Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga stands in front of the mascots for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games Photo: AP pool/file
politics

60% dissatisfied with Japan's COVID vaccine rollout; 44% approval rating for Suga cabinet: poll

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36% of people are not paying attention.

I thought Suga would be an uncharismatic technocrat.

He’s actually an uncharismatic, buffoon.

34 ( +37 / -3 )

Out of the 4.8 million health care workers, those who had received at least one vaccine dose represented about 0.87 percent of the population as of Saturday, while the rate surpasses 10 percent in each of the other Group of Seven countries,

0.87%? What they've been doing these past months?

17 ( +17 / -0 )

The longer they leave the vaccine rollout the longer it will be before they see any foreign tourism money. Who from a developed vaccinated country would want to come here, too risky.

12 ( +16 / -4 )

44% approval rate?

Must be for locking in the country to foreigners and to promote an extremely nationalist propaganda that most old ojisan love to hear.

Can’t find any other reason for it to be so high considering the current situation.

18 ( +20 / -2 )

Those 2 sat behind him are widely known to be the most competent members of the government and enjoy personal approval ratings higher than Suga himself.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

That's ironic. I thought the whole take it slow approach was to ease Japanese people's minds.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

There is not enough doses received, so if the rollout was fast, the vaccination would stop on the way to only rise more complains. Better to be a bit late and run smoothly the program.

-14 ( +2 / -16 )

Perhaps the number of dissatisfied would be higher?

- “The survey, covering 656 randomly selected households with eligible voters and 1,185 mobile phone numbers, yielded responses from 508 and 507 people, respectively.” -

Looks like more people responded from household phones and, less than half to mobile phone solicitations for responses.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

The japanese vaccine rollout is both a disgrace and a national embarrassment.

But will anything ever change

15 ( +18 / -3 )

60% dissatisfied with Japan's COVID vaccine rollout; 44% approval rating for Suga cabinet: poll

That's it?? I would have expected it to be higher levels of dissatisfaction and lower approval ratings. I mean, Suga makes Abe look almost GOOD.

Perhaps the number of dissatisfied would be higher?

- “The survey, covering 656 randomly selected households with eligible voters and 1,185 mobile phone numbers, yielded responses from 508 and 507 people, respectively.” -

Looks like more people responded from household phones and, less than half to mobile phone solicitations for responses.

Excellent point!

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Buddy, you had a year to get ready. This delay is inexcusable.

14 ( +16 / -2 )

I love the way they always say that Japan has started to vaccinate 35 million people over the age of 65, making it sound like it will be over and done with in a few days. When in fact we know that even that group, that I still don't understand why they are being prioritized, will take until far into the summer or perhaps fall months! As for the rest of us, I doubt if we will receive anything by Christmas.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

One important, related stat that is missing: 38% of the Japanese population does not want to get the vaccine.

Asked to rate how willing they would be to receive COVID-19 vaccines once available to the public, the proportion of those who replied "very likely" or "somewhat likely" was 62.1%.

So a successful rollout was never going to happen regardless of when vaccinations started.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Only 60% dissatisfied? That's impossible.

Propaganda works wonders. If many of the respondents keep hearing the mantra about superior Japanese hygiene, the government portrayed in a positive light and reports about how high the numbers are in most of gaikoku, then this is the result.

Actually, 60% isn't that bad considering how much nonsense from the government the public usually puts up with and that it's not really on to complain about politics to strangers in this society. Also, wording is key in surveys.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

are 44% of the people polled asleep at the wheel or something? how can they approve of the current administration in light of how they are handling the SOE and the vaccine roll out. smgdfh...

9 ( +10 / -1 )

From the poll that we took ourselves, 89% are dissatisfied with Japan's COVID vaccine rollout.

I am not sure why the numbers just do not match.

"60% dissatisfied with Japan's COVID vaccine rollout"

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Talk about sheer incompetence. You would expect Japan to open up the chequebook paying millions of doses and also mobilize stadiums/arenas as mass vaccination centers. Mobilize the JGSDF for better logistics in remote areas if necessary. What is so difficult to get done here?

Unacceptable, I swear.

One important, related stat that is missing: 38% of the Japanese population does not want to get the vaccine

Does that really matter? You shouldn't exclude what the majority chunk of the population wishes because of those anti-vaxxers and vaccine skeptics.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

36.5% of Japanese people polled said they were happy with Japan being ranked alongside Zimbabwe in terms of vaccination coverage?

What would it take for these people to be dissatisfied? Me moving in next door, probably.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Only 60% dissatisfied?

That is a disappointingly low number! This says more about the public than the incompetent leaders!

It is also frustrating for foreigners living here too! Most of my family and friends back home are either fully vaccinated or have already received their first shot. If I could work from home the next 2-3 months then I could make a run home, get vaccinated, and make it back in time for the Olympics!

1 ( +4 / -3 )

A good page about the world vaccination status

https://vdata.nikkei.com/en/newsgraphics/coronavirus-vaccine-status/

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

How is it possible for even 1% to be satisfied with this rollout. Only 20% of the first stage, medical workers have received their first shot. Second stage started with a few thousand shots for the 35,000,000 elderly. Will these two stages even be completed this year.

Meanwhile in the next election the LDP will comfortably win the next election probably with a new front man as PM to be seen as making change an appeasing the population

3 ( +5 / -2 )

"Can’t find any other reason for it to be so high considering the current situation."

