Japan extends entry ban on non-resident foreigners until end of February: Kishida

Good or bad, it's Japan's decision. As long as those currently living in Japan aren't rejected. But I do feel spouses should be able to come. For those with no connection, look for something else.

All I can say to those of you citing human rights as a reason to move back to America is.....ROFL.

Yeah, be my guest.

Was talking to some japanese friends at the local bar a couple of days ago, and basically their main concern was about opening up the borders. I ask why, and they say because of omicron, and I say but it's already here so why does it matter? and they say, because it spreads from people coming from abroad.

So yeah I guess the governments plan to use foreigners as the scapegoat is working quite smoothly. They basically don't understand that it spreads just as effectively between japanese as it does from foreigner to japanese.

The lack of random testing and official testing even when requested only fuels this even more, especially with omicron, since most that gets it will never know they had it. of course there is already hundreds of thousands of cases here already, just not that many critical cases which is what we should be measuring, but we keep comparing case numbers to other countries when we are basically only testing people at the airport, and it's working as intended. Japan and it's people are special and beware of the foreigners.

Definitely behaving more like China than like western countries.

@OldNormal

Sorry, at this point I think I’m not understanding anything anymore. Are you telling me that the emission of new Spouse Visa is suspended? I am married with a Japanese national and we are currently living in Italy, but a few weeks ago I applied for a Spouse Visa (it would be a new entry obviously) with the help of a japanese lawyer, and he didn’t tell me nothing about new entry/re entry. In summation: is it possible to obtain a Spouse Visa and go to Japan without re-entering? This situation has become completely insane.

The same reason some people demand unvaccinated people to get vaccinated is the same reason vaccinated people should stop to travel.

Taking an unwanted action for the good of everyone else or something wasn’t it??

This whole Omicron hysteria is a good opportunity for Kishida to bathe in popularity with strong anti-foreigner-ness.

Great timing for selecting a new leader from the same party...

meanwhile the cases will keep going up in Japan, with no local policy change. Then after it gets out of control, he'll declare a state of emegency.

Entering Japan is easy compared to New Zealanders trying to return to New Zealand.

Which is now a lottery with thousands vying for 2-3,000 spots every month.

have you tried face shield if he can't wear a mask?

We just have for the most park stopped going out. Less stress, and less discrimination.

I do apologise for not understanding your earlier post - it did read initially to me like you were blaming Japan. As it is a Canadian mandate, then I don't think the Embassy would have any jurisdiction over this (regardless of airline) anymore than the Canadian Embassy would have to reduce quarantine for a Canadian national in Japan. Surely if your Mother has not been vaccinated for medical grounds there would be an exemption, if its on moral grounds I fear she may be in for a long wait.

Luis David Yanez

sorry to hear about your partner’s condition.

have you tried face shield if he can't wear a mask? just saying, but better to have something to cover the mouth and nose to avoid unnecessary stress for everyone.. will probably makes your life easier perhaps?

What I don't understand in general is why the strict border control is setup the way that it is. There are endless of opportunities to loosen the border control and maintain a strict and slower entry.

Personally I am fully vaccinated with 3 Pfizer shots and I would be willing to go into 14 days of quarantine, even a full month, if that meant that I could get into Japan and finally see my girlfriend (which is Japanese) for the first time in nearly 2 years. She cannot travel because of your 10 day quarantine, and only out of respect to her job we both agree that she shouldn't. She's a doctor, which you need, and she would have to spend 14 paid vacation days just so that we would be able to see each for about 2-3 days with the current setup Japan's gov. got. Basically blocking their own citizens from leaving Japan in all honesty.

Sadly Japan is becoming a bit of a laughing stock to the rest of the world with no logic in the gov's approach or statements. Not only is Japan loosing out on teachers, trainees, but all sorts of professionals that would even have slightly consider making the big change by relocating from all that they know to foreign grounds. Aside from, as a foreigner we sadly also see, that the general system for foreigners in Japan seems an inch towards the racist side. Foreigners aren't left with that many benefits to even consider moving to Japan, which is frustrating when in recent years all past talk has been about gaining foreign experience and professionals to counter the declining population of Japan. You might then ask why would you come here then? Well because I actually love Japan and my amazing girlfriend beyond your governments rubbish.

But in the end I am left nearly speechless with only one thought. And that is that within the borders of Japan, the government seems to have lost all logic, and that they should really start to look into how other countries has countered these variants and the statistics behind it.

I believe the current quarantine depends on where you are travelling back to Japan FROM. SE Asia generally does not require a hotel quarantine at all- just go home for 14 days. US and Canada I think it depends on the state/province, either 3 or 6 days. The rest of the world I am not sure.

Reference point- I travelled to the USA last spring. Pre-vaccine. Needed a PCR test to fly out, another test to re-enter Japan. Did another PCR test at Nagoya airport upon arrival. Results took about 90 minutes, then drove home. YMMV however. From what I have heard, the airports in Tokyo are both ill prepared and under staffed.

R.T...

You don't know other peoples circumstances, and you don't: know that is a necessary and unnecessary travel. Just because you enjoy playing video games in your dark room and don't need to go outside your room, does not mean everybody is like you.

I think you misunderstood.

What you or I think is necessary travel is not important. Japan wants to restrict overseas travel as much as possible so they add many barriers. The government doesn't have the power to ban travel so this is a travel " ban" by stealth. If your travel is necessary, you will do it. For me it was a case of informing my employer that I was going. If they said no, then they would be looking for a replacement. Luckily it didn't come to that.

PS.. I have never played a video game in my life.

RecklessToday 09:56 am JST

Sicilian are you stuck in the government hotel? Last year I home quarantined which was no problem. Stuck in a small hotel room with no fresh air is worse conditions than prison where you get an hour of fresh air.

I am fortunate. I am on a US military base, so I was confined to my room for 5 straight days. Once I got my third negative test I was allowed out of the room. Must wear a mask everywhere (of course) but I can't leave the base. So middle of next week I can go on to where I need to go.

I consider myself lucky, as Japan just seems stuck in a no decision is a decision loop. You all know the types "hmm, let's see, if we have a meeting we can discuss what we could potentially decide on. Once we do that we'll have another get together and deiced on what we decided on last time. We'll then present our findings at the next round table to discuss potentially what our course of action will be. Then well have enough to form a hypothesis......." No real decisions. Like the extension to the end of February.... Just long enough to say they did something.

