Vinke comments

Posted in: Daily tests, cardboard beds: 24 hours at Tokyo's Olympic Village See in context

I really don't understand the complaining and moaning about the cardboard beds? What should they be then? Heavy oak? Just to be discarded after the games? Then you would be complaining about "how dare you waste so much money and timber to something so temporary!#%!"

This solution is excellent in my books. It's actually very economical, ecological and practical. Believe it or not, cardboard actually makes excellent temporary furniture and other fixtures. See for example this: https://www.dezeen.com/2017/09/18/lahti-university-students-design-furniture-for-victims-of-displacement/

As the pieces can be assembled and disassembled quickly, without tools, surely it's also a safer option - with covid in mind- than having staff members drilling, screwing and packing and stacking for hours, that you'd need to do with e.g. wooden furniture?

@BitHed

OMG its just a cluster waiting to happen .. all they need is ONE positive in there and its like Army of the Dead .. Close the gates and lock 'em all in lol .. its just a cruise ship without the cruise .. or the ship ..

I've been to the village. It really is quite safe, and I'd feel much, much safer there than in any neighbourhood, supermarket, train, office or a shop anywhere else in Tokyo.

What is also not visible from the photos here (or mentioned in the article), there is actually a lot of greenery and outdoor places to chill and relax behind the apartment buildings, with direct views to the Rainbow bridge.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Posted in: Do you think the Tokyo Olympics will turn out to be a superspreader event for the coronavirus? See in context

The superspreading is happening in offices, schools, trains, shopping malls at restaurants, as we speak. I'd much rather be confined in the Olympic Village or any of the Olympic event locations, than in packed subway cars or trains during a normal weekday in Tokyo.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Posted in: Chinese athletes complain about lax virus measures at Tokyo Olympics hotel See in context

Albert

In another article it is written Japan is doing verything to have high measurements during Olympic games. But I partly agree with that Japan is not doing much. Official lock down has never exist and already 4th state of emergency. Even TV news is broadcasting that people go drinking outside without wearing mask and talk loutly.

Signs mention not more than an X amount of people inside are ignored, trains are full.

I agree. I think that in Japan, compared to other countries, there is genuinely a difference of interpretation or conception, of what really are 'sufficient' or 'high' measures against the virus. Based on what I've witnessed for nearly 2 years now (in addition to an endless amount of news articles, tv programs, etc), people & businesses here seem to genuinely think that what they're doing is "enough" to protect from the virus: sufficient physical distance is around 20cm here, wearing the same and the one mask on your face (or your chin) for the whole day is somehow acceptable, quickly rinsing your hands in mere water after going to the toilet is somehow enough, etc. People around me keep on nodding their heads and saying in a serious, solemn tone, that "we need to be cautious and follow thorough preventative measures" - right before gathering together, side by side, either for a face to face meeting (that could've happened online), or to eat lunch together, or to meet other moms with their maskless kids at a playground, etc.

I'm also shaking my head to all the comments bashing the Chinese athletes just because they happen to be Chinese. If you're American, and your government does something questionable (there are numerous examples of this), would it be ok to label all of you under the same umbrella, and say you're all at fault? That since you're American, you automatically represent everything that comes out from there, that you automatically have the same opinions and agenda as, e.g. your president? If your country does something wrong, are you not allowed to say comments that are of the opposite view point?

These athletes have nothing to do with any labs or any possible cover-ups. If they spot a breach in the safety measures, then they are most definitely allowed to voice it out, and I applaud them for doing so.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Posted in: Heat risks add to challenges for Tokyo's pandemic-hit Olympics See in context

HBJ

"Tokyo has been notorious for its stifling summer for years."

The caption is correct, yet it still baffles me how many people walk around in long sleeve shirts, and without sun hats mumbling that it’s hot.

I saw a guy in a full suit and tie walking along the main road through our city center at 12:30pm yesterday. It was registering 30C on my car temp gauge and there’s no shade along the road.

On Saturday I went to the supermarket at about 1pm and there was a group of old ladies weeding the parking area. Again it was 29C. Why would you do it at that time? Is it some kind of macho show of gaman? Is it punishment? Is it just idiocy?

Most other countries I can think of that suffer extreme heat in summer have developed their cultures to take into account the stifling heat. Cooler and more relaxed clothing, lighter coloured clothing, siestas, a change to the working day, education to wear sun hats and sun cream, education to keep hydrated, a common sense culture of keeping out of the heat in the middle of the day etc etc etc.

