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'Where's Abe?' critics ask, as coronavirus spreads in Japan

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By Linda Sieg

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Exactly! This will have a massive knock on effect to the economy and Abe is trying to hide and hope it will go away.

30 ( +33 / -3 )

'Where's Abe?'

Probably sitting on the can somewhere!

17 ( +22 / -5 )

Shinzo Abe, 65, Japan's longest serving prime minister, has failed to take the helm as the public face of the response to the virus, critics say, leaving the task largely to his health minister.

Just because he is the "longest serving" does not by any means, make him anything special other than his ability to keep his party followers in line!

He can't be the "face" of this epidemic, it would mean his downfall!

27 ( +29 / -2 )

I, on the other hand, really do NOT want to see the prime minister or any other bureaucrat when they are addressing the spread of the virus. Instead could we please hear someone with actual knowledge in the field?

36 ( +37 / -1 )

The steps include precautions such as working online from home, commuting to jobs at staggered times and asking organizers of events to weigh up plans carefully.

Here is the root of the problem here. People have been brainwashed for so many years of playing follow the "leader" that they are confused as to what they should do.

Asking people to "weigh plans carefully" is a half-arsed reply, and just this morning, on the news, event organizers were complaining about this as, as one said, "If we cancel people get angry" and "If we hold the event people will get angry too"!

People here EXPECT the government to come out and be clear in its intentions, but in a society that beats around the bush all the time, these "guidelines" do nothing but confuse people even more!

Abe is the "face" of all of it, even as he sits in the background and let's his unqualified lackey health minister take the front!

Abe's ONLY other "tool" in the face of dropping popularity, is to call a snap election, but he can't now, in the face of this virus outbreak, not to mention that the IOC has also made the end of May the deadline for deciding whether or not to hold or cancel the Olympics, Abe's popularity will fall even further!

24 ( +26 / -2 )

Exactly. A person who has no expertise in that field should not run toward the front and say nonsense or get infected. The health minister is in charge. People need to stop stoking fears and make it sound worse than it actually is. Causing widespread panics. And even if the situation is worse, it’s the government job to keep the population calm and prevent chaos by being optimistic.Is their job to keep the economy and nation stable for the future. This is probably another attack by his rivals to make him look bad again. Politics.

-21 ( +5 / -26 )

It's time to don the Super Mario suit and put a positive spin on this go- carting around Tokyo. Probably the only thing he is capable of achieving. I urge him to do this.

15 ( +17 / -2 )

Abe has got to go as well as many others all in cohoots. I don't know about most of you, but these so called experts for Diet leaders have no experience much less why people continue voting them in? Now I'm not a conspiracy theorists but there was a book in 1981 "The Eyes of Darkness" by Dean Koontz predicts a Coronavirus like outbreak and its origin. The book talks about how the virus called Wuhan-400, was developed in military labs around the Chinese city of Wuhan from where it got its name. Weird and coincidence.

7 ( +16 / -9 )

Elections coming again, all the people can do is vote while they still have a vote that matters and puts these people in office to make decisions for the rest of the country.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Browny,you doing a heck of a job

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I, on the other hand, really do NOT want to see the prime minister or any other bureaucrat when they are addressing the spread of the virus. Instead could we please hear someone with actual knowledge in the field?

Spot on.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

U.S. President Donald Trump has asked Congress for $2.5 billion to fight the virus, although House Speaker Nancy Pelosi decried those funds as being insufficient.

That compares to Japan's figure of 10.3 billion yen ($92 million) allocated from budget reserves, although Jiji news agency reported further funding was being considered.

US $2.5 billion. Japan $0.092 billion. Japan will wait until it gets worse before it starts really moving.

Some skeptics also suggested Japan was holding down the numbers of those tested to minimize the number of infections.

Over 9000 tests carried out in Korea yesterday. Japan 37. They also saved the test kits for later use during the cruise ship debacle. Japan loathes to see the results.

