rowiko68 comments

Obviously trying to save his own neck by deferring responsibility to the IOC. Unless the infection rate miraculously goes down dramatically just in the nick of time, and the Games become a resounding success, in which case Suga will make sure he gets the credit for it. But by clearly distancing himself from any responsibility for the decision at this point, he kind of signals that he doesn't believe that this is a very likely scenario...

Poignant detail: The article mentions that the Antwerp Games were held 'in the AFTERMATH of World War One and the Spanish flu', i.e. the Spanish flu had been over for 4 months when the Games were held. Hardly what can be said about the current situation, with Covid still raging around the world, and with less than 100 days to go till the start of the Games. Maybe this gives us a clue why the Tokyo Olympics cannot be compared to 1920...

It's not a matter of "if", but a matter of "when" the adamant denial will come... Watch this space...

And how exactly do "quasi-emergency" measures differ from a proper state of emergency? Same difference...

What surprises me the most is that, after more than year of this, those in charge still seem to be 'surprised' about the effects of their action - or lack of it, as the case may be. Apparently nothing has been learnt throughout all this.

So let's continue to impose as few restrictions as we can get away with, so as not to affect the economy too much, infringe on people's freedom of movement or endanger the Olympics, to at least bring the numbers down a bit to show that 'everything is under control'. Then when numbers do come down, let's open up again as quickly as possible. Until numbers spike again - inevitably. It's like a yo-yo that will go up and down forever - or at least until they get their act together and get those vaccines into people's arms, and fast. It's the only way out of this pandemic.

@Goodlucktoyou, I do hope you're not being serious!

I think it's not only the health experts that are unconvinced, but 80% of the population. So let's just say the vast majority of people, with the notable exception of the local Government, JOC officials, Mr. Bach himself, and athletes that are eager to compete for a medal despite the risks and the prospect of Olympic Games that will defy the spirit that the Games should be all about, bringing people and cultures together and having a good time while enjoying world class sport.

If this is the future of human interaction and the solution to isolation and loneliness, then I'm seriously worried...

And the quote of the CEO of the company manufacturing these 'humanised robots', saying that 'many Japanese people accept the idea that every object has a soul', has me utterly baffled, I must say.

"Dozing on and off for 15 minutes"... Don't the trains have control systems in place, rather than relying on passengers reporting it?

@yoshisan88

’Silver week’ is a relatively new term applying to a string of public holidays in September, which gained popularity in 2009, when - unusually - there were 3 consecutive public holidays. Since then it seems the term has stuck.

No Bronze or Iron as yet, as far as I’m aware ;)

Surprise, surprise...

@Luddite Most likely the rules will not apply. The Olympics are ‘too important’ to bother Bach with such ‘petty rules’, I’m sure...

I was thinking the same, @Luddite!

How can they possibly deport a legal resident for testing positive, with the person posing a risk to the rest of the passengers on the flight (assuming the airline would even accept the person)? And what would happen at the other end? Would they even be allowed entry?

I have visions of people being stuck in transit for the foreseeable future (or until they recover and eventually test negative).

As long as travellers test negative, this is indeed good news and well overdue. But what if they test positive?

Sending them back and denying them treatment in Japan is utterly unacceptable on so many levels!

While this new ordinance seems like a big improvement on the surface, I do have some serious concerns.

Apparently it stipulates that doorways must be at least 80 cm and bathroom doors at least 70 cm wide. OK, great, but I'm thinking: Is that it?

In my books, a wide enough entrace doesn't make a wheelchair-accessable room. What about a roll-in shower, a bathroom sink that one can roll under in a wheelchair, a mirror that can be tilted, or extended door handles that can actually be reached by a wheelchair user? What about all the hotel facilities? Will they be accessible?

It doesn't say in the article, so I can't be sure whether those features are required by the new ordinance, or whether it's just a matter of widening a few doorframes here and there.