Wear yukata to go to work. Companies - develop yukata so it resembles a uniform with the company logo or something.

Supermarkets - ask the old ladies to stop doing manual labour in the middle of the day in summer.

Business people - wear more sensible clothing.

People - sun hats, and sun cream.

Come on!! It’s flipping common sense.

Yup. Add to this all kinds of schools (from kindergarten up to high schools), who force children & students to have their PE classes outdoors in the heat, right under the scorching sun. There have been several cases where kids have died at school because of heat exhaustion.

Where I'm from, outdoor PE classes are cancelled ( moved indoors) when the temperature goes below -20c. I don't understand why Japan doesn't implement the same, for example when the temperature goes above +27c or so.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Posted in: Not just COVID: Earthquakes, typhoons pose threat at Tokyo Olympics See in context

rainyday

That photo shows us a high-tech state of the art facility that probably cost hundreds of millions of Yen whose task is to teach people how to bend over and hold a pillow on their head.

Anywhere else in the world this task could be accomplished by simply telling people "Hey, just bend over and hold a pillow over your head" without the need for the super ultra high tech facility.

The thing they're on is probably also shaking, to imitate a quake.

I actually really recommend everyone to visit one of these facilities, like the Sona Area in Ariake. Thrilling and exciting, but also a little bit scary, and very educational. Free entry.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Posted in: French father goes on hunger strike for children 'abducted' by Japanese wife See in context

This Japanese practice of inhibiting the other parent to have any contact with their children is simply atrocious, especially for the children. Suddenly their other parent simply 'disappears' from their lives, just because the other parent has decided so in their anger or vindictiveness. Human rights, anyone?

I have a Japanese friend, whose marriage ended after his wife was caught cheating: my friend was out with his kid, and the kid spotted the mom with a strange man. "Daddy, who's that strange guy hugging mom?"

Even the marriage ended because of the wife, she took the kid away, and forbid my friend from seeing his child ever again. I couldn't believe the cruelty, and still can't. It's especially heart-breaking for the boy, as he and his dad were best pals.

10 ( +13 / -3 )

Posted in: Hokkaido man in his 80s gets four doses of COVID-19 vaccine See in context

Mr Kipling

Laguna.....

It made YOU sleepy. I felt not difference after first or second jabs. Neither did Ms Kipling or most others I know who have had it.

The side-effects of the vaccines depend on a number of factors: which jab, are you male/female, your health, your age, your weight, have you already had covid, etc.

I had my first covid jab a week ago and my arm was painful for 3 days. On the second day, I was also extremely exhausted (not just sleepy) and had some fever. After that, everything's back to normal.

At least where I'm from, it's common knowledge that any kind of vaccines may make you feel a little bit under the weather for a couple of days. Laguna's advice is reasonable: you have no way of knowing if you'll feel normal or not, the following day - I once had a fever of 39c after a vaccine (several years ago). It really is sensible to have a day-off on the next day.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Posted in: Tokyo reports 950 new coronavirus cases; nationwide tally 2,458 See in context

klausdorth

Now, that's quite something!

950 new cases just for Tokyo, that's adding up to more than 6.000 within the past 8 days!

Where and when will the safe Olympics be held?

The danger is not at the Olympics. These 950 cases are not from the Olympics.

The danger is at the packed trains and train stations, the offices, the schools, the shopping malls, the movie theatres, the cafes, the restaurants. That's where the cases are from, that's where the virus is spreading.

4 ( +11 / -7 )

Posted in: JR East to inspect baggage at Tokyo stations during Olympics See in context

If dogs are involved, I hope they’ll check me on a daily basis. Multiple times. ^_^

And FYI, they’ve been doing something similar at least in London, for years, as a normal procedure. If you’ve done nothing wrong and have got nothing to hide, then it shouldn’t be a problem, should it? I’m glad they’re doing this.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Posted in: VIPs allowed at Olympic opening ceremony, but no fans: report See in context

"Some people in government are concerned that the public won't accept them being given special treatment," it said.

Oh, you bet. I'm one member of the angry public if this really happens. Make it fair: either no one goes, or then e.g. 2,500 VIPS and 2,500 common folk (limiting the number of spectators is more than fine and reasonable). But not so that it's all just VIPs who can enter.