24 ( +25 / -1 )

The only thing astonishing is, that after seven years, a tiny bug deflates the vain and vacuous nucleus of his "leadership" which never was more than bluster.

13 ( +15 / -2 )

As Japan struggles to stem the spread of a coronavirus within its borders, critics are asking,"Where's Abe?"

Shinzo Abe, 65, Japan's longest serving prime minister, has failed to take the helm as the public face of the response to the virus, critics say, leaving the task largely to his health minister.

A true leader is someone who takes the helm during the time of a crisis. Neither Abe nor Xi have been leaders during this crisis.

Japan has drawn heavy criticism for its handling of a virus outbreak on the UK-registered cruise ship Diamond Princess that caused 691 infections, killing four passengers, since the vessel docked near Tokyo on Feb 3.

Of course. They should have.

I think he (Abe) is in denial," said Koiichi Nakano, a professor of political science at Sophia University. "They are trying to believe the most optimistic scenarios, even if they don't really."

Absolutely. The whole LDP is like a bunch of ostriches with their heads in the sand.

Some skeptics also suggested Japan was holding down the numbers of those tested to minimize the number of infections.

without a doubt. And as a result of both their denial and fudging of numbers, we will see a HUGH spike here in Japan very soon.

Maybe the Japanese government wants to hold the Tokyo Olympics so they try to hide the number of infected people. Shinzo Abe is good at hiding," said a Twitter user going by the handle @shumi_wake.

Ya think?

Abe has made hosting the Olympics, which run from July 24 until Aug 9, a key goal of his administration.

Although his policies since the outbreak have done EVERYTHING to ensure that this will not happen.

On Tuesday, Health Minister Kato said it was too early to talk about cancelling them.

Stupid is as stupid does.

16 ( +18 / -2 )

Approval rating down? No worries, let’s use Korea to drum up support. Hang on, I can’t use North now because my master isn’t doing it, and I can’t use South because I just got burnt economically doing it the last time. Let me go to my bunker and think for a while.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

'Where's Abe?'

Pretending it's all nothing to do with him, as usual. But don't worry, Mohammad bin Salman is probably available for another smiley-face, thumbs up photo-op.

12 ( +13 / -1 )

Glorious incompetence for all the world to see. This right here, is the real Japan. Behold.

13 ( +14 / -1 )

The Japanese Government has found a conveniente way to keep the virus under control: it's called "not screening enough people". Screen no evil, see no evil. Somebody please explain to me how the same exact virus is not causing much infections here, but in SK and Europe has been spreading like wildfire. It's that simple, really. SK is testing tens of thousands people, Italy as well. How many people have been screened in Japan so far? Yeah.

15 ( +16 / -1 )

Shinzo, you hear that hissing sound? That’s the sound of your “remain calm all is well!” Story collapsing.

Folks, in my non-expert opinion we are 1-2 weeks tops from a contagion. The economic impact alone is going to be quite a hit. If the Olympics are canceled, it’ll be devastating.

Please stay well.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

Shinzo Abe, 65, Japan's longest serving prime minister, has failed to take the helm as the public face of the response to the virus, critics say, leaving the task largely to his health minister.

who is he supposed to be Xi Jinping?

what's the point of having ministers then? It's correct to allow the health minister to be in charge, it's just not great that they don't have a doctor as the point man directing the ministry. That way you have constant actionable efforts not bloviating meetings

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

 And even if the situation is worse, it’s the government job to keep the population calm and prevent chaos by being optimistic.Is their job to keep the economy and nation stable for the future. This is probably another attack by his rivals to make him look bad again. Politics.

Optimistic? The country would be better served by having an actual medical professional, who has the credentials and knowledge to talk about this, than a bureaucrat who just reads the "party line"!

What is happening is that we are seeing that the government here has NO contingency plans for an epidemic like this, and it appears that they are making things up as they go along!

As it seems to happen here all too often, plans get made AFTER the fact!

