We’re currently in Tokyo and community quarantine/ lockdown here is not as strict as we see in other countries. Most people are still out and about, some with masks, some without. Alcohol and sanitizers continue to be everywhere. Restaurants are open. Museums are closed. Malls have reduced hours. Toilet paper and other necessities are still in abundance. This weekend, felt just like any other weekend… Everyone was expecting an explosion here of the virus after the cruise ship in Yokohama but numbers stay low. As South Korea does massive mass testing, Japan insists that it is unnecessary to do so… They’ve been criticized for it, especially as a big part of their population are elderly people. Are the numbers low because there haven’t been much tests? Probably. Some say there’s a false sense of security here. But, Japan insists on a different approach. They also say, their health care system is good and they often overtest even for simple illness. Residents can feel secure they will be taken care of if they feel sick. There’s an interesting article about their approach, i’ll link it below, if you want to read more. –
Living here for over a month now, it’s hard not to trust the Japanese way because almost everything in Japan is amazingly organized and functional and just beautifully thought-out. But is there a conflict of interest because of the upcoming Olympics? Is it all about showing a good-face? Or is the Japanese, as is their reputation, thinking out of the box to figure out a better way to cope with the virus without exhausting all medical resources and worse, creating mass panic? Maybe the Japanese are also relying on a very cultural/societal characteristic of their community that you overwhelmingly feel when you are here — personal accountability and responsibility of every citizen? Is this approach enough? –
I really don’t know. I guess only time will tell.
Currently here…