I have tickets to the opening, have been really looking forward to this (especially after 2 years of being and going nowhere), and nope, can not get a full refund of the tickets, if they decide us peasants aren't allowed in.

Will only get around 2/3 of the ticket value back. Well I guess the VIPs need funding to ensure catering works without a glitch during the ceremony and after.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

Posted in: Man arrested for corpse abandonment after storing parents’ bodies inside refrigerator See in context

Just what exactly is up with people storing dead bodies at their homes here (or leaving them at train station lockers)? So many of these stories recently. Why does anyone do that? Some insurance money scam? Inability to handle the procedures that follow after someone’s death? What? For me it’s just unfathomable - wouldn’t want to spend even a second with a corpse, but also, the deceased deserve better than to be shoved in a fridge or some cupboard.

13 ( +14 / -1 )

Posted in: Japan arranging to end full operation of state-run vaccination sites in August See in context

Commodore Perry

The medical worker looks dressed appropriately and ready to do his job. Gambare!

But I don't get the old guy wearing that hat indoors.

Um, first, what does it matter, and how is it relevant to this article?

Second, the old guy looks very stylish and cool. You know we live in the 2020's, not 1920's - you are allowed to wear your hat where ever you like, and additionally, the old guy was actually very wise to wear a hat if it was a hot, sunny day. Follow his example.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Posted in: Hashimoto, Koike say no fans at Olympics still an option See in context

tamanegi

Good to see Gov Koike back. Her leadership has been missed this past week.

She should show an example for others and properly REST at home until she's 100% ok (doesn't matter if you agree with her policies and thoughts or not), and at least work remotely. Now she's basically just saying everybody should 'gaman' and show up at the office even when you're not well.

Ah_so

Low case numbers, low mortality. Really not a case to go for zero fans.

The European football finals are on at the moment and the stadiums are half full, and even fuller in places.

Yup, exactly. And Japan is enforcing much, much stricter rules for the Olympic fans, than the Euro locations for the football fans. One example is St.Petersburg, where majority of the locals actively avoid wearing face masks, even though the city is bristling with the virus (especially delta). Even so, fans were chanting, shouting etc. at the stadiums, partying at the pubs, etc. One good point for Japan is that majority of people wear a mask, at least some kind of a mask, at least somehow, and possible fans at the stadiums are banned from chanting, shouting etc.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Chinese people vexed by Communist Party's image among Japanese See in context

I've had two bigger culture shocks in my life; the other one was in China, when I went there from Japan. I was expecting it to be more similar with Japan, but in reality it was miles and miles apart. Add to to that the encounters I've had with Chinese tourists over many years (especially in Japan), and sorry to say, but my image of China or the Chinese in general is not very flattering (there are amazing individuals though, of course, as always). Some adjectives and nouns I associate with them: dirty, noisy, ill-mannered, violent, cruel towards animals (and minorities), tacky, superficial, materialistic, unecological, unethical, regressed.

What is good about China, is related to nature, tea and art - but I sadly can't come up with anything positive about the current society there.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

Posted in: Tokyo reports 673 new coronavirus cases; nationwide tally 1,751 See in context

almostshat

Here in the UK 15% of the Scotland fans who came down to London for the Euros match against England have tested positive on their return home. Any superspreader sports events on the horizon in Japan?

Genuinely asking:

How were the restrictions at the match/stadium like, how about pubs, trains, buses, and whatnot?

How many people (rough %) wear/wore masks?

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Posted in: Shop hopes its deerskin goods focus minds on Japan's huge deer culls See in context

Yubaru

Just like us meat-eaters do! I respect the lives of the animals, who died to sustain me and my family!

Great, if you do. Then you're surely not buying and eating industrially produced meat, as there sure is nothing respectful in that. It is simply just horror and torture from the beginning to the end.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Posted in: Shop hopes its deerskin goods focus minds on Japan's huge deer culls See in context

Aly Rustom

Its such a wasted opportunity. Instead of culling deer and wild boar, they should create farms and raise them as livestock.

Such a wasted opportunity.

How about no? We should be aggressively reduce industrial meat production (and consumption of meat altogether), not increase it.

If you really must eat meat though, then it's of course better you eat wild game - then at least the animal has had a good, natural life up until its death.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Posted in: Tokyo reports 714 new coronavirus cases; nationwide tally 1,821 See in context

Bob Fosse

> "I've been to the village, and it's a highly organised place, with strict security measures, temperature checks and disinfectants here and there"

Uniqlo have staff at the door, temperature checks and disinfectant.

