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© 2020 AFPAbe's two-mask pledge met online with derision and humor
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© 2020 AFP
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Tom
Abe is sleeping with his granny mask and Aso is trying to figure out how to wear it a he blatantly grabs the front where the nostrils and mouth are. Fools.
Tom
I like to count things. When doing my 17,000 steps a day, I have notice that 17% of people do not wear masks. I am one of them. Was never able to buy any and refused to stand in lines with hundreds of other to get them.
So my conclusion is that with enough people wearing them, those of us that could not get them due to hoarding are pretty safe because most are wearing them.
Ani
2 reusable cloth masks per household will solve all the problems. Just the kind of "stimulus package" the country needs. The wagyu coupon will be the clincher though. Oh Japan...........
quercetum
Stop spreading rumors. Your numbers are way off.
Mr Kipling
40 billion yen! For something that will have zero benefit except making a few silly people “feel” safer.
Please...... Waste my portion on something else, anything else!
spinningplates
This Government is infuriating.
I wonder how many swab test units (Thailand) 40 billion yen could make?
Jimizo
Looks like nobody told Taro it isn’t a blindfold.
kurisupisu
Aso:Is this thing up or down?
I can’t see a thing....
Abe:Zzzzzz...
macv
testament that Japanese are two-faced as in 本音建前 honne and tatamae
bass4funk
I was told, Japanese politicians never sleep during their sessions and the reason why they close their eyes is because they contemplate and listen deeply to what the other politicians are saying. It’s a form of respect. Reminds me of the longer intestine thingy.....
Bjorn Tomention
Two circus clowns in action ? Or are they both baffoons, either way they have no clue, if it wasnt such a serious matter this whole thing and performance would be hilarious !
Utter disgraceful right from the very start and they show so much contempt for everyone continuously !
Alfie Noakes
Shouldn't Aso have a lickspittle to put that on for him? Or are they all still too busy shredding documents?
viking68
Since many people with the virus are asymptomatic, the widespread use of makes may be the only reason why Japan has not been hit harder. HK and Taiwan adopted a similar custom after SARS, and their rates of infection are lower than expected.
The US CDC was pitching not using masks so that horders wouldn't keep masks from medical professionals. Hard to understand the logic, and people balked. If masks are good for medical professionals, then why wouldn't the be good for everyday people. The US CDC has since reversed this advice given the problems with asymptomatic cases spreading the virus.
Slickdrifter
The leadership in this country has not a clue whats coming.
https://www.fukuoka-now.com/en/news/27-more-covid-19-cases-in-fukuoka-governor-calls-for-restraint-on-weekends/?fbclid=IwAR1Pqhr7jNhD9HmZq6iHasvwwQ60j6pFu5gVCjoSdqIcyfrqRL7HDZRF8so
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/fukuoka-news/20200401/5010007373.html
In the meantime in my area. (above links)
Business as usual. As I watch people come and going in out of the my shop with no masks on.
Someone show Aso how to use the mask. The mask Abe has on is for kids right?
Bjorn Tomention
Didnt we read the other day that him and Aso would not attend the same meetings but the this shows them both sitting together wearing masks
jeancolmar
No thank you, masked man?
bo
Lol, ¥200 a pop, is that including his cut?
wasao
Could these politicians at least keep their eyes open as they discuss our fates? I don't give up a huge chunk of my pay each year to fund these old dudes' nap time.
techall
Well, what do you expect from a bunch of two-faced politicians?
Horrigan
After having lived outside Japan for a few years now, it really gives perspective how hilariously weird it is that inemuri is acceptable in the Diet. Truly mind boggling considering how insulting that is to the average citizen, and no one gives a damn.
Cricky
Suga defended the program, saying it would also help ease demand for surgical masks.
Sooooo two masks a household is going to help how? The LDP leadership have the common sence of a 4yo. And what happened to the urge, pledge to up the supply. Having the political heavyweights wearing child size masks not really filling me with any form of confidence. But they don't care, why should I.
Spitfire
Absolute joke of a leadership.
However,when they sneak in the snap election just before next year's Olympics they will be voted in yet again.
natsu823
Impossible, it doesn't cost that much to make.
Somebody is making a killing, probably some friend of theirs.
yoshisan88
Someone please tell Mr Taro Aso you should not touch your mask unless you have washed or sanitized your hands.
Do the hustle
Oh, Japan is such a rich country! Australia gave everybody $750 income support. The UK is paying 80% of salaries in a subsidy. Japan gave 60% of the population two face masks worth a couple of bucks at most. He should have done this yesterday on April fool’s day.
commanteer
It's not up to you. Remember, the common people are there to serve them. They are not there to serve us. Isn't it enough that they show up to this charade? You expect them to stay awake during it, too? Be grateful for your servitude. These guys are superior to us by birthright. Be thankful that they kindly share your money with their friends as well. If you work hard enough, the might let you in that inner circle. Unless you are a gaijin - then even that is out.