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Abe is great at bluster. He shuts his eyes and ears and shouts, but when there is a crisis, he doesn't know what to do. He might do quite well running a Post Office, say, but a country? If he had his finger on the pulse of the nation, he would be onto this Corona thing NOW. As it is he is more interested in his image than fulfilling his job description - REPRESENTING HIS PEOPLE.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

You can find him on the golf course with Trump.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Katsunobu Katō, Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare

A native of Kurashiki, Okayama and graduate of the University of Tokyo with the Bachelor of Economics degree, he worked at the Ministry of Finance from 1979 to 1995. He was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2003 after unsuccessful runs in 1998 and 2000.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katsunobu_Katō

Yoshinori Oguchi, State Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare

Yoshinori Oguchi (大口 善徳, Ōguchi Yoshinori, born September 5, 1955) is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Osaka, Osaka and graduate of Soka University, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1993.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshinori_Oguchi

Neither of these 2 men has any medical background.

The LDP needs to ween the beaurcrats off the crisis and get some medical experts in there. They need to let them do their job and report their findings without fudging the facts without the risk being called "China collaborators". That would be a proper response.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

'Where's Abe?'

Hahaha, Abe has more important things to do.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Let us look a the hard numbers:

Japan 170 cases

Korea 977 cases

Italy 322

Funny that those numbers are in the article. Bases on the above numbers, which country is doing a better job?

-21 ( +1 / -22 )

U.S. President Donald Trump has asked Congress for $2.5 billion to fight the virus, although House Speaker Nancy Pelosi decried those funds as being insufficient.

That compares to Japan's figure of 10.3 billion yen ($92 million) allocated from budget reserves,

Another point. Japan is spending that 92 million, but Trump ask for 2.5 billion from Congress, which means, that money is not approve or is being spent. It will take Trump 3 moths to get the funds.

-16 ( +2 / -18 )

"Japan's economy has also grown heavily reliant on Chinese tourists in recent years."

Nonsense. tourism is only .001 of GDP

-15 ( +2 / -17 )

The LDP needs to ween the beaurcrats off the crisis and get some medical experts in there.

The top 2,000 bureaucrat positions in the country became political appointments a few years ago. They now gain promotion to the highest positions by currying favour with politicians (the LDP elite ) instead of their fellow mandarins, as in the past. They are appointed not for their ability but their political malleability.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Perhaps he's conflabbing with Boris Johnson, who has disappeared too in the face of floods in Britain.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Where's Abe?

No doubt he is hiding in the safest place. It seems to me he cancelled all diplomatic tours to foreign countries months away.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Caliboy,

great. Now, can you please normalise those numbers by the total number or screened people per country?

Easy to keep the numbers low when you don't screen.

Japan 170 cases

Korea 977 cases

Italy 322

Funny that those numbers are in the article. Bases on the above numbers, which country is doing a better job?

14 ( +15 / -1 )

The Japanese Government has found a conveniente way to keep the virus under control: it's called "not screening enough people". Screen no evil, see no evil. 

Sure. And watch the rise of people dying of pneumonia.

Funny that those numbers are in the article. Bases on the above numbers, which country is doing a better job?

Better job of testing. Not fudging numbers.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

I'm going to refrain from criticizing government, at least they announced the Basic Policy yesterday, and only time will tell whether it works, or that it will be administered effectively.

Better late than never is all we can hope for atm, and I hope they get it under control in time for the Olympic, else there will be a lot ¥¥¥ squandered.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Is this really worse than another flu bug? Finally, just a few days ago one of the media pointed out that all 3 of the cruise ship victims were men in their 80's. Maybe they died of pneumonia. Perhaps their immune systems were weak or they had a terminal illness. In China, for example, anywhere between 3 million to 17 million people die from pneumonia every year. And now we're panicking because 3 died out of the hundreds who caught the Corona on the ship.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

some weighing in worth watching..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rel6TDmAnbE

1 ( +3 / -2 )

It doesn’t really matter where Abe is.