Right - but Uniqlo doesn't have a covid testing unit or a fever clinic adjacent to their stores, or staff and police to ensure people don't mingle with each other. I also doubt Uniqlo has offered the vaccine to their staff members.

"I honestly doubt the athletes would cause any harm for the population in Japan. It really is the other way around."

It’s a two way street. The bus driver for the Ugandan team may disagree with you.

The driver, as a staff member, should've been vaccinated. But we don't have that information, I believe. We do know, however, that the TOC has offered the vaccine at least to all staff members who are in direct contact with the athletes, and the program has been in full swing for a few weeks now.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Posted in: Tokyo reports 714 new coronavirus cases; nationwide tally 1,821 See in context

Bob Fosse

"Interesting numbers to analyze. We see a rise in numbers in Tokyo and severe cases slightly rise. Nationwide severe cases fell dramatically again." 

Where are the Olympics being held? Refresh my memory.

These numbers have nothing to do with the Olympics. They haven't started yet. I've been to the village, and it's a highly organised place, with strict security measures, temperature checks and disinfectants here and there, their own covid clinics etc. I honestly doubt the athletes would cause any harm for the population in Japan. It really is the other way around. I'm sick of Japanese people not knowing or doing even the simplest things to do to try and stop the spread - recently the number of people wearing a mask has started to drop, and only a random few will disinfect their hands when entering supermarkets or other shops. Like I've said for a year now, nobody is properly distancing from anyone or anything, but there are crowds simply everywhere.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Posted in: Tokyo reports 714 new coronavirus cases; nationwide tally 1,821 See in context

Well, based on what I see happening in my neighbourhood, I'm not surprised at all. The majority of the infections are happening to people in their 20s, yet university circles/clubs and other activities are going forward as everything would be normal, shopping malls are full of young crowds either just having fun with friends or dating. Young people telling week after week of all the fun things they've been doing on their freetime; amusement parks, cafes, shopping, movies, local travelling, etc. I really question the logic, the intelligence and the sense of responsibility, when you can't refrain from things like these, at a time like this. So I'm sorry, I'm not blaming the Olympics like the majority of commentators here want to do, I'm blaming general irresponsibility and ignorance, that is further fuelled by similarly irresponsible content on TV, Youtube etc. People here seem to honestly believe, that simply wearing a mask (often on your chin) is the cure-all.

15 ( +17 / -2 )

Posted in: Jill Biden likely to visit Japan for Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony See in context

I might be at the opening. Now, for her, I am more than happy stand up and cheer (ok, clap my hands as cheering is probably prohibited), but not for Bach, Coates or Suga.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Posted in: Burger King serves up Tokyo Teriyaki Tower Super One Pound Beef Burger See in context

Disgusting. Pointless. Unethical. Unecological.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Posted in: Universal Studios Japan in Osaka reopens on weekends for first time in 2 months See in context

Tamanegi

“but still being cautious”?? Where? I don’t see anyone being cautious in the photo.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Posted in: Ugandan team coach arriving in Tokyo had Delta virus variant See in context

cracaphat

"The vaccines are designed to prevent the onset of symptoms once you get infected. They may not necessarily protect you from getting infected."

Not exactly a ringing endorsement of the vaccine is it? They gotta come through with something better than that.

A vaccine or medicine that would offer a guaranteed 100% protection or cure doesn't exist. Things are not black and white.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Posted in: Is Japan's quickening vaccine drive in time for Olympics? See in context

blahblah222

What vaccination drive???

By the time the vouchers finally arrived, all the appointments at the vaccination centers are already full, and after Monday it will only focus on the 2nd shots.

There are no vaccination spots in the ward, and unless you are in one of the lucky politically connected companies, no workplace vaccinations either.

If any of you say you can get vaccines, I will pay you 150,000 yen if you can get me an appointment or a vaccine. I would even pay 100,000 for the Chinese one.

Vaccination drive is pure propaganda, zero access for the common people.

Agreed - it really is hard to find an available slot - depending on the ward. I've even tried queueing up at one of the mass vaccine centers in the early hours of the day, but it was already full. You'd need to camp there overnight for a jab-chance!

Blahblah222 - where do you live, which city/ward?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Posted in: Tokyo reports 562 new coronavirus cases; nationwide tally 1,709 See in context

zurcronium

And the 100.000 Olympic tourists have not started filing into Japan yet.

