Items

• 2023-06-06

  A Journey East: Exploration of Singapore & Southeast Asia

  Sitting in our small kitchen during our first full school year of teaching since the Pandemic my fiancé and I scribbled the names of places we'd like to travel to on scraps of paper and threw them into a bowl. Swriling them round and round I reached in and pulled out a piece of paper with "Singapore" scribbled on it! Elated that we'd chosen one of our dream destinations we immediently set about preparations for our jounrey - booking a cruise that embarks from Singapore and stops in Maylasia and Thailand. Our flights took us from Phoneix to Los Angeles for a brief layover and then an extensive flight to Tokyo, Japan. He stayed in Tokyo for nearly 48 hours - longest layover - and were able to catch up with my host family - I had previously visited Japan pre-pandemic in 2019 and stayed with a family there. I expected Covid regulations to be quite strict in Japan, though they were incredibly lax! Here we were, sharing drinks and a meal in a small, noisy, crowded restruant in the heart of Tokyo. Everything seemed to have reverted back to pre-pandemic rythms in my observations. These observastions would become quiote commonplace throughout the rest of our trip. Landing in Singapore, our cruise didn't set sail for 4 days, so we explored every inch of the city! Staying in the Clarke Quay distirct of Singapore, we were centrally located to many distinct and excting locations such like: Chinatown, Little India, Gardens by the Bay, Orchard Road, The Marina Bay Sands Hotel and the Singapore Zoo! Each location was inrecdible and unique in its own special way. The bustling streets and open air hawker markets of Chinatown and Little India buzzed with excitement as crowds of people shuffled back and forth from tables to but more food or in and out of shops and temples. The city was alive and thriving which gave both my fiancé and I so much joy! Singapore and Southeast Asia for the larger extent, had been quite extreme in their COVID lockdowns and draconian in punishment if COIVD protocal was broken. So we were overjoyed when life returned to normal in these parts of the world. One night in Chinatown, we sat down to a wonderful meal of beef, chicken, and shrimp Satay - meat on a stick - accompanied by a cold pitcher of Singapore's finest beer - Tiger. We were eating in the center of a packed night market. This night market stretched for two to three city blocks and was jammed with people enjoying anything from ice cream to chicken feet. As we enjoyed our meal, two men sat next to us and we engaged in a breif conversation. The conversation became prolonged and we eventually learned that one of the men was an Arch bishop in the Catholic Church and an Ambassador of the Vatican to Singapore! He shared many wonderful stories of his time living all over Southeast Asia and gave us some advice and sights to see as we continued our travels. Our cruise set sail and we embarked on the second leg of our adventure! Sailing the strait of Malacca, we visited cities in Malaysia such like: Kuala Lumpur, and Georgetown! We hired a private guide in Kuala Lumpur to show us around the city for a day - this was probably one of the best decisions we'd made on the trip. We got such a personal view of the city as our guide took us not only to various temples, memorials, and landmarks, but also to his favorite local stops! From Port Klang and Kuala Lumpur, we sailed to Georgetown where we climbed their famous Hill and explored the city and all of his rich colonial, Chinese, and Indian heritage. Our final destination for our cruise was Thailand, and it did not dissapoint! Taking a shore excursion, we travelled to Ao Phang Nga National Park visiting the famous James Bond Island and a floating Thai-Muslim village. After an awesome day of travel, we made our way back to the Ship and began our jounrey back to Singapore. Making it back safe and sound to the US, my fiancé and I reflected on our trip and were both incredibly grateful that all travel and experience had returned to normal following the Pandemic. The COVID-19 Pandemic and its restrictions were an after thought at these destinaitons. Not to say these countries have abandoned all sense of proticetion from the virus, rather they seem to have - like most of the world - pivoted to a stance that COVID will always exist now, and we must all collectively "deal with it" much like the Flu. With this experiance under our belts, we are both exicted to venture back out into the world and explore all it has to offer!
• 
  2023-05-16

  Vigilantism in Pandemic Japan

  It is about the excessive vigilantism that Japan experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some people became the target of harsh criticism for failing to abide by governmental regulations, and I can remember that I felt a sense of experiencing the negative aspect of society seeing such harsh vigilantism against others. It is important to me because I can unconsciously become part of such vigilantism and should be aware of why I should not relentlessly accuse others of their actions.
• 
  2022-06-18

  Coronavirus: which works better to handle a pandemic – democracy or autocracy?