What matters more is the number of people NOT being tested for the virus and the lack of testing kits in hospitals.

Asking medical professionals (everyday) whether any guidelines or advice have been distributed by the MOH, they answer ‘no’....

9 ( +10 / -1 )

"not screening enough people". Screen no evil, see no evil.

Like an ostrich with its head buried in the sand is often used. It really is screen no evil, see no evil. Asahi news with Hattori Shinichi is reporting that in Korea these testing fees are paid for by the government 公費 but Minister Kato says Japan will make it part of the insurance system, which makes it even more complicated. Can we make this more bureaucratic? That's there job I guess, bureaucrats.

Neither of these 2 men has any medical background.

I did the same thing last week and looked up Minister Kato. Then I looked up the Secretary of Health & Human Services of the US and found out that the Secretary, Alex M. Azar II. holds a BA in Economics and Government from Dartmouth and a JD from Yale. It makes more sense to get someone who has the background to head these ministries and departments, the standard seems to be appointing the best among the creme of the crop.

Let us look a the hard numbers:

Japan 170 cases

Korea 977 cases

Italy 322

Korea (53 million) with half the population of Japan (127 million) has carried out 43,000 tests. Japan only 1500 (千数白検査数)as reported in the Japanese newspapers.

Funny that those numbers are in the article. Bases on the above numbers, which country is doing a better job?

Caliboy, if we can get the government to stop all testing, maybe there will be no new cases.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

@Aly

Alex Azar(USA)

Alex Michael Azar II (/ˈeɪzər/ born June 17, 1967) is an American attorney, politician, pharmaceutical lobbyist, and former drug company executive who serves as the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services,

Matt Hancock(UK)

Matthew John David Hancock (born 2 October 1978) is a British politician serving as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care since 2018. A member of the Conservative Party, he has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for West Suffolk since 2010.After university, Hancock briefly worked for his family's computer software company, before moving to London to work as an economist at the Bank of England, specialising in the housing market. In 2005, he became an economic adviser to the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, later becoming Osborne's chief of staff

Roberto Speranza(Italy)

Roberto Speranza (born 4 January 1979) is an Italian politician of the Chamber of Deputies who serves as national secretary of Article One.[1] Since 5 September 2019, he has been serving as Minister of Health in the government of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.[2]Roberto Speranza was born in Potenza, Basilicata, in 1979. During the 2000s he graduated in political science at the Luiss Guido Carli of Rome.[3]

Back to you. What say you????

-12 ( +2 / -14 )

He's wimped out or might have caught the virus himself. Woe is Japan muddled in a quagmire.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

asy to keep the numbers low when you don't screen.

You only test if you are exposed. Please name one country that is doing widespread testing. Have you been tested? Yes or no. Why or why not?

-17 ( +1 / -18 )

Well, at least you can say Abe is the same as Xi and Moon, all inept in the face of the threat of coronavirus.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Asking medical professionals (everyday) whether any guidelines or advice have been distributed by the MOH, they answer ‘no’....

In English of course.

-13 ( +2 / -15 )

Like an ostrich with its head buried in the sand is often used. It really is screen no evil, see no evil. Asahi news with Hattori Shinichi is reporting that in Korea these testing fees are paid for by the government 公費 but Minister Kato says Japan will make it part of the insurance system,

Which means that the Japanese government will pay for the tests.

-13 ( +2 / -15 )

Korea (53 million) with half the population of Japan (127 million) has carried out 43,000 tests

Because, they had every in that part of the Chruch. Has there been any testing in Seoul or Pusan?

-16 ( +0 / -16 )

That compares to Japan's figure of 10.3 billion yen ($92 million) allocated from budget reserves, although Jiji news agency reported further funding was being considered.

Ivanka turned up for lunch with dear and received $50 million for her women empowerment movement.