This is 100% political. It should be obvious. And for those who freely chose to travel in the middle of this emergency for fun...what did you expect? Some "exemption" on your return because you're a "special" member of this society? Some slackening in rules when the last government fell exactly because of such slackening??

You assume that everyone traveling abroad does so for "fun". Having been cut off from our home countries for almost 2 years now, many have lost loved ones, or have people at home on their death bead with possibly only weeks left. I wouldn't call a visit home to pay family members a last bit of respect necessarily a fun thing.

Stuck between a rock and a hard place, we choose to go home taking the difficulties of returning for granted. That does not mean we're criminals nor we be treated as such. As foreigners we of course chose to work here ourselves. But as tax-paying and law-abiding citizens of this country we have rights same as you and the 99,9% of Japanese that you say are in favor of this madness. The mistreatment of residents and their children upon returning to Japan, getting threatened with deportation and lack of basic understanding is quite frankly ridiculous and shows the complete lack of empathy people have for others these days.

And vaccinated people actually thought they would be exempt from all these restrictions if they just did what they were told.

I would be mad too.

@blastcaptain: I think you will find this is a Canadian mandate. No unvaccinated passengers may fly from an airport in Canada. Nothing to do with Japan.

The current policy of quarantine in Japan is illogical and unnecessarily tough. I agree it needs to end or be dialed back ASAP.

That said though, except for some very limited cases, those who are stuck in quarantine currently do not really have my sympathy. It was abundantly clear that there are huge risks to traveling at the moment and many, including myself, cancelled plans at the last minute to avoid these issues. I would have loved to see my relatives after nearly 3 years, especially the elderly ones, but it was just not feasible/ too risky. It would have been irresponsible to assume much other than the worst case.

@blastcaptain: Then I must assume that your mother did not have the correct PCR test completed by a Doctor at check-in. Unvaccinated Japanese Citizens will NOT be denied entry to Japan - they will NOT be boarded by an airline if they do not have the correct PCR test - that is negative and signed off by a Doctor.

Your Mother, has been misinformed.

R.T.

That's exactly why they have the 14 days... To stop unnecessary travel WITHOUT a ban.

You can leave AND return

I can't.

I could only go for a couple of days because of my situation, which is how I used to do it, but now forced to be an extra 2 weeks in a quarantine is simply not an option, not unless you are suggesting I should also look for a new job, look for a new house, look for a new living situation.

And that is in the case I don't turn positive in the PCR test. If I do...

But of course, if you can do it, it means that everyone else can! That's how life works.

Eventually life must go on.

Nah, for these people life is now Covid, and if you don't think so, then you are not taking Covid serious enough.

There is no rational argument, no evidence, no science, just they will insult you for even the suggestion of stopping this insanity.

We are our own creators we decide to be happy or not there is no blaming others that's what children do you've obviously got some mental issues going on there as I said before you need to go seek professional help.

Says the guy that knows to do nothing but insult others, criticize their lives, and say their are lying about medical conditions, and then you feel like you have some sort of insight to diagnose someone else as having a "mental issue".

Not only that, you are basically helping an obvious troll here.

If anyone here has a mental issue, are the people who continue with the narrative of irrational fear, of violation of basic human rights, all in the name of trying to stop the unstoppable, but mainly to feel like you are in control of a situation you are not in control.

You are the one blaming others about covid, which is why you push for more restrictions. But looking at a mirror is way to difficult for someone like yourself.

@ OldNormal

I and my 3 children have been forced in a tiny hotel room because of 3 positive pcr test with no symptoms. We were told we must stay here for 10 days or until we can all have 2 negative test in two consecutive days starting after the 6th day.

I can't be the only person here who both sympathizes with your situation, and also thinks, well, people testing positive should stay in quarantine.

I understand that you want your children to "get out and move around" but that is exactly what people with Covid should not be doing.

Hope you all test negative and can get out asap.

@Hito Bito

Yep, pretty much.

All rationality has long gone away, destroyed by irrational fear of something most people do not understand the actual risk of.

And with the constantly fear mongering, of course people will not get the real risk, and believe with all their hearts that their lives are in constant danger because of this invisible killer.

People are willing to destroy all society, all freedoms, all sense of decency if it gives them even a little bit of relief from their irrational and constant anxiety.

Politics will play on that, which is why, now 2 years latter, with multiple vaccines available, multiple anti-virals and other therapies available, with a new variant that doesn't create Cytokine Storms anymore, we are somehow in a worse position than in March 2020, when the death rate for this virus was at its highest, and there were no real medical interventions other than intubating people, which ended up killing more than saving them.

@theResident

Thanks!

This is 100% political. It should be obvious. And for those who freely chose to travel in the middle of this emergency for fun...what did you expect? Some "exemption" on your return because you're a "special" member of this society? Some slackening in rules when the last government fell exactly because of such slackening??

Think about it: the last PM quit, citing severe criticism from the public for his "lax handling" of the COVID crisis. This new PM is from the exact same party...do you expect this new politician, specifically elected in part thanks to promises to do "whatever it takes" to fight COVID, do you expect him to be forgiving or lenient to people who CHOSE to leave this country in the middle of a new spread of a global pandemic? Really?

Seems like only yesterday everyone here was screaming at the government's "inept" handling of the COVID, or the Olympics, etc. I had plenty of criticism, too. Now, though, everyone's done a 180 lol. Well guess what? The real Japanese (the other 99.9% of the public who don't even bother reading this foreigner-focused tabloid), have spoken, and in poll after poll after poll, they've said they APPROVE of these draconian measures, that they SUPPORT the banning of foreign entries into Japan well into the future, and that they HAVE ZERO PLANS to travel abroad in the middle of a global pandemic where every single elected official on earth is overreacting in order to preserve their own popularity and image of "doing something to fight COVID"!

I LOATHE the freedom-curbing measures all governments have opportunistically imposed on their peoples. Many of the freedoms we used to take for granted will forever now be compromised by these government-encroaching precedents...and by the support that a long-misinformed, long fear-frenzied populace will give to them for some supposed fleeting and temporary safety (which never seems to come...only more encroachment of rights!) But theis flip-flopping of people's stances on what Japan is doing...it's a spectacle to behold in wonder, I'll give it that!

Sad to hear, but you sound like an over-extrovert.

If you really believe that, you have way more serious problems than you realize.

@Iron Lad,

Thanks, just realized it is useless to ask your opinion.

Once again thanks for your time. Cheers. 今年も健康になるように

Iron Lad: That sounds like a wonderful existence. No wonder your attitude on vaccines etc is as it is. That is not the way forward for mankind.

