“What is going on in Japan?”was the gist of the email my former writing partner sent my way. Covid out of control. A disorganized vaccination drive. Significant public pushback against the coming Olympics. What gives? Well, I asked Akemi, and this is what I learned – and wrote back…
I’ve been getting the daily updates from Akemi who reads the Japanese news and receivers the occasional info from her mother living in Osaka. While it has gotten bad there, I don’t believe it’s AS bad as the rumors would have you believe. Akemi’s family is still going out to restaurants and life seems fairly normal, albeit with a heightened state of alert.
The vaccine situation is weird, mainly due to problematic distribution. Firstly, the Japanese cultural disposition to not be pushy, specifically in negotiations, has apparently resulted in their not securing an adequate number of vaccines. Secondly, the high quality control and general suspicion of foreign products requires a rigorous approval process, and that has slowed things down. Thirdly, there’s no such thing as targeted distribution in Japan. It’s considered bad form to focus on hot spots as it would be deemed unfair to other prefectures that, while not hotspots, ARE combatting the virus nevertheless. Fourthly, the health system has exacerbated the problem because there are specific public hospitals that have been deemed Covid centers – but as the patient count has grown, private hospitals have refused to step up and allow themselves to be earmarked as such. The government can’t force the issue as it can’t force stay at home orders. It’s merely a suggestion a suggestion that, surprisingly, most choose to ignore.
The Olympics situation is truly fucked up. Apparently the former head of the Japanese planning committee faced a long and hard road, convincing the Japanese to make a bid for the games. When he started the campaign, he could barely muster 50% support but by the time he was done, support had risen to 70%. Then, they won the games – at which point a second guy, the organizational head, came in and proceeded to fuck things up because he was a public relations disaster. He stated he didn’t want women on the committee because they talked too much, and had to apologize for that. But, apparently, his apology was deemed pretty shoddy by Japanese standards. Also, during his apology, he used outdated gender terms which, apparently, demonstrated he was hopelessly out of touch, reminding people of his time as PM when he suggested cutting pension to women who didn’t have kids. His “out of touchness” was reinforced by his constant use of the term “It”when referring to Information Technology, instead of “IT” which, for some reason, horrified many. He was incredibly gaffe-prone and those around him dreaded every press conference. So, he was removed. And Tokyo is moving ahead with the games because they have already spent so much (over double the projected amount because the initial figure was just a ballpark guesstimate).
Anyway, one more reason to hate the Olympics.
Today’s Yes/No…
I’m going to have to say…
Great Dark Matter Monday chat last night with director Gail Harvey and writer Alison Hepburn. In the unlikely event you missed it…
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