ( +7 / -4 )

"I believe we were able to fulfill our responsibility as the host nation,” Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga 

You may have fulfilled your responsibility to the IOC and the overseas TV networks. The normal person on the street missed out on being part of this festival of sport.

It’s a shame no reporters will as the Prime Minister or Finance Minister how long they think it will take to pay off the Olympic debt. Or even how much is it? After all, by having the event too soon, not having any spectators from home or overseas, there was no or very little income.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

"safe and secure Olympics" is just fiction only inside head of people who want to justify holding this problematic Olympics.

This Olympics clearly continued to increase "flow of people" as same as "GoTo campaign" last year, urged infection spreading.

Present Japan's PM Suga who had tampered with official document many times when he was chief cabinet office secretary seems to have begun tamper with past.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Safe for whom, exactly? Last I saw, the virus is burning through the country like a California wild fire.

Thanks for paying the $30 bill? 5 times the original estimate.

Thanks for becoming subservient to an un-elected quazi-state?

What an incompetent buffoon. I so wish that the LDP would get handed it's behind in the coming election, but with the state of the opposition, I am not holding my breath.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Now cut emissions you useless muppet

Dont be so naive to think that during a press conference the PM is going to discuss every single topic under the rainbow!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Lately I've watching Mr. Suga without mask, specially after starting of Olympics. I want to know which vaccine did he get so that I can walk freely like him after vaccination.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Good job Japan for pulling off this difficult feat. Don't think it could have been done anywhere else.

That is probably the biggest compliment you could pay to "anywhere else".

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Yes, thanks to the people who were put at risk and now if they do get sick cannot find a hospital to help them. And no thanks to Suga and Koike who downplayed the pandemic to host an event 80% of the Japanese people did not want and the billions they will have to pay for the gold metal disaster.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

SugaR lol, "believe Japan was able to fulfill the responsibility as the host nation, and thanked the people for their understanding and cooperation. I wonder if the people are ready to accept the wind fall cost for holding the Olympics. If you look at the past few most host nations lost money!!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

And now he only needs to be voted out.

Go Yukio Edano-san!

0 ( +6 / -6 )

It's over now.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

But Suga doesn’t realise it yet…

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Such hypocrisy

0 ( +1 / -1 )

He noted the Games were delayed by a year and held under tight restrictions, but "I believe we were able to fulfill our responsibility as the host nation,”

Suga knows that couching the Olympics in the language of responsibility, even if it is to a failed, undeserving and incompetent leadership, cuts deep into Japanese notions of stubborn loyalty. I will give him that. A note of "positivity" for those that say there is not enough Olympic and LDP cheer-leading around these parts.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Foreigner in Tokyo

They can produce and export more to China, USA and Europe.

They can also increase corporate taxes and force the rich to pay more.

They can also print more money to pay for it.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Matej

Can I ask you some questions? If the Olympics happen in China or Russia, would you support it?

If the vaccines are from Russia and China, would you support them?

I read some of your comments, and it's weird to me that you go into anti-vaccines but at the same time thinking it's bad to held the Olympics because there's a Covid pandemic around Tokyo.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Congratulations to the people of Japan for overcoming the momentous and difficult obstacles present in today's world and bringing the us together.

When people look back, it will be seen as a milestone in helping to bring the world back to normality.

Well done.

-8 ( +4 / -12 )

The rate of positive PCR test for the Olympics related people was a bare 0.02 percent. Hardly a superspreader event that so many here were talking about. Now, outsode the Olympic bubble it's a different story.

-16 ( +3 / -19 )

Good job Japan for pulling off this difficult feat. Don't think it could have been done anywhere else.

-23 ( +4 / -27 )

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