While a population if 127 million get $92 million.

Can someone do the maths.

There is saying that "Tsutta sakana niwa esa wo ataenai"

3 ( +4 / -1 )

You only test if you are exposed. 

A Japanese mother brought her son, who had a fever for ten days, to be tested. They were told that they couldn't be tested because he's not of the age group ウイルス検査対象外. Ten days.

You must love sand.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Unfortunately this is not one of those problems that you can ignore away.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

@Aly

> Alex Azar(USA)

> > > Matt Hancock(UK)

> > > Roberto Speranza(Italy)

> > > Back to you. What say you????

So you used 3 cases. US UK and Italy.

I say in the US The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are the ones in control NOT Azar. What is the equivalent of the CDC in Japan??

Italy. Well, you can see how they are handling their situation with quarantines and testing so they are doing something right.

UK- just have to wait and see.

NONE of these 3 countries have beaurcrats running the show like in Japan.

Back to you.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

The problem here is that the Net Uyoku is more interested in protecting Abe and the LDP from criticism than from protecting Japan from the virus. More proof if we ever needed it that the Net Uyoku don't care AT ALL about the country, but only about the regime running it. And THAT is going to hurt Japan severely in combatting this virus.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Is this really worse than another flu bug? Finally, just a few days ago one of the media pointed out that all 3 of the cruise ship victims were men in their 80's. Maybe they died of pneumonia. Perhaps their immune systems were weak or they had a terminal illness. In China, for example, anywhere between 3 million to 17 million people die from pneumonia every year. And now we're panicking because 3 died out of the hundreds who caught the Corona on the ship.

From what I’ve read, one of the big unknowns is if this virus can survive in warmer and more humid weather. It is believed that SARS died off because of warmer weather but even that is not 100% certain.

Let’s hope it goes the way of SARS. In the meantime and despite the unknowns, predictions about how this virus will explode in the coming weeks or months are best left to people who have at least some idea what they are talking about.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

In quarantine?

I know that it is expected of PM's and Presidents and the like to "be present" when natural disasters or this type of pandemic strike, but not sure I entirely see the point.  It is seen as leadership I guess.  But it probably does zero to assist in fixing the problem or helping those affected.  Like Johnson and the floods.  Would we feel better seeing Funzo traipsing around some hospital or isolation unit in a hazmat uniform?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Caliboy,

Japan is not even testing people who have been potentially exposed.

Check ref. 1 below, just one of many examples.

Besides, the screening capacity for Japan now stands at 3800 tests per day (ref. 2 below). I am a molecular biologist and do this type of experiments (PCR) basically almost everyday. A single person in a well equipped lab can do several hundreds tests, if not thousands. A single person, in a single lab.

So now tell me, what is the country that is doing a better job at keeping its citizens safe? Italy and SK, who have immediately adopted very strict containment procedures and are testing hundreds everyDAY, or Japan who is doing basically nothing? And as a matter of fact, Japan Government has even INCREASED the risk for infection by releasing cruise people who tested negative without further COMPULSORY quarantine. 23 people were not released without having been tested at all. So far, 2 released people have actually tested positive.

Bowing deeply won't reduce the number of infected people.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/regional/2020/02/23/japan-wont-test-medical-workers-on-cruise-ship-for-virus https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/880/

You only test if you are exposed. Please name one country that is doing widespread testing. Have you been tested? Yes or no. Why or why not?

13 ( +14 / -1 )

IOC in foreign media are floating the idea of cancelling the Olympics. That must be the last chair leg kicked out for the LDP. Probably not they have no skills for any other occupations. And no skills for the occupation they have. Just need a tax payer funded do nothing job.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I'm going to refrain from criticizing government, at least they announced the Basic Policy yesterday, and only time will tell whether it works, or that it will be administered effectively.

So you are expecting it to work.?

40% of the workforce is temporary and short term contracts how do you expect them stay home without a fixed basic pay and income guarantee.