What tourists? No tourists are allowed in to the country.

3 ( +9 / -6 )

Posted in: Ugandan team coach arriving in Tokyo had Delta virus variant See in context

nonu6976

of course the second guy also has the delta variant.

...as might soon, probably and sadly, many people living in Izumisano..

cracaphat

And they had apparently been jabbed before they came,right? Hmm... so what does that tell you about the vaccine?

Something I've been pondering, and I know it's a horrible thought, but: how do we know for sure that the people who say they have been jabbed and tested, really are jabbed and tested?

Fake covid-certificates have been going around, who's to say there are no fake vaccination certificates?

Some athletes are ready to use doping, so I'm not surprised if some of them, perhaps desperate to get in to the Olympics and gather some fame for their country, would use fake vaccine certificates.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

Posted in: Is Japan's quickening vaccine drive in time for Olympics? See in context

vanityofvanities

Of course, Not. Pfizer vaccines take effect from two weeks after the second shot.

"Evans said there was "pretty clear evidence" that you get at least 80% protection — and "probably" better than 90% — for Pfizer's vaccine against COVID-19 with symptoms after a single dose. He said you couldn't be absolutely sure what happens after 21 days because it hadn't been fully tested."*

(* Evans = Stephen Evans, a professor of medical statistics at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and a former drug-safety committee member at the European Medicines Agency)

https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-vaccine-one-shot-effectiveness-pfizer-moderna-astrazeneca-vaccines-dose-2021-3

I've also read from plenty of other sources (not in English though, so won't share the links), that the vaccine starts to work it's magic immediately after getting the first dose; you'll protection will be about 50% 2 weeks after the first shot, and nearly 90% after 3-4 weeks. The second shot is a booster, to ensure the strength and longevity of the shot.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Posted in: Emperor appears concerned Olympics could spread COVID: official See in context

louisferdinandc

So in the last 7 days there have been 2 asymptomatic people who tested positive in relation to the Olympics, out of the 100% people tested among the foreign delegations that entered Japan.

At the same time, over 8,000 people tested positive domestically, all of them having being tested only because they were either showing symptoms or very close contacts of positive cases (notoriously Japan doesn’t trace even kids in the same school class if they don’t seat close to each other…). Thousands of asymptomatic positives - which represent over 90% of the positives everywhere in the world where tracing is done seriously - take the train every day, go to work, to school, to do sports. Even with a low estimate of the asymptomatic cases that are likely to be hidden by the lack of testing, there have been probably 100,000 positives in Japan just last week. Which is as many as the people expected to come for the Olympics.

But the Olympics are the problem.

I agree with you. How come no noise is made about the hoards of people who are living life like nothing was wrong or out of the ordinary? There happens to be a few shopping centres near where I live, and they're always full of people, people gathering together, eating together, whatnot. Groups of moms and their babies in parks spending time very closely to each other, kids running around with no masks. (It's ok if kids don't have masks, I get it, but why must you then gather together in groups?)

Salarymen having their smokes and drinks in the evenings, of course, again in groups. School bukatsus and circles going on as normal. Basically, whatever is happening at normal times in a Japanese society: it's happening now as well. The only difference is, that majority of the people are wearing masks (albeit many of them are only covering chins).

Early on people commenting here were saying the government is scapegoating the foreigners, saying the spread of the virus is their fault (and yes, it's true - the gov was unjustifiably doing that). Now, however, the same people are doing the same thing and scapegoating the Olympics, forgetting what goes on in this country on a daily basis - perhaps even in their own lives?

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Posted in: What's your situation concerning vaccination against the coronavirus? See in context

iamtheponz

My whole family including...

mother (68)

father (69)

eldest sister (39)

next sister (36)

last sister (32)

myself (30)

my niece (18)

...have received the vaccine.

As well as aunts, uncles, cousins, and my 94 year old grandmother (who already had COVID in March 2020).

My sisters, niece and myself received Moderna, both doses (parents got either Moderna or Pfizer). The second dose for me was May 7th. Aside from a few days of mildy to moderately annoying side effects, everything was fine for all of us. No significant side effects for anyone.

I didn't even have an allergic reaction despite having a mild polyethylene glycol allergy. So everything went really well.

So I guess it's obvious you and your family don't live in Japan?

11 ( +12 / -1 )

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