@Luis David Yanez

Sad to hear, but you sound like an over-extrovert.

As said, I don't even leave my home much.

I work at home and cook my own food or call takeout.

It's comfy.

Yeah, to think my life has been destroyed by people like this...

If the world deems that not just doing that, but forcing everyone else to do that is the "new-normal", I don't want anything to do with it. This world isn't worth anymore.

@Ninja

As said, I don't even leave my home much.

I work at home and cook my own food or call takeout.

It's comfy.

@Iron Lad,

You are just trying to act like a youngster. But seems like a pension guy with island mindset. I guess you don't have any travel history.

Lets talk about the topic.

Fully Vaccinated

PCR Negative result within 72 hours before the flight

PCR test on Arrival

Private transportation to the residence

14 Days Quarantine

What else do they looking for?

There ARE people to talk with @LuisDavidYanez 1:40pm. Click on the links in the banner at the top of ths page marked “Health” or just ‘cut & paste” https://health.gaijinpot.com/suicide-prevention/

Can they change the policy of this country?

If not, they cannot help.

It’s right next to the red “Covid-19” button.

@Ninja

Sorry for your situation, I just find a good IT job, I guess.

There ARE people to talk with @LuisDavidYanez 1:40pm. Click on the links in the banner at the top of ths page marked “Health” or just ‘cut & paste” https://health.gaijinpot.com/suicide-prevention/

@Luis David Yanez 1:40pm: “ I just have no hope left for this world, or this life.

At this point, I'm just buying my time until I die, and I get killed if things get even nastier.”

Also when you leave Japan in a trip, you see how a lot of other countries are carrying on.

Just pointing it out but maybe living here has made the abnormal feel normal.

In Europe flights are pretty normal,

If you have your pretest and vaccine proof you are set.

Sorry for all the discomfort of many commenting here today.

@Iron Lad,

you can play video games in your home with your pension.

But who will take care about future plans? Almost wasted two years from our student life.

@Ninja

Buddha says it's not wise to travel in the middle of a pandemic.

I just stay home and play video games and watch samurai anime/movies.

Elden Ring coming out next month!

@Maria 'Bing' Velasquez Reid

Be patient.

Until when? 2025? Then refund our school fees which is paid to the university. Hilarious.

Government just destroy their targets and happiness. You can't buy time.

Indeed, at this point, I would give most of the rest of my remaining life to have just 1 year of normality, then I can die in peace.

This is the level this has an effect in my life. I would die just to be able to have a little bit of the freedoms we had before march of 2020.

Most of the meaning of my life has disappeared, and every day that passes, looking how nasty and irrational the population at large continues to get, I just have no hope left for this world, or this life.

At this point, I'm just buying my time until I die, and I get killed if things get even nastier.

Be patient. Omicron is very contagious. In general you may be negative when you boarded the plane but when you arrived you became positive. Or when you arrived a few days later, you are positive. Better to think of others you might contaminate recklessly than complain being quarantined. I can name countries requiring quarantine upon arrival.

For the sake of the majority that sacrifice, those who oppose and complain can live somewhere else. More countries now are requiring masks and vaccination if they want to continue working.

@vendingmachinemusic

why anyone would travel abroad during a pandemic and have high expectations for how they get treated by any sort of govt official in any country is beyond my realm of thought.

This is not about tourism. Students are waiting almost two years. Many students are from Asian countries. This is their life goal, A big dream. Wives are waiting for see their husbands. Children are waiting for hug their parents.

Government just destroy their targets and happiness. You can't buy time.

@blastcaptain

This Japanese living abroad will be vaccinated ( if they wish) where they reside.

Japan has no restriction on unvaccinated Japanese or permanent residents and spouses returning.

This could change in the future though…

Well, you are obviously complaining in the wrong place you need to go see your local member for parliament.

This has nothing to do with the government. It is society the one that has engaged in this discrimination. I mean, just looking at the reaction to what I said about my partner paints pretty much the picture.

Japan may not be for everyone. They have strict rules.

why anyone would travel abroad during a pandemic and have high expectations for how they get treated by any sort of govt official in any country is beyond my realm of thought.

I get it, life is not fair.

but at least your should focus on the positive things in your life.

Fully Vaccinated

PCR Negative result within 72 hours before the flight

PCR test on Arrival

Private transportation to the residence

14 Days Quarantine

What else do they looking for? Still entry ban. what a joke.

so since his issue is something he has had since a child you must have written proof from medical experts then

As I said, he does. It doesn't matter in practice.

 Personally, I hate masks but I wear them because this is the done thing in the Country of which I am a guest.

Good for you. I'm not a guest of this country and neither my partner is. We both are Japanese citizens being discriminated in our own country.

you know you don't have to stay here you can leave anytime you like same goes for the rest of us

If only it were that easy...

Sorry to hear about your partners conditions. But that seems s/he is most vulnerable to infections. What’s the point of going out and about while this is going on?

It has absolutely nothing to do with infections. Its a neurological problem that he has since a child. He has to take anti epilepsy pills to have this under relative control, and when an attack starts he takes another pills to contain it, but some times even that doesn't work.

The thing with masks is that is a well known trigger of his condition, and it usually trigger the most nasty type, so he should not wear them. That's all that there is to this.

In fact, he forced himself to wear it a couple of times because he was forced to in his old job, and ended up in bed with horrible pain and vomit for a couple of days.

He was forced to quit that job. So there is that.

Its just plain discrimination, specially since it is a well known fact now that cloth masks, which are the most popular, are nothing more than facial fashion that has absolutely no impact in community transmission, and in some places we can avoid discrimination by wearing a ridiculous mouth shield that is pretty obvious that it is completely useless.

*how many countries

@Iron lad, how many have you been visit so far? I guess none.

Japan will realize when labour shortage going high. Atleast they have to allow fully vaccinate foriegners let in and two weeks own residence quarantine is must.

I thought the whole point of closing the borders was to limit the spread of Omicron and give the government time to put measures into place for dealing with it. I get wanting to keep people safe but it's really starting to feel like the Japanese government is using Covid as an excuse to isolate Japan from the outside world.

Restrict tourists; fine. But let those wanting to come for studies and work in, so long as they adhere to the quarantine rules and procedures. Like it or not, Japan's workforce is shrinking due to their aging population and they will need manpower from abroad. Cutting ties to the outside world is tantamount to starving its economy.