  This is a news story from the South China Morning Post by Priyanka Shankar. This article is discussing the difference in responses based on forms of government. When it came to handling the pandemic, people from Asian countries where restrictions were much tougher rated a higher rate of satisfaction in government response compared to Latin America and Europe. This was taken from the Democracy Perception Index. According to researcher Fredrick DeVeaux, a leader in conducting this survey, the tight restrictions common in Asian countries are generally accepted because it gets associated with low death rates. The survey does make mention that in countries such as Iran and China, they hid data about the virus from their citizens, affecting their overall response to changes in lockdowns. However, Singapore is also authoritarian, and the prime minister has made an effort to create transparency in what is occurring, so items get hoarded less. Overall, the article claims that the mass mobilization of people and goods under authoritarian regimes fares better than democracies do at creating an effective COVID response.
• 
  2022-05-30

  New guidelines for face masks in Japan

  Japan, as of May 30th, 2022, is relaxing the face mask guidelines. For the most part, masks do not need to be worn outdoors except when the elderly are in close quarters to other people. Indoors, masks are still required indoors except in the case of when someone is in little to no conversation, which the article shows in a chart. The chart's example states walking around museums and libraries where there is little to no conversation. One of the reasons for why Japan is relaxing face masks is because summer is approaching and the temperature will rise. There are fears about face masks causing heatstroke. In Japan, temperatures can range from 70-90 degrees F, but the summers are hot and humid too. So, it makes sense to relax the restrictions, especially in the outdoors.
• 
  2022-05-16

  Stigma During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan

  During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers and patients in Japan suffered from the stigma. According to the article, “In Japan, coronavirus discrimination proves almost as hard to eradicate as the disease,” healthcare workers and their families are discriminated against as if they are “germs” that people need to avoid contact with. The patients of the virus are also stigmatized, and such a phenomenon of blaming victims has been seen many times throughout Japanese history. As this article represents, health care workers in Japan were stigmatized and discriminate against because of the potential risks of COVID-19 infections. According to Goffman, the greek definition of stigma “[refers] to bodily signs designed to expose something unusual and bad about the moral status of the signifier” (131). Nowadays, its definition has expanded to negative images of physical and social attributes and their interpretation in a social context. The stigma of healthcare workers in Japan is peculiar to this pandemic, and this could be because the situation overturned the expectations people had about healthcare workers. Healthcare workers are supposed to help people with diseases, but because of the pandemic, they are seen as the ones with higher risks of carrying the virus as they have more interaction with those who have been infected. As a result, people become afraid of interacting with healthcare workers, which made this job stigmatized. The article shows that Japanese people reject to interact with healthcare workers and their families during the pandemic. One of the common consequences of being stigmatized is that stigmatized people become separated from other people as they are treated differently. According to Goffman, “[the] responses of the normal and of the stigmatized that have been considered so far are ones which can occur over protracted periods of time and in isolation from current contacts between normals and stigmatized" (135). As Goffman illustrates, health care workers were stigmatized and separated from society at the beginning of the pandemic. Some people even believe that “the person with a stigma is not quite human” as Goffman states, which lead to an extreme reaction by people around health care workers. For instance, healthcare workers have been receiving death threats because other people see them as if they are the potential source of the disease rather than the same humans who are fighting the pandemic together. Such a reaction is similar to how children bully other children based on differences in attributes. One of the typical ways of bullying is to call someone “germs” and avoid interactions, which is the same as the situation in this article. This pandemic revealed our natural tendency of staying away from others who have negative attributes, which indicates that a pandemic is not an equalizer but a source of discrimination. Another factor that could have contributed to the situation in Japan is social pressure existing in the country. The article mentions that there is strong social pressure in Japan to follow coronavirus directives and to cooperate for stopping the spreading of the virus; if people do not comply, they are strongly criticized or blamed by other Japanese people. In addition, surveys have shown that compared to Americans or Britons, more Japanese people agree with the idea that “If someone is infected with the coronavirus, I think it is their fault” (Denyer and Kashiwagi). According to Fei, there are behavioral norms that are maintained by tradition, called “ritual norms” (97). This kind of norm is regarded as moral behavior by people of the community so that they follow the norms regardless of laws or punishments (99). Although Fei discusses Chinese rural society, such norms have been established in Japan as well because Japanese society developed as an agricultural society where people in a community need to cooperate with each other. There used to be a tradition called murahachibu, which means excluding those who break the rules from 80 percent of social activities in the village with the exception of funerals and fires. Even though this practice is rarely seen in modern society, people still have a strong pressure to behave for the sake of society in order to maintain harmony. For example, Japanese people still feel obligated to wear masks after vaccines have been promoted even though there is no rule or punishment for not wearing masks. This feeling may occur because they believe it is moral or correct to refrain from doing something that possibly spreads the virus. Healthcare workers were not the only people who suffered from stigma, but COVID-19 patients were also blamed for their behavior that possibly contributed to their infection. In the article, a Japanese psychology professor mentions “a low tolerance for uncertainty” in Japanese people, indicating that they blame the patients to reduce their own fears derived from the uncertainty of the pandemic. This implies that COVID-19 patients become scapegoats for the pandemic itself. In the reading, Trauner writes that “the general acceptance of the germ theory in the 1880’s did little to dispel the popular belief that epidemic outbreaks were directly attributable to conditions within Chinatown” (73). This indicates that when people are uncertain about something scary, they try to identify what or who causes that disease or threat. Although people know that coronavirus is the cause of this pandemic, most people are afraid of germs and viruses because they are invisible. The article also demonstrates some cases of blaming victims in Japanese history, including leprosy patients, survivors of the 1945 atomic bombings, and evacuees of the 2011 Fukushima disaster. Such diseases and disasters involve complicated factors, so it is difficult to blame the causes directly. Therefore, individuals tend to blame patients or carriers of the virus during the pandemic instead of blaming the virus itself because they are visible and easy to avoid. References Erving Goffman (1976) “Stigma” :Chapter 10 “Selections from Stigma” Fei Xiaotong (1947) “From the Soil: the Foundations of Chinese Society” Joan B. Trauner, (1978) “The Chinese as Medical Scapegoats in San Francisco, 1870-1905 Simon Denyer and Akiko Kashiwagi (2020) “In Japan, coronavirus discrimination proves almost as hard to eradicate as the disease”
• 
  12/01/2020