Of course. It is their moral duty as out superiors to fleece the peasants.
Yes, we are if we accept our fate as livestock to serve those who were born to a life of comfort.
Badge213
Geeze this guy again.
rainyday
PM asleep at the wheel. Deputy PM has accidentally covered his entire face in his mask and is having trouble extricating himself from that predicament.
Oh crap oh crap these guys are in charge of the country, oh crap oh crap.
SJ
A surprising fact is that it is not surprising at all.
Gorramcowboy
Two of the most loathsome people in Japan. Can't stand neither with a passion.
Why is it that every time there's a picture of the Diet in session we can always see several of them sleeping? Seriously, is this what our tax dollars pay for?? Infuriating to say the least.
gaijintraveller
Were the diet members all told to wear masks so that news photographers could not get pictures of them laughing at Abe?
TigersTokyoDome
Aso's suave suit in the pic cost enough to pay the nations wages until December..
dagon
I usually do not comment on other people's comments. But @ commanteer had me grimly smiling at the painfully on target dripping sarcasm.
Serrano
This photo is priceless.
Dee
200 yen a mask? If they bought 50 million masks, there is no way they would costs 200 yen a piece. What company is making these masks, so I can buy some of their stock?
gogogo
It's obvious the cloth masks where made for children, perhaps after the nuclear accident, stockpiled and now useless.
secretsquirrel
No no Aso San, use the black mask over the eyes for in flight sleeping !
Flute
Will point and laugh manage to save some money by at least making them drop the send to each household and instead having these send to school ? I am not dreaming of them cancelling the whole order.
Since school are to reopen, some will most likely request that kid have mask and some parent just do no have any so these will be welcome and this way teacher can teach kido to properly use and clean these.
They should be able to come with something like : "We were told than several people expressed they thankfulness but wanted for them to be given to people more in need." or anything they see fit.
Caliboy
Now that's quite a lot of Yen being wasted once again!
and if that masks save one grandmother or one healthcare worker. It would be worth every yen.
Rogn Energy
Playing with the life of the elder and so many Japanese. Have some respect for the people that milked you, changed your dippers, raised you, educated you... Just appalling how this politician just things of the numbers and statistics... forgetting the human side of the equation ... please keep the asyntomatic under the radar and start from the cluster outwards!!!
Caliboy
I wonder what the USA and Europe are doing to protect their health care workers? Wear garbage bags and beg Russia for help.
Siju George
It is too late and a better time to send two low-cost ventilators to each house, to make each home a small hospital. Two cotton masks programs only help in bribe.
u_s__reamer
Next week as the body count rises, I suppose Abe's cunning plan to defeat corona will be to up the ante: one hazmat suit for salarymen. It's time he got serious and closed down the country for a month. The Japanese could catch up on lost sleep and take a much-needed rest from their labors.
B. Jay
You see how wasteful people entrusted with your tax money can be? If he goes ahead with this, he must be charged with willfully causing financial loss to the state.
Squashballs
Photo above says it all.. leader of Japan asleep.. 2nd in charge displaying total lack of eye hand coordination. Both guilty of failing to perform at any level displaying leadership qualities at all.
Just today Australia announced yet more stimulus measures including free childcare for all Australians, easing the burden significantly and allowing parents who have been forced to stop working at least to look for something else or avoid their kids seeing their parents in distress.
Wake up Japan !!!....2 free masks per household. An absolute waste of taxpayer money and the confirming the stinginess of the people in charge of running this country.
Pathetic !
shogun36
Those are some tacky chairs.
Aso must have selected them while doing that face mask trick he's doing in the picture.
techall
The U.S. gives me $1,200 to spend and help the economy, Japan gives me two masks and pumps trillions to the zaibatsu.
kitts
As far as I'm concerned two cloth masks is better than no masks.
Flute
@Caliboy
That should be more effective than paper mask in reducing risk of contamination. After, the problem is breath-ability. Some specific design should be used. To be seen too if by submerging them in some special solution they can successfully sterilize them and potentially be more environment friendly.
Next week !? How long does it take to make them and train people to use them ?
More than 2 months already passed since the first cluster.
And the government bothered meeting a specialist in machine used worldwide to deal with the pandemic only Thursday : today ?
If you are trying to make Japan government look bad, you are doing a freaking good job. If not, ... well ... the weather was good today, isn't it ?
tamanegi
The UK had roughly the same number of coronavirus infections two weeks ago.
Today it's touching 50000 with over 500 dying in a single day yesterday.
Temporary morgues and intensive care only clinics are being established and testing is to be ramped up to 25000 a day.
The next 14 days will be critical. PM Bojo still has a mild case of coronavirus but is working his butt off to address the catastrophe the UK faces.
Meanwhile the Japanese PM is literally asleep at the wheel.
Dango bong
dumb and dumber
Dango bong
Really? Where is your source? I hears it was any American who files income tax with a social security number.