Compared to S. Korea again, a family of 4 get 120,000yen if the head of the household stays home due to virus while hospitals and businesses impacted by the virus also get financial assistance.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

So now tell me, what is the country that is doing a better job at keeping its citizens safe? Italy and SK, who have immediately adopted very strict containment procedures and are testing hundreds everyDAY, or Japan who is doing basically nothing? And as a matter of fact, Japan Government has even INCREASED the risk for infection by releasing cruise people who tested negative without further COMPULSORY quarantine. 23 people were not released without having been tested at all. So far, 2 released people have actually tested positive.

> Bowing deeply won't reduce the number of infected people.

Giovanni Pascarella

VERY well said! Great Post!

11 ( +12 / -1 )

Where's Abe? The same place all Japanese "leaders" are when a decision needs to be made... MIA. The whole culture is based on harmony and not making decisions so anyone who expects him to be leading obviously hasn't lived in Japan for long.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Shinzo Abe alias Mondai San. alias the invisible man. His only real talent is in delegating responsibility downwards. But sorry to say Japanese voters are stuck with, until they stop voting for him and his bunch of couch potatoes.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Great Article

https://www.thedailybeast.com/japans-coronavirus-cruise-ship-debacle-shows-epidemic-can-be-a-gift-for-would-be-dictators?fbclid=IwAR0teZZKtHco7l7ej1d7xVVeE6NTXWpqIx3g5PcIkg3PHQWa_6h9R5heCv8

One of many good quotes from an anonymous Health Ministry source “Minister Kato is a politician with no special knowledge of infectious diseases and who clearly doesn’t want to take charge. He knows that he’s going to take the fall when things go wrong, but then he can simply resign. We are stuck here. Decisions have been made based on minimizing negative publicity rather than limiting infection. There’s no one really in charge.”

0 ( +0 / -0 )

somewhere in Yamaguchi, or Nagano with food delivered disinfected...

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Now doubts about Abe's leadership threaten to erode already sagging public support, with a newspaper survey at the weekend showing disapproval for his administration outweighing approval for the first time since July 2018.

You don't go into a race with a corona and expect it to perform like a ferrari. It is just not possible.

I know it, you know it, if an election is held today Abe and his Ldp will still win because we have been repeatedly been made to believe there is no opposition and even if there is, it is useless and based on their performance during their short rule which was made difficult by sabotage from bereaucrats.

I will give the benefit of doubt to the rookie opposition and the opportunity to learn on the job than the present team with all the means at their disposal have become arrogant, and has repeatly shown they are clueless.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Tourism as part of Japan GDP is 7% or more..it was before things began going downhill. Problem is many small players are being hurt.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Old Shinzo is terrified that is "everything is under control" Olympics will be cancelled and moreover is anxious that his face doesn't become synonymous with Corona iris much like Kan's face and Edano's became synonymous with the meltdowns in Fukushima even though they weren't o blame.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Where is a ABE? Too busy trying to explain away the alleged misappropriation of funding the cherry blossoms festival.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Besides, the screening capacity for Japan now stands at 3800 tests per day (ref. 2 below). 

Nope, the 3800 includes other test and not only the covid-19 virus.

The government doesn't know the testing capability as it doesn't include private testing institutions branding them as being low level knowledge wise.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Thanks a whole lot Mr. Abe. What a piece of work you are. For a nation that excels in R & D and more so in the medical industry this sure shows how counterproductive Japan turned out to be. What happened to you Japan? You can kiss the 2020 T.O. goodbye...it will at least take 1/2 a year to a year for a vaccine to become publicly available.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Kato says Japan will make it part of the insurance system,

Which means that the Japanese government will pay for the tests.

Utter nonsense, the insurance system is not covered 100 percent by the government, you are supposed to know the patient foots 30 percent.