@blastcaptain: You do NOT need to be vaccinated to return to Japan either as a Citizen or holding a re-entry permit. For a brief period last year, being vaccinated afforded you the right to 'buy' yourself out of quarantine at 10 days, and for a briefer time to be eligible for the 3 day business quarantine. There is a 3500 cap on international arrivals per day\as of now, Searching for flights into Japan and from my friends/colleagues experiences it is not hard to get a reservation. Where did you get your information from?

Airlifts indeed!

“My partner has a medical condition that doesn't allow him to wear a mask without getting nasty headaches that can last days, and include vomiting and not able to get out of bed.”

Sorry to hear about your partners conditions. But that seems s/he is most vulnerable to infections. What’s the point of going out and about while this is going on?

OMG!, without the right visa your life will turn to a nightmare soon!

Great news.

Thanks Kishida. Full support.

Excellent. As for those who have an inability to comprehend the nature of a pandemic and the means to stave it off - seemingly have neglected to read the science and instead opine falsely and repeat tired incorrect tropes - leave, go away return to you homeland.

I will finish my 14 day quarantine in 3 days.

From a Facebook group what I have found out is that there are a large number of separated spouses or families as a result of not allowing new visa holders in.

There also is an issue with permanent residents not being able to return as their re entry permits expired for different reasons.

So while I made a trip to see a aging parent and was able to cope with the quarantine requirements,

it is extremely hard for a lot of people, and difficult with the separation of family, having paid for tuition but can't travel,

This will just add to their stress.

Still think Japan isn't doing anything to contain the pandemic?

People are beginning to wake up to the fact that it doesn’t matter if you are vaccinated or not, you will still be quarantined.

Why would anyone think otherwise?

People are beginning to wake up to the fact that it doesn’t matter if you are vaccinated or not, you will still be quarantined.

Why they are not considering about family separation?

Because corona.

They just don't care. People with international lives are a pawn in this political theater of showing that "they care about corona", and since a lot of Japanese people still believe that it is "the foreigners fault" and that Covid is a "foreign disease", then they applaud each time the already restricted border gets even more ridiculously restricted.

I mean, I've seen a lot of Japanese claiming that even now the border is not restricted enough, and that it is wide open. They want nothing less of going back to a complete sakoku, so politically restricting is the popular thing to do.

I've talked with the ministry of justice, and they tell me that me as a Japanese national, my human rights of seeing my family again are not being denied because I can talk to them online.

The process from getting from Narita Airport to the hotel that is 4 minutes away took 8 hours totaling a 30+ hour travel day.

What a joke. I'm sorry you've been made to suffer this garbage. Shouldn't even be there if you're vaccinated.

As I may have mentioned before, most of Japan’s quarantine restrictions are based on the science available. However, some the risk/cost analysis on some rules is very shaky. The rule forbidding public transport after spending 10 days in a quarantine hotel is a good example. Yo have tested negative on day 1, 6 and ten so your risk is almost nothing. The chance of then infecting someone while both you and they are wearing a mask on the train is close to zero. Then why have this rule? With flights limited to a few of the main airports it put a huge financial burden on those in the hinterland wishing to travel. A private taxi to Tohoku will double the cost of a vacation. So many will not travel. The government have achieved their goal of “limiting” travel without any bans in place.

I am a foreigner who are working in Japan. My wife is fully vaccinated and got the 3rd booster shot last week. Her visa stamp will be expired on end of February too. We are helpless and frustrated. J Gov always keeping us separated. Why they are not considering about family separation?

Actually me and my two kids having new dependent type Visa and couldn't able to come to Japan and we are alone in India. My husband is working in Tokyo. It's very difficult to live here with kids alone for me. I tried to reach Japan from past two years. Could I get Humanitarian exception?? This news is also disappointing me

I encourage everyone to make complaints to their embassies. I have to mine. it’s the least everyone who has experienced this or is unwilling to travel because of these crazy rules.

You should also post everything on Facebook. the size of your room, the toll its taking on your kids, everything. Here in Japan the name of the game is name and shame. THAT gets results

While I still doubt it will do much, I second this. and might I add:

Go skim around on the Washington Post website. NYTimes, too. Look for the Pulitzer-hungry reporters, especially on the world beat, who seem to have a thing for uncovering discrimination. Find them on Twitter, if they're active. Try to connect with them on Facebook. Email them (usually their email addresses aren't too hard to dig up). Twitter is probably most effective. Post photos of your kids looking sad sitting on the bed with some crappy Japanese variety show on the little TTV behind them. Use some of the language on this thread I've been reading. Make it sound so sappy as possible, as if one could imagine that there was a lone, sad violin playing in the background.

It'll give you something to do, and if the paper bites, we can all watch them squirm.

 I rarely if ever wear one unless specifically asked to

My partner has a medical condition that doesn't allow him to wear a mask without getting nasty headaches that can last days, and include vomiting and not able to get out of bed.

And as such, he rarely wears a mask, and we are constantly being discriminated.

We have been at least 3 times last year refused entry to a restaurant for not wearing a mask at the entrance, and even after explaining the condition they refused, and it wasn't until we mail the company administrating some of the restaurants that they apologized for basically violating the "law to stop discrimination of people with disabilities".

The last one, which was like 2 weeks ago, for a restaurant we had a reservation for, they have completely refused to give any type of apology, and continue to claim that they are just "doing what the government tells them" which is a lie, and are thinking of legal action by this point.

Also, when trying to go to the Maruyama Zoo, he was told to wear a wristband in his arm at all times showing that he is has a disability, just like some folks had to in the old good WWII era Germany.

business as usual.no normal travel abroad and normal return to Japan.

sure will need to wait more maybe whole this year?

Science is different in Japan, don't you know that? I was given the immense privilege of being able to quarantine at home with my wife, who hadn't travelled. She is free to come and go as she pleases, because we all know the dreaded flu only affects travellers right? The same virus that conveniently sleeps when air passengers decide to eat. They are masked otherwise.

The PCR test within 72 hours of your flight? A joke. Get the test then party for 2 days, that seems to be OK.

But, but I have an app! Thank the lord for technology. And it's junk..... Many times with my phone in my hand I get the "you will receive a video call" message, tap "accept", followed by a message "you didn't respond fast enough".

This combined with a designed by committee immigration process will not stop the spread of any virus.

@gintonicToday  09:15 am JST

In a bid to stave off Omicron?....are we living in some parallel universe?

What happened to Japanese hospitality?

At least they could put us up in an onsen hotel with a view.

