kyotoamigo comments

Just finished 2 weeks in the UK and the difference between the UK and Japan is huge. In the UK Covid is now regarded as endemic rather than an epidemic, so just part of life, like the common cold. I got Covid whilst I was in the UK and it was milder than a cold - no fever or cough, just a bit sneezy and a croaky throat for a couple of days. I am now in Thailand where I failed a PCR test so can’t fly back to Japan. No idea where I will be allowed to go home. Apparently you can fail a PCR test weeks, even months after having Covid….

TrevorPeace , this is about Japan, not BC…. 

As a skier in Japan, I can unequivocally say that the reason for the drop in numbers in Japan is NOT the cost. 

Passes are way cheaper than in North America. 

With various discounts on offer, I very rarely pay more than 5000 yen ($45) and often pay half that. 

The main reason for the drop is the rise in snowboarders, and sadly this article does not give stats on that. Snowboarding is vastly more popular among the young here in Japan. Another big reason is surely the drop in the number of people of winter-sporting age in Japan, perhaps 30% in the last 30 years, due to the ageing population.

Surprise, surprise... Total nonsense to give an end date to the SoE in the first place when we all know it is going to be extended

"Children aged up to 2 accounted for 2.65 million" - this is a misleading translation by Kyodo : it includes 2-year-olds so should be "children aged under 3"

"The flights will serve the increasing needs of passengers wishing to work, study and stay in Japan." ummmm.... if you are not already resident you can't come in....

Actually not the second time for Asahi to produce Fujisan beer - it was their premium beer for many years but was discontinued about 15 years ago. Why they stopped making it I cannot imagine, as it was much better than regular Asahi - I used to buy it regularly then change to Ebisu