  Wade Pitrucha Oral History, 2020/12/01

  Wade Pitrucha, Marine Corps veteran and butcher, was raised in Texas and lived in California for several years, and currently works as a butcher and lives in Barron, Wisconsin. In this interview, Wade discusses the political and economic developments he has observed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Wade gives an inside look at the COVID-19 meat shortage, and explains some of the causes, as well as the impacts on farmers and families. Wade also shares some of his personal experiences and frustrations with the local handling of the pandemic, and how he feels the federal government and the Trump administration has contributed to the massive spread of COVID-19 in the United States. In an entertaining and sometimes darkly humorous interview, Wade’s military experience and personal beliefs provide a unique and well-balanced view of the COVID-19 pandemic and modern American society.
• 
  2021-07-19

  HERMIT HERALD, ISSUE 121

  Afghanistan- not forgotten?
• 
  2021-02-04

  Photographer Develops Photos From 2020 East Asia Trip

  I'm finally developing rolls of black and white 35mm film taken in January 2020. During this time, I solo backpacked through Japan, Hong Kong, and China -- this was just before COVID-19 was known to be spreading through East Asia. Here is shot of me looking up from my hostel's (@wontonmeen_) patio. Thanks to @drkrm_mpls + @brooklynn.kascel for teaching me the magic of developing film.
• 
  2021-02-05

  Antibody test in 5 cities nationwide 0.91% antibody possession in Tokyo (February 5, 2021)