And when I read that the aim seems to be to create "a large number of rooms that cater to a variety of customer needs", rather than to offer a certain number of rooms that would meet the specific needs of independently travelling wheelchair users, it makes me feel suspicious.

Even more so when I read that "the newly available rooms will not be for the exclusive use of the disabled, the elderly and others who need them".

It seems to me that the end product will be a large number of rooms that on the surface can be sold as "barrier-free", but won't be accessible enough for wheelchair users who travel independently, and which may be occupied by other guests during peak times anyway, meaning that those who really need accessible rooms may still end up with nowhere to stay.

This is absolutely sickening. Clearly too young and irresponsible to have a baby in the first place. And how exactly were they planning to raise her anyway? With his unemployment cheque? So many things wrong here.

Well said, Disillusioned!

If this were to set a precedent, then we'd soon see dozens of different maps popping up across the United States alone, depending on the origin of the largest ethnic minority in any given state.

I find this fuss over a name simply ludicrous.

An interesting ruling to watch out for!

Although I certainly don't condone the activities of Greenpeace activists, I think that today's times make it no longer justifiable to hunt those sea mammals, be it for scientific purposes or otherwise. So I believe this ruling is certainly going to be a significant one, and my hunch is that it's not going to be in favour of Japan

I may be no Einstein, but if "Eastern Japan, including the most densely populated Tokyo area, will have a 40% chance of average temperatures", how exactly does the writer reach the conclusion that Japan "will see an average summer" this year? In my books, the chances of a "non-average" summer would be bigger....

What I also would have liked to know is the effect of the anticipated El Nino on the Japanese weather.

;)

I wonder if it's really safe to return, or just a measure to reduce the number of displaced people to make the statistics look a bit better...

Absolutely despicable and very worrying indeed.

OK, let's see: Switzerland's economy has been prospering and its unemployment rate is by far the lowest in Europe. Crime rate is low. There is a shortage of labour for high-skilled jobs, but that can be met by foreign workers. I don't think the Swiss have much to complain about. Yet the arguments put forward by the supporters is that the country is 'overrun by foreign workers who overcrowd trains and roads, take away their jobs and drain social security coffers'.

Now consider this: The largest proportions of foreigners live in the big urban areas like Zurich and Basel. Isn't it interesting then, that those who are most exposed to foreigners voted against this, realising that foreigners are actually part of the Swiss success story?

I find this whole xenophobia really sad, and I'm sure that this result will have negative implications for the country.

As a Swiss citizen (who considers himself a 'global citizen'), and who has lived abroad for many years, I'm shocked and disappointed.

@Deplore: Not sure about Japan being so 'peaceful' anymore, not with the recent rethoric aimed at neighbouring nations and the substantially increased spending on weaponry... On Iceland I could agree, though. ;)

@Novenachama, You make it sound as if English were by far the most difficult of ANY language to learn, which is simply not true! Quite an impressive list of obstacles you've got there, but if you only focus on those, you will never be able to learn a language - or anything else for that matter.

Talking complete hogwash, as usual. If certain politicians talk so much nonsense that other constantly need to clean up after them, clarifying what they meant or didn't mean, then perhaps they shouldn't speak at all.

Nobody going to buy THAT now, huh?!

Good on them! This story made me feel warm around my heart.

“it would be rude to refuse when (the money was) offered”.

Awww, I almost feel sorry for him...

But even if it were true that he was offered the money without asking for it himself first (and media report clearly suggest otherwise), what happened to a polite, but clear "NO"???

I have to agree with nikkeiboy there. The article specifically states that the survey was done on 'black companies'. So to say that 80% of them are involved in illegal practices doesn't make sense, as it's companies doing illegal practices that make it onto the list of 'black companies' in the first place. Confusing indeed.

I could truly think of better ways to spend all that money. Sad indeed!

Not that I'm surprised. And if not even corporate spending can maintain the momentum, what will happen to consumer spending come April 1? At the end of the day the Government will be even deeper in debt, the economy roughly where it was before, and all of us have less money in our pocket.