"Exactly! How do we ever even consider taking off the mask with reactions like this? Eventually, Japanese residents will likely enjoy maskless functions once again on holidays outside Japan and perhaps return feeling more comfortable going maskless within Japan. But that will likely be years later, particularly at this pace."

You don't have to wear your mask....take it off. I rarely if ever wear one unless specifically asked to. I have rode the trains and buses around the country, been in countless restaurants and bars and have not had a mask on and it's been perfectly fine. If, like when I flew to Hokkaido for New Year, the airline wanted me to wear my mask, I did for the duration of the flight....but then it came off again when I got off the plane. I also wear one for the few minutes I'm at the bar of popular chain pubs, as they require such a thing, but when I have my drinks and return to my seat, the mask comes off.....revolutionary as it sounds, you can take your mask off.....

@Fighto!

This is nonsense, however. Omicron has proven that it's going to infect everyone, albeit mildly and just for a short time, and the only way out of this is to go through it. In South Africa the wave is over, in UK and Australia it will be over by the end of January. In Japan they're doing everything possibly to drag this out as long as possible, and it will be a slow and exhausting battle that they're still going to lose anyway. It is not proven but scientifically possible that after Omicron the Western countries spend the next months to come with almost no cases, while Japan keeps going through a series of waves or a mid-scale long-lasting plateau. In China they're dragging it even more, and by that rate it might take them a few hundreds of years to get over.

very low Covid rates in Japan for this wave, as a result of tough restrictions and quarantine.

Yes, didn't you know? Foreign born virus is deadlier than good national corona.

The national corona, which is widespread, as it is national it is well behaved and respect understand the feelings of the omotenashi and omoiyari, unlike foreign corona that just makes a mess, and throws pet bottles without the cap off in the burning garbage day.

That's why we must contain it, even if with this heavy restrictions it has not been really contained at all.

To be honest, it's pretty probable that I won't ever be able to see my parents again until they die, or I die.

There is no real end for this, there is no hope, there is no logic, there is nothing but fear, restrictions, hate and a lot of condescension.

Every day that this continues is a nightmare, but you cannot wake up from this one.

Man, that is really depressing!

I guess you need something to cheer up.

When I got out of quarantine, I spent five minutes just staring up at the beautiful blue sky…

I guess the proof is in the pudding : very low Covid rates in Japan for this wave, as a result of tough restrictions and quarantine.

In nations that are open to the world (some would say far too soon) with zero quarantine, like the UK and Australia- Covid rates are soaring.

Japan, I imagine, will slowly start winding back the restrictions from around June. But if another wave hits...perhaps later.

I encourage everyone to make complaints to their embassies. I have to mine. it’s the least everyone who has experienced this or is unwilling to travel because of these crazy rules.

You should also post everything on Facebook. the size of your room, the toll its taking on your kids, everything. Here in Japan the name of the game is name and shame. THAT gets results

Don't care for the petty downvoters, its common thing here. BTW, the US base in Okinawa has higest infection rate on the world - bravo! https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/be897391d178fd011e31dafa218a08b389f168e3

good point Rezer

I encourage everyone to make complaints to their embassies. I have to mine. it’s the least everyone who has experienced this or is unwilling to travel because of these crazy rules.

it’s a terrible situation. My kids are crying everyday, my wife is upset. I have asked to go home by rental car and stay in quarantine at home but they absolutely refuse. We thought we were only going to stay here 3 days. We aren’t even sick.

Entering the country was also a nightmare. We came in close contact with hundreds of part time government staff. There were about 20 check points. Piles of documents. The worst part was a room where everyone was spitting in tubes and there were trash cans everywhere with the funnels people used to spit in the tubes. Absolutely disgusting.

this is not about controlling the virus, it’s just pure propaganda from Kishida.

the majority of positives at the airport have no symptoms, which makes me questions the validity of their pcr test. The cycles must be very high as all people need a negative test to enter the country.

total nightmare.

Hang in there man. I got out after 6 days and found it hard to imagine staying there any longer. I was assuming they'd put people with children in bigger rooms for some reason. But I guess that was naïve of me to even think.

Kishida should be absolutely ashamed of himself and forced into one of these facilities himself for 10 days receiving the same shitty treatment, so he knows what it's like.

So many kick-in-the-face things going on here. While 'outsiders' are banned from entry, among whom are students who have paid all fees for education or family members who fall through the wide visa-cracks. Those 'lucky' enough to be able to come back are forced into a 6-tatami room arrest even though they are vaccinated and did all tests before departure and on arrival. All the while, US army completley stuck their fingers up at Japan and all of us, they did not test, did not follow any rules or due care at all and brought Omicron into Okinawa (and likely from there the rest of country) but then also inside Japan everyone can come and go as they please, zero retrictions basically for 2 years. So the scapegoat in all of this is the 'outsider'

My coworkers landed to Narita (living in Mie) he guessed that he was going to do quarantine in hotel in Tokyo but surprisingly, he was transported to a hotel in Fukkuka! Because there was not rooms available in Tokyo. A madness!

Nobody provided any explanation or reason. And the most funny was that after finishing the hotel quarantine he was transportated again to Narita! All this system of quarantine is a incredible spend of money from our taxes...

I am very annoyed about this situation because a Japanese can travel to US or EU freely and they don't have pass this calvary. I hope that finally all embassies received enough complains to do something in group.

These are strange times and I know it upsets some people. However, considering the circumstances, I agree with this policy but I wish it wasn’t necessary. If you want to get angry at anybody, get angry at the Chinese government for not doing more early on to control this plague.

“NPSolbergToday  07:34 am JST

It is now time for Japan to open up for people that are vaccinated with third boost, tested before arrival and tested upon arrival. It is redicilous in the long run to lock out the world for those who follow the rules and vaccinates and have covid passport. Come on, rewards to those who follow all the rules. In the long run Japan will never avoid getting new cases of covid by not allowing entry, it is only porsponing and extending the problem. In my opinion.”

Rules are universal. We don’t discriminate here. You are no better human than any unvaccinated folks here.

It's pretty infuriating reading so many comments making light of the burden of quarantine, specially for those of us who live in a place that cannot be reached by land from Tokyo.

The pledge they make you sign is a gun to the head, since it has already been tested by a couple of people who denied to sign the pledge, and they were detained as "probable covid infections" under the quarantine law, and supposedly according to the law they should be released after proving that they are virus free, but funny enough the test is always "delayed", and you never got tested, and were told to "just sign the pledge".

All of the people who have done this ended up signing the pledge as it was obvious that they were being detained as a punishment, and the second they signed the pledge they were released.