  This news covers the antibody rate in Japan, specifically in main cities like Tokyo, Osaka, etc. Because the rate of COVID-19 increased A LOT because people are still outside not taking social distance rules, I did expect the percentage to be higher, and it was. In trains, it is packed with people, and Japan is very analog in terms of remote working. A lot of companies still do not allow remote working plus do not change the time that the employees need to clock in and thus everyone commutes around the same time. Plus, because its winter and its cold, the trains and just local restaurants cannot open windows the whole time. Video translated by me. The antibody test conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in five cities nationwide to check the infection history of the new coronavirus found that 0.9% of people in Tokyo have the antibodies. It has increased nine times from half a year ago. Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Tamura: "There is considerable variation in numbers among local governments. Many people are infected and there is no herd immunity." Last December, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare conducted antibody tests on approximately 15,000 people in Tokyo, Osaka, Miyagi, Aichi, and Fukuoka. Using two types of tests, those who are confirmed to have the antibodies in both tests are judged as "positive". As a result, it was found that 0.91% in Tokyo, 0.58% in Osaka, 0.14% in Miyagi, 0.54% in Aichi, and 0.19% in Fukuoka had antibodies. In the survey conducted in June last year, Tokyo was 0.1%. 厚生労働省が全国の5都市で新型コロナウイルスの感染歴を調べる抗体検査をした結果、東京都では0.9％の人が抗体を持っていることが分かりました。半年前の9倍に増えています。 　田村厚労大臣：「かなり自治体でばらつきが出ている。多くの方がかかって集団免疫という話では全然ない」 　厚労省は去年12月、東京・大阪・宮城・愛知・福岡で約1万5000人を対象に抗体検査を実施しました。 　2種類の試薬を使い、両方で陽性が確認された人を「陽性」と判定しています。 　その結果、東京で0.91％、大阪で0.58％、宮城で0.14％、愛知で0.54％、福岡で0.19％の人が抗体を持っていたことが分かりました。 　去年6月の調査では東京は0.1％でした。
• 
  2021-02-04

  Reusing the old ward for coronavirus patients Chiba Cancer Center (February 4, 2021)

  This is a news of using old medical hospital that is not used for COVID-19 patients’ areas because hospitals are being packed with COVID-19 patients. This will definitely help hospitals that are overloaded. However, I am surprised that they have not started this earlier, when japan was hitting the first wave of COVID-19. Personally, Japan does take a lot of time to initiate something like this (MY PERSONAL OPINION) so maybe they had some sort of reason why they didn't do that initially. Video translated by me. Reuse the unused wards for people infected with the new coronavirus. It is the old ward of the Chiba Cancer Center that begins accepting patients. It was not used because a new ward for cancer was opened in October last year. In Chiba prefecture, the prefecture was becoming more overloaded, such as the occupancy rate of corona beds approaching 70%. They we will start accepting elderly people with mild symptoms from the 5th, gradually increase it, and finally accept about 70 people. 使っていない病棟を新型コロナウイルスの感染者のために再利用します。 　患者の受け入れを始めるのは千葉県がんセンターの旧病棟です。 　去年10月に新しい病棟ができたため使われていませんでした。 　千葉県内ではコロナの病床の稼働率が7割近くになるなど医療が逼迫（ひっぱく）していることを受けて、県が準備を進めていました。 　症状が軽い高齢者を中心に5日から受け入れを始め、段階的に増やして最終的に70人ほどを受け入れるということです。
• 
  2021-02-04

  76% with new coronavirus after-effects, 24% with hair loss symptoms (February 4, 2021)

  This news talks about the after-effects of COVID-19, and how a lot of people still suffer even after getting being “cured” from COVID-19. I have heard some people who I know that have COVID-19 have these side effects, especially hair loss/thinning. Video translated by me. According to the results of a survey, 76% of patients with the new coronavirus had sequelae. According to a survey published by Dr. Omagari of the National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 76% of 63 patients had sequelae, 48% still had sequelae even 2 months after the onset, and 27% patients still felt some sort of sequelae even 4 months later after being diagnosed. Symptoms include coughing, malaise, and olfactory dysfunction, and it is said that 24% of patients had symptoms of hair loss. Dr. Omagari says the cause of the sequelae is unknown and it is important to not to get infected to prevent these sequelae. 新型コロナウイルスの患者のうち76％に後遺症が確認されたとする調査結果が発表されました。国立国際医療研究センターの大曲医師が公表した調査によりますと、63人の患者のうち、76％に後遺症が確認され、発症2カ月後でも48％が、4カ月経っても27％が何らかの症状を訴えたといいます。症状は、せき、倦怠感、嗅覚障害などで、脱毛の症状が出たという患者が24％いたといいます。大曲医師は、後遺症の原因はわかっておらず、感染しないことが最も重要だとしています。
• 
  2021-01-25

