The government has been one step behind on everything, and people have been forced to run around in confusion. It’s such a waste of taxpayers’ money.

I think every country is one step behind on this issue. As stated in another post my flight back from Tohoku last weekend was 100% full and nearly everyone was on a holiday. It was defintely uncomfortable.

It is obvious this program should be suspended (not cancelled) for all of Japan right now. The concept is something I would agree with as it helps alot of small businesses.

Yes it is a hard balance but right now the acceleration of the rate of infections is dramatic. I think another State of Emergency as was done this spring is needed. It had a definitive, measurable, and tangible impact without stepping over the line on individual freedoms. It would require a bit of support for the smaller businesses and now is probably the time to bite the bullet again.

Imagine if the Abe no masks were never made. There would be alot of funds available to support the small businesses for another SOE.

The government has been one step behind on everything, and people have been forced to run around in confusion.

Quit your whinging. It's not like Covid hasn't submitted a plan to anyone.

Government one step behind? Imagine my shock!

(Shocked Pikachu face)

Guy tries and fails to get a subsidized holiday. He then claims such subsidies are "waste of taxpayers' money".

I think most people nowadays are just spoilt rotten. Whoever took holidays in the old days? People then survived without holidays. There are other things to do while we're waiting for the pandemic to disappear. Try meditating or zooming relatives. One year without flying to another part of the country for non-urgent matters isn't going to hurt.

I'd like to see an in prefecture style "go travel" campaign. If you live in the same prefecture you get a hefty discount. Inter prefectural travelers pay the standard rates.

This way the govt supports localized tourism while discouraging long distance travel and possible spreading of the v.

The government has been one step behind on everything, and people have been forced to run around in confusion. It’s such a waste of taxpayers’ money.

Very true, but this predates Covid

Just been on a work trip to Nagano and to see the amount of people queuing up even at service areas to use their 1000 yen GoTo vouchers you can see why this was a much needed cash injection to many struggling businesses. It’s easy to do nothing , sit back and criticize but you can’t really blame the govt. for being a bit proactive in trying to help people’s livelihoods. Desperate times called for desperate measure and this last months window opening before the 3rd wave will keep many small businesses with food on their table through what may be a difficult winter. talk to those that have experienced three and four month shutdowns overseas and ask about the mood on the ground, not even being allowed to operate, to save their businesses.

How much it will have spread up the third wave remains to be seen , but it was a gamble that they took. Peoples lives and livelihoods are the same thing at the end of the day.

No one should be travelling within Japan for New Year. My MIL didn’t want my SIL and her husband travelling from Tokyo to visit during Obon because she is very vulnerable to the virus, but they came anyway. The risk is going to be much higher at New Year. Expect a surge late January, which will be blamed on everyone and everything except mass travel to enable people to huddle indoors.

 confusion among travelers hoping to benefit from the tourism-promotion program.

Never, ever, depend on the government giving you other people's money.

Everyone is still free to travel, but you simply have to pay your own way instead of having some poor taxpayer wear some of the cost for you.

you can’t really blame the govt. for being a bit proactive in trying to help people’s livelihoods

Yes, I agree with the sentiment. But I disagree with the policy implementation / approach.

Industry specific subsidy programs are no good, in my mind.

We must ask, why, always like this???.

Quit your whinging. It's not like Covid hasn't submitted a plan to anyone.

The thing is that it doesn't have to, a whole field of science is dedicated to predict how epidemics will develop, and it was terribly obvious from months ago that as soon as temperatures drop cases would quickly increase, fomenting population movement at this moment was obviously going to make the cases rise even more (and in more diverse places).

Acting all surprised and confused as if nobody could have predicted this (and what comes next) is not justified.

On the contrary, I think the Jgovt is doing well on this regard. We were allowed to buy premium cards for ¥20,000 whose value is 25% more. And the city hall just issued another set this month. Though I didn't received food packs, I understand early on some got one. Compare to my home country who're on no work no pay, I did receive more than 10 man for several months even without working aside from the 3man govt dole out. Yes, the Jgovt did and is doing well.