To be honest, it's pretty probable that I won't ever be able to see my parents again until they die, or I die.

There is no real end for this, there is no hope, there is no logic, there is nothing but fear, restrictions, hate and a lot of condescension.

Every day that this continues is a nightmare, but you cannot wake up from this one.

After this is over, I will make plans to sell my house and move back to America.

Smartest decision ever for your family- you are doing the right thing. If we ever get permission to go to Canada we will sell our house and 2 cars and be right there behind you. Maybe we can have a beer in Vancouver.

There are no human rights here and they treat foreigners and healthy children like lepers.

Not only that. The spouses and children of foreigners.

Looking forward to the future where I and my family can live in a free country.

I don't blame you one bit.

So I traveled in a group of three on the 3nd. All three of us tested prior to departure negative. We landed and tested again (negative). Then on the day 5 test one of us was positive, but had symptoms starting on the 3rd. Another group of us, 6 total, flew in on the 4th. All tested negative prior to travel, 1 tested positive at the airport, then one tested positive 5 days later. Everyone is following the isolation and ROM strictly.

And everyone was vaccinated, with one hot test being someone vaxxed and boosted. So the booster did nothing, or lessened the symptoms at best.

I think this whole thing is a farce. Maybe it could be test before, test at the airport, then test on day 5. Once that is done you are good.

sorry about your situation you are in. Hope it works out the way you want in the end.

thank you for your kindness mate.

Re the rotting nation here as you mention, why bother coming in and out?

I'm not coming in and out. I haven't left since the pandemic started. If your question is why I live here, the answer is simple. My wife and kids are Japanese, so where can I go? I hold 2 passports UK and Syria. Syria of course is a no go. As for the UK, my WHOLE family has immigrated to Canada, so I have no one there. No connections and I haven't been back in over 20 years since everyone is in Canada.

You would be leaving it for somewhere else, wouldn’t you?

If I can get to Canada I would leave tomorrow. Unfortunately, I'm not Canadian

So leave this rotting nation to us. If you change your mind later on, then welcome back! Thanks.

That's nice of you to say

The government may modify the measure and allow foreign students and family members for union to enter the county.

水際対策、一部緩和へ　外国籍家族・留学生ら念頭に政府調整

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/pickup/6414810

My guess is that the government is likely to lift or relax the entry ban before the end of February. First, by then Omicron will have widespread across the country. Second, the impact on the healthcare system will remain minimal (quite hopefully, as I see there are still some structural problems in Japan's healthcare crisis management).

@kuripusisu

thanks. I’m trying my best here to keep it cool. Looking forward to the future where I and my family can live in a free country.

3,6, or 10 days, Its free.

I was going to ask how much you're charged for the hotel for 10 days, but it sounds from some of the comments that it's free... meals, too.

Is that accurate?

I feel really sorry for those of you locked in small rooms with kids, if i were in there I would get an exercise routine going. Use your muscles and you will feel relaxed and sleep easier.

Ge the kids to teach you the games they know and play with them, be a kid yourself :-)

How many push ups can you do? How many things can you "eye spy"

Smartphone is probably the most frustrating way to spend your time in such a situation. Stay busy and stay strong.

@OldNormal

Do you remember the pledge that was signed at the airport?

There is a reason for that and it is because Japan has no law to imprison healthy people.

A pledge is not the law but by disobedience to that ‘pledge’ is what keeps most people captive.

If negative for the virus, I would doubt that there is a legal penalty for walking out.

If positive then certain laws would definitely be used to detain you under arrest.

I would suppose that being ‘sick’ it would be possible to demand hospitalization but that would most likely be denied.

I agree it is a tough situation but as a foreigner pushing the boundaries in Japan can have have very negative consequences which may also extend to your family and extended family into the future.

Best to keep a cool head…

@Monty

somebody would embrace “science” as they are told to.

@Aly

sorry about your situation you are in. Hope it works out the way you want in the end. Re the rotting nation here as you mention, why bother coming in and out? You would be leaving it for somewhere else, wouldn’t you? So leave this rotting nation to us. If you change your mind later on, then welcome back! Thanks.

From the MOFA website..

From 0:00 am (JST) December 2, 2021, as emergency precautionary measure from a preventive perspective against coronavirus variant Omicron (B.1.1.529), validity of visas already issued by December 2, 2021 are suspended except for the status of residence of “Spouse or Child of a Japanese National”, “Spouse or Child of a Permanent Resident” or “Diplomat” for the time being.This measure does not apply to foreign nationals who departed from overseas before 00:00 am (JST) on December 2, 2021 and arrive in Japan after the time.

So to me this means spouse/children of foreign visa holders (not PR/Japan Nationals), are NOT allowed to come into Japan if they left before Dec2. Or have I misread it?

this is sad, i have been waiting to relocate to japan to study. i guess its a waiting game again.

covid19 will going to be our 'new norms' and we have to deal with it. i hope they'll change their policy and

accepts those were fully vaccinated

February is coming soon next month. Not many months/years. I would not mind about it.

The restrictions will be extended at the end of February. Omicron will be in decline in most countries by then but still on the up in Japan. End of May or June could be a more realistic date to put in your diary.

Coming in I asked if being vaccinated with with two doses of the vaccine would have a effect on my time in quarantine.

The answer was no.

And CaptDingleheimer has it correct.

The fear of gaikoku definitely trumps all else when it comes to the political temperature in Japan.

It will be the last country to relax restrictions.

Anecdotally, I remember several doctors and nurses at the hospital where my wife works testing positive last year but it never made the news locally or nationally.

It is fine not to test and have Japanese spreading the virus in trains, buses and in the office but any returnee makes the headlines!

It really is pretty pathetic….

February is coming soon next month. Not many months/years. I would not mind about it.

I'm in no way suggesting that you should be punished for this - just saying that you we should all be aware of the risks involved in travelling right now! The Japanese Government are free to do as they see fit. Imagine if you were a Kiwi right now for example? You'd have a lot tougher time visiting! And if one of your group is testing positive (symptoms or not) then can't really use the word healthy.

I'd love to travel right now,and know that I can if need be, but unless there is a death in the family I'm not putting through myself of the lottery on return and honestly have a little sympathy for those that do and then complain on return for effectively going on a 'jolly up'

I don't think Japan is violating any humans right laws by providing you with paid for quarantine in a hotel (however small the room) and providing you with 3 meals a day (even if they are not to your taste).

@Monty

I am confused!

I have been since the beginning of the pandemic.