  GoToトラベルと感染拡大の関係　詳しく分析すると・・・(2021年1月25日) - A detailed analysis of the relationship between GoTo Travel and the spread of infection ... (January 25, 2021)

  This is a news that talks about the Go To Travel. Go To Travel in simple is a plan that the government set up in order for local areas to gain back the economy by supporting up to half the amount of travel fees. Using this A LOT of people traveled around Japan despite being in a pandemic. I always have thought that this traveling plan will cause more trouble, which it did. I translated the video. A group at Kyoto University has published a research paper stating that GoTo Travel "may have affected" the spread of the new coronavirus. The survey was conducted by a group of Professor Hiroshi Nishiura of Kyoto University and was published in the international medical journal "Journal of Clinical Medicine" on the 21st. The group survey analyzed about 4000 people infected with the new coronavirus in 24 prefectures from May to August last year. As a result, it was found that about 20% traveled across prefectures or were in contact with travelers. What is interesting is the comparison of the "incidence rate" of infected people around July 22, last year when Go To Travel started. According to the initial 5 days survey when Go To Travel started, the incidence of travel-related infected people has increased 1.44 times compared to the 5 days of the previous week. Furthermore, if the purpose of travel is limited to "sightseeing," the incidence rate jumps up to 2.62 times. Late July last year is the time of the "second wave" in Japan. However, the compared 5 days were also days with special conditions. That is, 4 out of 5 days from the start of GoTo were holidays and other holidays. And at this time, it was still before Go To was implemented in Tokyo. Professor Nishiura et al. paper did not conclude that GoTo Travel was the cause of the spread of the infection, but pointed out that it may have affected it, at least in the early stages. GoToトラベルが新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大に「影響した可能性がある」とする研究論文を京都大学のグループが発表しました。 　調査は京都大学の西浦博教授らのグループが行い、21日に国際的な医学誌「ジャーナルオブクリニカルメディスン」に掲載されました。 　グループの調査では去年5月から8月にかけて24の県で約4000人の新型コロナウィルスの感染者を分析。その結果、約2割が県をまたいで旅行したか、旅行者と接触していたことが分かりました。 　興味深いのは、GoToトラベルが開始された去年7月22日前後の感染者の「発生率」の比較です。 　GoToトラベル始まった当初5日間の調査だと、旅行に関連した感染者の発生率は前の週の5日間に比べて1.44倍に上がっています。さらに、旅行の目的を「観光」に限定すると、発生率は2.62倍にまで跳ね上がるのです。 　去年7月下旬といえば、国内だと「第2波」の時期にあたります。 　ただ、比較した5日間は特別な条件の日でもありました。それは、GoTo開始から5日間のうち4日が祝日などの休みであったということ。そしてこの時期、東京ではまだGoToの実施前だったということです。 　西浦教授らの論文ではGoToトラベルが感染拡大の原因とは結論付けていないものの、少なくとも初期の段階では影響した可能性があると指摘しています。
• 
  2021-01-27

  ワクチン集団接種“初訓練”3分想定も最大26分に(2021年1月27日) – Vaccine mass vaccination "first training" assumed 3 minutes and up to 26 minutes (January 27, 2021)