Really? I can. From Today JT:

Europe passes milestone of 1 million coronavirus deaths;

Japan's 9345

Maybe that has something to do with it???

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

Confusing, muddled and way-too-slow. Digging around to find figures on the progress of the inoculations."

Maybe you should look at the number of coivd deaths. Some don't wont to look at those numbers. I wonder why. Here is some news.

Europe passes milestone of 1 million coronavirus deaths;

In today's Japan today. Funny that you missed that story. LOL.

Back to you

-10 ( +3 / -13 )

Really?

-“I could make a run home, get vaccinated, and make it back in time for the Olympics!”-

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

That’s scary. 44% of respondents would go along with 1 + 1 = 3 if told so. Potentially dangerous.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Suga seems being already a lame duck. The House of Representatives would be dissolved after summer. Suga will not be a Prime Minister again.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Numan wrote:

-“I could make a run home, get vaccinated, and make it back in time for the Olympics!”-

Snowmountainhell wrote:

Really?

Yep!

0 ( +2 / -2 )

While the number of people they asked is very low, I'm more shocked that more than 1/3rd of them feel satisfied with the what the government is doing. Doing nothing is satisfying I guess?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

@Michael Machida

Trusting but verifying, you got any literature we can read?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@HimariYamada

Really? I can. From Today JT:

Europe passes milestone of 1 million coronavirus deaths;

Japan's 9345

Maybe that has something to do with it???

This something is called fudging the numbers!

No government outside of Japan trust J-gov statistics including many of the J-population. That is why researchers are not turning to Japan valuable statistical data, nor are countries no longer allowing easy entry of Japanese travelers into their countries.

Maybe that has something to do with it???

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Doing nothing is satisfying I guess?

I was told this expression last week. "This is Japan", so yes!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

They should put politicians last on the list to get the jab.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

With a guy like Aso in charge of vaccination sourcing and distribution what did you expect? Unfortunately blaming the PM isn’t going to help either, nor a return to the revolving door PM nonsense of the past. The entire bureaucracy is systematically unable to deal with the curve balls of the modern day. Leadership is next to non existent, patriarchal approaches to governing means that the vitally important ability to communicate complex challenges with the populace just hasn’t happen. A state of ill suspended animation at a time when action is needed is happening. Getting out and about in the small window we had during Hanami and speaking with some of the locals from a variety of age groups and demographics just confirmed this too.

Japan 2.0 is gunna hurt by the looks. It’s all on show.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

How can we put a positive on this?

Well, seems that 40% of the population of Japan are very forgiving!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Countries seem to be dragging their feet with the exception of a few, come on get a move on with the vaccinations....entire billion dollar industries are going to fall over soon if not already....

0 ( +0 / -0 )

So 40 percent of old people in Japan are smart enough to not put that junk in their body. That's goodness.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

Have those mascots got their shot yet?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

@HimariYamada

Japan's 9345

That's 9,345 too many.

Are you satisfied that Japan is moving at a snails pace to prevent more people from dying?

Seriously?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

@Ascissor

Have those mascots got their shot yet?

Since they're related to the Olympics, probably.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

The article has omitted info about support rate for each political party.

2021/4/12共同通信NHK世論調査政党支持率(%)

自民党:42.6(+4.3)

立憲民主党:9.6(+2.2)

国民民主党:0.6(-1.2)

公明党:4.8(+1.1)

共産党:3.5(+0.3)

維新:4.4(-0.1)

社民党:0.7(-0.1)

れ新:1.0(-1.0)

N国:0.2(-0.4)

無党派:28.7(-6.9)

The ruling LDP stands still despite criticism over the corona policy and other scandals. The trend is also observed in other surveys published recently.

A big problem for Japan's politics at national levels is that (people believe) there is virtually no viable alternatives who can keep in check or threaten the LDP-led ruling government. "Who should be next PM?" question is often answered with some big names yet within the LDP (e.g. Taro Kono).

3 ( +3 / -0 )

LDP just doesn’t care. Japan is an autocracy

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Really?

-“I could make a run home, get vaccinated, and make it back in time for the Olympics!”-

I don't know where he is from but I already looked into it in my case.

I could get a Covid test this week ( I have a certified paid testing lab) get the results in 24 hours get on a plane the next day, fly to my country, do the mandatory hotel quarantine 2 weeks get my first Vaccine the same day my quarantine ends because those over 50 can now get vaccinated without appointment.

I can get my second dose two weeks later, book a flight back to Japan get a Covid test with results again 24 hours get my negative certificate get on a plane back to Japan.

That would take a total of 7 to 10 week at the most.

So yeah back before the Olympics.

Now why I don't, because it serves no purpose of I cannot also bring my wife which my country will not permit or vaccinate.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Hahaha!! No one trusts Japanese data and bureaucratic professionalism.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Considering the aversion Japanese have toward speaking out against authority figures, company executives, etc. I would put the real figures at 95% dissatisfied, maybe higher than that. I would be very interested in knowing the reasons behind the choice of those in the 44% group. I guess it's a government direction: delay the roll out and see how the vaccine can affect individuals in other countries, in doing so avoiding a backlash from the public were to be some serious cases, even few, of side effects. Most Japanese are terrified of a drug that has been developed, manufactured and tested outside their land, it's that innate distrust of 'the foreign element', even when the indigenous alternative is non existent. Japanese pharmaceutical companies have been unable to put a vaccine on the market yet.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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