@the resident

yes we have legitimate reasons. My children's grandparents would like to see them and i want them to keep a relationship with their cousins. I’m not a criminal for seeing my family and neither are my children, yet we are being treated inhumanely with threat of prison if I decide to go home with my 3 healthy children.

@fiddlers

yes I chose for my children to meet their grandparents and cousins after 2 and half years. We should be punished for this because we are filthy and not clean as proper Japanese who stay put in their country. It’s such a crime to meet family members. I’m sorry you don’t have anyone who loves you overseas.

@old normal

I did two positive test on day 6 and 7, since then I did not have to do any more test and I could be discharge on day 11 as I am vaccinated. but for unvaccinated kids the rule is different, they have to test everyday and can only be discharge after 2 consecutive negative test which can happen within a couple days or a couple months. The stupid part of this rule which is suppose to protect people is that If I was alone I could leave even I am still positive. The other issue is as far as I know, this rule is not written anywhere.

We are at Marroad hotel Narita.

@OldNormal - I wasn't suggesting you were the only one. You are just the only one on this forum. I agree it is a disgrace, but on the other hand is there any real need to travel unless there is a death in the family for example? Is there any real need to travel with children knowing that is going to happen this end.

Changing this policy to open up to international tourists will become a political hot potato, even if the pandemic subsides worldwide. The fact of the matter is that cases in Japan are statistically zero. If they open up, more Japanese people will get it. And a few, at least, will die. Then it could be said that allowing in international tourists directly lead to Japanese deaths. Absolutely unacceptable to the vast majority of Japanese. They may have previously had their goals of x-million of tourists by whatever date, and keeping them out will hamper growth in the sectors of the economy dependent on international tourism.

But do you know what else is statistically insignificant? The overall percentage of Japan's GDP to which international tourism contributes. It isn't worth the yen it's printed on to politicians who don't want to anger their constituents.

"When Omicron is over..." is nice to say, but there will be more strains, more 'waves' in other countries. this will keep this going, and going, and going.

Japan won't be open to international tourism for years to come. YEARS.

Japan will do what the necessary to protect its population..

Their country, their rules..

Plain and simple..

Get over it..

Yes, that’s very good, but the reality is faster and omicron already here. So this measure came too late or / and with insufficient consequence.

Japan is splitting up families and destroying lives. Not everyone has a spouse visa in an international family!

@theresident

i am not the only one with this horror story. Im am just one who is choosing to share it. This is happening to thousands of people. It’s an absolute disgrace.

@debito

it does not make a difference if you are vaccinated or not. Are you quarantining now? Perhaps we are in the same building. Are you both a-symptomatic? On the third day you will have to take a retest if you were negative and if you test positive the start of the stay restarts.

Simple solutions for complex problems. Nothing new here folks. Of course foreigners are the ones to cop it too. Why would anyone even be surprised by this? The extra language problem and awkwardness is ‘bothersome, and we obviously can’t be trusted the way a J national can be to obey the rules which are often daft and stupid. If you were born here though, your used to it! Coulda scripted this one easily.

In a way though, it’s a bit of a stretch to expect a homogeneous country like Japan to spend any extra time more than absolutely necessary ensuring that the best policies for gaijin have been put it place. In times of panic and war foreign nationals in most countries get thrown under the bus. It’s simply the way the world works. Governments are responsible for THEIR people and Kishida is just doing what he promised , along with much ‘thinking’ about stuff!

Unfortunately there will never be a world without Corona again, so this may take a while.

In the week after Christmas about 5% of the arrivals at Japanese airports were testing positive. That is after getting a PCR within 72 hours of departure. There can be a time lag of several days between infection and that infection showing up in tests. In rare cases, travelers have been negative in the 72 hr before test, on arrival but positive on day 3 or even 6. This is one of the reasons for the forced quarantine. However, the great unwritten reason is it prevents the vast majority of Japanese citizens from overseas travel. How many can have a week holiday followed by two weeks in quarantine?

So Japan has bought itself a couple of months delay in the omicron surge but what has it done in this time? The UK boosted 60% of the over 50's in a month. Japan? Almost finished boosting nurses working with covid patients..almost!

Not quite sure what is so hard for everyone to grasp. Since September 2020, anybody already in possession of a resident card has been free to travel in and out of Japan. Quarantine requirements and paperwork requirements have changed over the course of time but your rights to travel have not. Yes, there have been no new entrants apart from a very brief period before Omicron came along - and the 10 day test to release and 3, day biz Quarantine were all abandoned at the same time.

It's 0,3,6 or 10 days in a Hotel with the remaining days up to the 14th at a address of your choice by journey of private car or taxi. This is all on the assumption you are negative. You only have to read the horror story that @oldnormal is having to realise that a posisitve test involves.

One still requires a pre departure test from point of origin within 72 hours to be boarded and of course a valid residents card to be boarded.

To those wishing to travel I would suggest opting for a test much closer to departure (pay up if need be) to avoid the nightmare that @oldnormal is having.

@Monty -, Seriously mate, you know the rules. Why the sudden incredulity?

@kurisupisu

it’s a terrible situation. My kids are crying everyday, my wife is upset. I have asked to go home by rental car and stay in quarantine at home but they absolutely refuse. We thought we were only going to stay here 3 days. We aren’t even sick.

Entering the country was also a nightmare. We came in close contact with hundreds of part time government staff. There were about 20 check points. Piles of documents. The worst part was a room where everyone was spitting in tubes and there were trash cans everywhere with the funnels people used to spit in the tubes. Absolutely disgusting.

this is not about controlling the virus, it’s just pure propaganda from Kishida.

the majority of positives at the airport have no symptoms, which makes me questions the validity of their pcr test. The cycles must be very high as all people need a negative test to enter the country.

total nightmare.

OldNormalToday 07:35 am JST

I and my 3 children have been forced in a tiny hotel room because of 3 positive pcr test with no symptoms. We were told we must stay here for 10 days or until we can all have 2 negative test in two consecutive days starting after the 6th day.

on the third day they required my negative ten year old to take a pcr test. A woman in full hazmat suit came to our door and woke us up to tell us he is positive (again no symptoms). We will now have to stay for 10 days starting the clock again.

this is hell. Japan has lost the plot and we are being punished for it. After this is over, I will make plans to sell my house and move back to America. There are no human rights here and they treat foreigners and healthy children like lepers.

my children want to see their mother and they need to get out and move around. We are at our wits end. They said if we leave without authorization I will be imprisoned for 6 months.