In the case of s.korea the government is footing the entire cost of the testing.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

After allowing all those people to leave the cruise ship and just walk back into society, putting millions of people at risk, I hope Abe never shows his face again in public.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Ploutocrats or blue blood princes, aka Japanese politicians, are just doing what they know to do, i.e. little to no initiative.

@Aly

Thanks for youtube link, which is a summary at this day of situation from knowledgeable people in an open-minded environment.

My own little opinion is that Japan will remain in denial (shikata ga nai).

Moreover, there is no money left to spend and too old politicians are scared for their lives for real, and so will hide.

Who is young and competent, with power ? No one in Japan.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

What is the equivalent of the CDC in Japan??

It is called the national institute of infectious diseases japan

Back to you.

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

Fresh news:

45 people released from the Diamond Princess and allowed to go back home are now showing symptoms.

Japanese Government should be SHAMED ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE for what has done, for the risk that is exposing its population to. There's no defending this. Abe & co. behaved in a criminal way about this whole story, and still are. We've been knowing for enough time now that Covid-19 PCR testing is not 100% reliable. All other repatriated foreigners have been put into quarantine by their respective governments. Not in Japan. No, here the government is playing its "keep your head low and the crisis will pass" game on the skin of its people.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/feb/26/coronavirus-latest-updates-who-mission-director-warns-world-is-simply-not-ready?page=with:block-5e55f28c8f086a28115b2aa3#block-5e55f28c8f086a28115b2aa3

7 ( +7 / -0 )

So now tell me, what is the country that is doing a better job at keeping its citizens safe? Italy and SK, who have immediately adopted very strict containment procedures and are testing hundreds everyDAY, or Japan who is doing basically nothing? 

San Francisco has declared a state of emergency.

https://www.businessinsider.com/san-francisco-state-of-emergency-coronavirus-covid19-outbreak-2020-2

Japan not only doesn’t know what it’s doing, they work hard to appear like they know what they’re doing.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Just looking at some headline news on NHK site ...China building more hospitals , Korea and Iran spraying disinfectant on streets , inside subway system etc...Japan,s response ? 

Forget about tests, you can’t even buy a mask, even if they don’t work.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

What is the equivalent of the CDC in Japan??

> It is called the national institute of infectious diseases japan

Unlike the CDC, they are not in charge of directing the outbreak. (as you know)

Back to you.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Japanese Government should be SHAMED ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE for what has done, for the risk that is exposing its population to. There's no defending this. Abe & co. behaved in a criminal way about this whole story, and still are.

As are the supporters and defenders of what they are doing. They too are committng a crime against the Japanese people.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

When all the people left the cruise ship and returned home using public transport, and then for the next few days at least carried on life as usual - has the government identified the exact trains, buses, and taxis they used and disinfected them, or do they continue to operate as usual?

Have the supermarkets the people visited been identified and disinfected?

I understand there’s a fine line between acting responsibly and causing panic, but the reactions of the Japanese government to other governments around the world are polar opposite, and a bit worrying.

It’s like the Japanese government have given the car keys to a roaring drunk and they are just hoping he manages to get home OK.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

This is ridiculas, nobody have found out, how the diease originated except blaming China and nobody have made any real effort to find the cure. One thing in japan is , as long as the issue did not happen to me, lets wait. abe is probably taking this attitude. If one of his family members get infected, U can be sure that he will do something abt the Corona virius.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@This is ridiculas, nobody have found out, how the diease originated except blaming China and nobody have made any real effort to find the cure.