HenryK
Americans no matter where they live as long as they have an SS number will receive the stimulus.
smithinjapan
Aso: "Shinzo! Hey, I'm glad you decided to come to the meeting as my wake-up buddy despite us saying we'd separate, cause I can't figure out how to put this dastardly thing on. Shinzo! Help me out! The Kanji said put if over your face... I think. Where do you put the food?"
Abe: "Zzzzz...."
A true Japanese political meeting.
TheReds
I can get 2 masks for free? WOW! SANKYU SOOOO MUCHIE, ABENOMASKS!
Manybells
We will all be fine with a couple of cloth masks, afterall, no medical professionals with high grade masks and PPE have died from COVID19, have they?
CaptDingleheimer
Yikes.
Whenever a crisis hits Japan, it becomes very apparent that pretty much every night is Amateur Night down at Japan Inc. HQ in Tokyo.
Hunter James
Only 2 corona virus infection tests were conducted yesterday according to the data on Ministry of Health and Labor! Is it possible that only 2 people in the entire of Japan went to the clinics / hospitals with corona virus symptoms?
Hunter James
Maybe it’s an error on the website ... but if it’s true then definitely the health authorities are trying to hide the actual numbers again to keep the official count low!
runner3
I think Abe and Trump are one in the same. They both don't have a grip on reality. Abe should have factory's retooled to start not only masks, respirators and all the necessary PPE for health care workers because it's needed.
Abe should have people handing out masks to all the people around the stations like they hand out tissues.
ZENJI
I usually support Abe-san 110%. But on this occasion , No Way.
A massive waste of time and money.
Effectively this is trumpism. Trying to look positive, looking for votes, and like everything trump touches , it fails.
Abe-san, please back down on this one.
B.l. Sharma
Even though, there is world wide shortage availability of Masks , PM Abe has taken a bold decision to provide two reusable cloth face mask to every household in Japan to protect them from the onslaught of CORONA VIRUS in the country.
Nadège
JAPAN : NOT A PRIORITY FOR INTERNATIONAL MASK TRADE
°
To be more clear : you won't receive mask when others countries need them to save lives.
Abe do what i advised imediatly : make your own fabrics protection, they are enough if you don't have the virus or work in black virus zone. Buy a hand steamer machine to purified the fabrics, it is very efficient against the virus and all type of surfaces.
I repeat : Japan is not a priority to receive mask. It is expected to send its stocks to international trade for countries where more than a thousand people is dying every day. Japan won't receive mask according to OMC laws.
Be realist, even when you pay for it and need it, they are stolen on tarmac even by america paying triple price. At home, having a mask stock make you a target to black market dealers and thieves. The situation is a real drama.
Abe is an intelligent man and even wise. He show the example for a good reason. People are dying all over the world and the official dead numbers are not high enough.
Here, I want to worry you. Because a member of your family dying or not will depend on how you force them to protect themselves and how YOU will take care of them with fabric protect and steam cleaner.
Health care system can't handle the special corona virus care without YOU the family. Having the virus the less spread as possible is the only safe method not to have it, and to protect your economy from "lockdown".
So protect yourself, listen Abe, he is on the right track here.
°
NadAge
Graham DeShazo
We are led by buffoons because we elected (well, Japanese citizens elected) buffoons.
And what happened to the article where Abe claimed we were not at emergency stays yet? ITT seems to be gone.
Chip Star
Abe catching a few winks during this meeting and Aso fumbling with his mask says all we need to know about how serious they aren’t taking this issue.
Dango bong
Its like a manzai comedy team. When is Japan going to get actual leaders?
AramaTaihenNoYouDidnt
Aso...familiarize yourself with "read instructions before use" it might help!
since1981
The pictures says it all. It clearly shows how much he really cares about the people for Japan!
bass4funk
From the looks of it I’m just glad Abe and his cabinet are taking this pandemic so very seriously, now imagine if they were lazy and not being diligent about the severity and spreading of this virus.
ian
Yeah the pictures say it all. How easily people's minds can be toyed with.
If those masks reach every household then 2 members of each household will have a mask to use everyday.
Will it ease the desperate demand for masks?
Could it help to save people's lives?
Bruce Chatwin
With a testing rate of 274 tests per million people, Japan is in close to last place when it comes to testing for COVID-19. Thailand, Peru, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Ecuador, and Costa Rica are all testing at higher rates than Japan. None of the other G7 countries test at a lower rate than Japan.
In 2014, Professor Ikegaya of Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine wrote in the respected journal Nature: "Autopsies in Japan are performed on only 1.6% of all deaths, the lowest rate among developed countries. Cause of death is almost always determined by simple visual inspection, as it was 100 years ago."
No testing: no verified COVID-19 cases
No autopsies: no verified COVID-19 deaths
No data: no problem
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_testing
https://www.nature.com/articles/507306e
Two masks per household is a childish, nonsensical solution to this problem; given the politicians involved, it is not a surprise.
WilliB
Viking68:
You explained the logic right there in your first sentence. Do you really want a run on masks by hoarders, when supply is limited?