Sorry to hear but you chose to travel and take your kids on a trip when this could always happen. For the most we are quite lucky to live here when the rest of the world has been in an extreme lock down.

@old normal

Are your kids vaccinated? I am in the same situation with my unvaccinated 6years old daughter. Staff told us that we have to stay here until she get two negative results in a row. There is no time limit for this so you could stay longer in there.

@oldnormal

So if your spouse or children are not RE-entering, they will be refused to even board an aircraft going to Japan

So you mean if they come to Japan for the first time, right?

But then the departure in the origin country is already denied.

Ok, thanks, to clarify that.

@OldNormal

It is not the best situation with three young ones in a small cramped hotel room.

Don't get too downbeat about it though.

"...until AT LEAST the end of February"

missing these key words implies borders reopen end of Feb. False.

Have to play it Safe. Hope it opens up after Feb, Have to fly back visit family in May, but no worries It is what it is, and its just being safe, if you dont like it...Then leave.

These entry restrictions have never been about COVID or public health, just politics and tribal BS pure and simple. The real tragedy is by continuing to pander to their inner fears the Japanese government is poisoning its own society far beyond COVID for years to come. They are scapegoating foreigners now (as has been the norm by Japanese politicians for centuries) but in the long term this will only make their own people more fearful, anxious and afraid far after COVID is a distant memory. What goes around comes around...

@monty

that information is correct. Only spouses and children RE-entering Japan may come in.

So if your spouse or children are not RE-entering, they will be refused to even board an aircraft going to Japan. It’s on the link you provided.

I’m currently in the quarantine hotel in Narita and I must say that this is exactly what I feel prison would feel like. The rooms are small and very dry. The beds are hard as a rock and difficult to sleep pain free. Thankfully the food is somewhat ok, but we are not allowed anything but the food and water provided. They tell us to use Amazon to order items that can be delivered but Amazon does not deliver to us. We have microphones in our rooms for them to make announcements. The GPS systems they install on our phones is a little invasive if you ask me especially with them forcing us to do video calls x times a day to prove we are where we are. The process from getting from Narita Airport to the hotel that is 4 minutes away took 8 hours totaling a 30+ hour travel day. Everyone on our flight tested negative upon entry to the country and everyone arriving lives in the country. I don’t see why we can’t quarantine in our own homes considering we are all vaccinated, we all have proof of negative results, and tested negative upon entry to the country. Again, feels like prison.

I and my 3 children have been forced in a tiny hotel room because of 3 positive pcr test with no symptoms. We were told we must stay here for 10 days or until we can all have 2 negative test in two consecutive days starting after the 6th day.

on the third day they required my negative ten year old to take a pcr test. A woman in full hazmat suit came to our door and woke us up to tell us he is positive (again no symptoms). We will now have to stay for 10 days starting the clock again.

this is hell. Japan has lost the plot and we are being punished for it. After this is over, I will make plans to sell my house and move back to America. There are no human rights here and they treat foreigners and healthy children like lepers.

my children want to see their mother and they need to get out and move around. We are at our wits end. They said if we leave without authorization I will be imprisoned for 6 months.

It is now time for Japan to open up for people that are vaccinated with third boost, tested before arrival and tested upon arrival. It is redicilous in the long run to lock out the world for those who follow the rules and vaccinates and have covid passport. Come on, rewards to those who follow all the rules. In the long run Japan will never avoid getting new cases of covid by not allowing entry, it is only porsponing and extending the problem. In my opinion.

R. T. 07:07 am JST

Most of the world has moved on, except Japan.

Exactly! How do we ever even consider taking off the mask with reactions like this? Eventually, Japanese residents will likely enjoy maskless functions once again on holidays outside Japan and perhaps return feeling more comfortable going maskless within Japan. But that will likely be years later, particularly at this pace.

Wonder when Japan will embrace science?

Sad that Japan would prioritize xenophobic behavior over actual statistics and science about Omicron

I am confused!

Isn't the science and statistics telling us nonstop how dangerous Covid is and that we should not underestimate Omicron?

Or is the science and statistics telling us we should open the borders, let anyone in and let Covid (Delta, Omigron...) spread freely among the population?

This is idiotic. The purpose of the border closure was to buy Japan some time to prepare for the inevitable arrival of Omicron. Now that it is here and spreading rapidly around the country, what is the point of maintaining these strictly closed borders?

Other than political theater I mean.

Japan gov had been lying about Covid cases in no way would cases multiply like this overnight

Just want to say thanks to all who corrected this bad article and who were touched by my angry post enough to care and to answer it.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart

@Aly

Even entry of spouses and children of Japanese nationals or permanent residents in Japan is denied

This information here on JT is not correct.

Read this,

https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001053.html

Aly RustomToday 06:46 am JST

Even entry of spouses and children of Japanese nationals or permanent residents in Japan is denied unless they are in "special exceptional circumstances."

"special exceptional circumstances"???? How about My spouse and kids are Japanese?? Shouldn't that be considered "special exceptional circumstances"??

Sick racist crup like this from the J gov is exactly why we want to immigrate to Canada and leave this rotting nation behind

Agree the wording is horrible. I just hope that when I do immigrate from the US, my adult kids are allowed in, as they have a Japanese parent.

Wonder when Japan will embrace science? Never I guess. So much easier to be xenophobic.

@Aly

Apart from the repressive quarantine, it is possible for spouses to come and go.

.. Sorry, 'I' think you want to emigrate. Certainly not 'immigrate'

@aly rustom. It's just bad report again as usual. Resident card holders with those statues can come and go currently exactly the same as a Japanese citizen unless coming from one of the designated countries in southern Africa. I just came in yesterday as a permanent resident and it's a a non issue, well other than the endless waiting for PCR results and hotel assignments.

The surge of Omicron is different to Delta’s last year at the same time for a couple reasons to me.

Since we have seen the last mutation and then its wave, we anticipate this one and its also a much less potent variant.

While people should be checked on re entry and perhaps quarantined, since Omicron is already out and we do not have any restrictions or lockdowns, logically in 2 weeks time we should be in the midst of it here.

Nothing has changed. @Aly, nothing would affect you leaving and returning as you are already resident. And if think you want to 'emigrate'.

Even entry of spouses and children of Japanese nationals or permanent residents in Japan is denied unless they are in "special exceptional circumstances."

"special exceptional circumstances"???? How about My spouse and kids are Japanese?? Shouldn't that be considered "special exceptional circumstances"??

Sick racist crup like this from the J gov is exactly why we want to immigrate to Canada and leave this rotting nation behind