I rarely respond directly at someone's post, but where have you been Mars? The source country has been identified and they admitted to it, there is no blaming. AS for real efforts your asking the wrong question, why was this country researching this particular strain by using genetic engineering to enhance the pathogen in the first place at a bio weapons military laboratory, which 3 days ago was completely destroyed (perhaps getting rid of more evidence before investigation by the WHO begins)? A Texas genetic engineering laboratory has made a breakthrough but will take time as though early positive studies look quite promising it still takes additional case studies before human trials. Being that other countries do not care about human trials we may see a way forward sooner than estimated by i.e. so called "EXPERTS". The Gates Foundation submitted a substantial amount of research money but it was stolen by a source country along with research documents from Harvard Med U. several years ago. The recent funding last year allowed them to continue advance genetic research on animals species hence found for sale at a local Wuhan market adjacent to the source country laboratory. I hope this brings you up to speed. It took various sources of research i.e. Scientific data, economic data, medical journals etc all credible materials and very real world.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@Aly

> Thanks for youtube link, which is a summary at this day of situation from knowledgeable people in an open-minded environment.

My pleasure Jonathan!

My own little opinion is that Japan will remain in denial (shikata ga nai).

I agree.

Moreover, there is no money left to spend and too old politicians are scared for their lives for real, and so will hide.

I agree again.

Who is young and competent, with power ? No one in Japan.

That's 3 in a row

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Closing the barn door after the horse got out comment:

Went to get lunch from one of the AEON's here in Okinawa today! SHOCK ALERT!

The deli foods were covered with plastic covers and the bakery had their products covered with a plastic sheet! (Should have had it this way for years!)

They just started this, (SHOCK ALERT 2) yesterday! I asked the woman on the floor working there what was up, she gave me this incredulous look; "Corona virus" was all she replied.

Yep, everyone is jumping on the corona wagon!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

What is the equivalent of the CDC in Japan??

*

It is called the national institute of infectious diseases japan*

Another reason why the 2 organizations are completely different and cannot be compared was addressed here:

On the front lines of the nation’s ongoing battle against the COVID-19 outbreak is the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), an entity commonly cited as Japan’s closest equivalent to the CDC.

But unlike the CDC, which experts say is granted greater autonomy despite being placed under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the NIID lacks independence from Japan’s health ministry.

“We are the ministry’s outpost agency that takes action based on its instruction and guidance,” an NIID official said. “We are not an entity independent of the health ministry.”

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/02/24/national/niid-cdc-japan/#.XlYSL3duKcw

Back to you.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Abe is doing something important. Who knows what but anyone who doubts are being unpatriotic!

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Rgcivilian1:

I seen that on news the other day. The book conspiracy was debunked. The original name for the virus in the book was Dutch or something, and its fatality rate and spread time was like 90% and a few hours, compared to the real one which is 2%(?) and 2 weeks.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

On our news we have the Federal Health Minister as well as the country’s Chief Medical Officer (professor with medical background) giving the press conferences.

Does Japan have the equivalent of a CMO and if so, where are they in all this? Need experts at the forefront not pollies! All three should be providing updates regularly

4 ( +4 / -0 )

On our news we have the Federal Health Minister as well as the country’s Chief Medical Officer (professor with medical background) giving the press conferences. Does Japan have the equivalent of a CMO and if so, where are they in all this?

He's busy prescribing antibiotics to people who don't have bacterial infections.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If this pandemic isn't solved by August, the world will be in a nasty great depression and we will have more things to worry about than a virus with a low mortality rate.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

'Where's Abe?'

Living In a van down by the river.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

We found him, and the critics are even unhappier now. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

CaveDwellerToday  10:15 am JST

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Right. It's not as if anything he could do now is going to do any good.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If this pandemic isn't solved by August, the world will be in a nasty great depression and we will have more things to worry about than a virus with a low mortality rate.

Which is what China is hoping for. They can survive economic downturns and absorb high mortality rates without batting an eye. Something like this is only a minor dip in China's long range economic plans.

Isn't it suspicious that China unleashed the virus (whether by accident or deliberate) to coincide with a U.S. election year and Tokyo Olympic event?

If Japan cancels the Olympics, it would have an adverse effect on Japan's economy. A recession in the U.S. will certainly guarantee Democrat victory over Trump, which is what China is hoping for, in revenge for the nasty trade war he waged.

So, where's Xi in the meantime?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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