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We don't have any politicization here. It is not being viewed through the lens of freedom or individual rights.

6 Comments

Prof Kenji Shibuya, research director at the Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research, saying one key difference with America and Europe is that vaccines have not become political in Japan.

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Saying there isn't "any" is a strong statement, but I agree that it is much less an issue here. I suppose a perk of having essentially a one-party system is that there is no reason to create that kind of political divide for a "their team vs my team" mentality. The downside being that one-party happens to be the LDP.

There are still groups of anti-mask and anti-vaccine folks floating around, and we have even got them in my office on occasion.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Freedom and individual rights are not political. Yes, this virus has unfortunately become political, but rights are universal.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

thats because Japanese are largely apathetic about most things, or at least might complain a bit, but won't do much else about something.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

I don't think it is, I think the opposite. Vaccines are politicized here too, although not as ostentatiously as in Europe, for example. However, even so, in a rather unique way here - remember "Vaccine Czar". The second difference is that when it comes to a difficult situation, the government often hands it off with the excuse that it is not possible under the constitution.... .... and then pass it on to the prefectural authorities.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

No-one used the stupid words 'mandate' or 'lockdown' here, and there was a refreshing belief in the ordinary 'common sense' of the people.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

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