  This was a news video where Kawasaki city in Japan conducted a practice round of vaccination process. Personally, I do get the reason why the practice is happening; however, Japan still doesn't have a set date of when vaccinations will actually happen. This news and event itself could lead to people having high hopes of getting vaccinations soon when in reality, it could take much longer. Unlike U.S., Japan does not have a culture of drive through, meaning people physically have to go to locations for the vaccines. Also, having large gatherings like this I personally think should be avoided and maybe they should have videotaped it and posted on YouTube on how to get vaccinated, instead of many people physically going to the place and learning how to be vaccinated. I have translated the video. After 1:00 pm on the 7th, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and Kawasaki City conducted a training for mass distribution of the new coronavirus vaccine. The training also cooperated with Pfizer, which supplies vaccines. About 40 vounteers of doctors, nurses, and patients checked the actual flow. At the venue, there was also a freezer where vaccines could be stored at a minus temperature 70 degrees or less. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has already conveyed the message of mass distribution to each local government. First, at the reception, complete the temperature measurement and identity verification, and fill in the questionnaire about your health condition and chronic illness. Next, a pre-examination will be conducted to see if the doctor can actually vaccinate, and if there are no problems, vaccination will be given. You will then need to wait 15-30 minutes to receive a vaccinated certificate and follow up for any side effects. According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, it takes 3 minutes per person from pre-examination to vaccination, and if it takes 7 hours, 280 people can get the vaccine a day. However, it is said that some people took up to 26 minutes from the pre-examination to the vaccination in the training. Kawasaki City College of Nursing, President Noboru Sakamoto: "I was a simulation patient today, but I feel like I would continue asking questions like ‘I am really scared of allergies from this vaccination’. People who are receiving the vaccination are most likely afraid so we would need to consider and adjust the fact that people will ask questions, for future vaccination sessions” the issue of selecting a venue was also pointed out. Kawasaki City College of Nursing, President Noboru Sakamoto: "I think it's okay if it's a gymnasium, but when it comes to elementary, junior high and high schools, we use it in regular class for students. Once vaccination starts, we have to use it for at least half a year or a long period of time. Given that it is unbearable, we will not be able to use gymnasiums that are used for education every day.” Some local governments cannot prepare large venues. In Izu Oshima, which has a population of about 7,500, we plan to vaccinate at the Oshima Medical Center, the only medical institution on the island. Oshima Town Welfare Health Division, Tetsuya Yoshizawa, Chief: "We plan to have Saturdays and Sundays, which are holiday medical treatment days, considering the system of medical staff. If that is not enough, we are considering about one day from the weekday. However, the trouble is that we have to vaccination twice. This is just new for us.” The vaccine will be shipped by ship, but the schedule may be affected depending on the weather. Tetsuya Yoshizawa, Chief of the Oshima Town Welfare Health Division: "Of course, depending on the weather conditions, it may be canceled. If we can't see when the vaccine will arrive, it's hard to prepare.” Vaccines are first transported from warehouses that can be stored at ultra-low temperatures to hospitals equipped with freezing facilities. However, since the number of facilities equipped with freezing facilities is limited, we plan to refrigerate the facilities and transport them to each vaccination site and facilities for the elderly. The government plans to secure 10,000 ultra-low temperature freezers and aims to complete the installation by the end of May. At a facility for the elderly in Chiba City, we have begun to consider whether vaccination can be done at the facility. This is because elderly people with dementia are admitted and it is difficult to take them to the vaccination site. Chiba Workers Welfare Association, Megumi Kadowaki, Director of Nursing Care: "If possible, it is safest to ask a" family doctor "and inject the vaccine." However, whether the family doctor is given permission to inject the new corona vaccine is still unknown. In addition, Ms. Kadowaki wants the procedure for vaccination to be as simple as possible. Chiba Workers Welfare Association, Megumi Kadowaki, Long-term Care Manager: "Employees are doing their best to prevent infection and protect users of the center, so I would like you to reduce the new office work as much as possible" because there are still those who cannot visit the vaccination. Dr. Tomitsuka is visiting the clinic in Ota-ku, Tokyo. There are currently 60 patients on-site. In the middle of this month, Ota-ku recruited doctors to register as vaccination doctors for patients, including me. He says he intends to join, but he is worried about carrying the vaccine. Director of Seseragi Clinic Tamagawa Taro Tomitsuka: "The biggest fear is that the vaccine's effect is lost after transportation because the environment of minus several ten degrees cannot be maintained. At the end, I have to vaccinate it. I am accustomed to storing and transporting the vaccine. I really want people who are used in transporting and maintaining the temperature to do it.” It is said that cooperation with doctors will become more important in the future toward the first vaccination. Director of Seseragi Clinic Tamagawa / Taro Tomitsuka: "I think it's safer and more secure if you leave it to your family doctor, but on the other hand, it's a vaccination that requires speed, so you can involve local doctors well.” Minister Kono met with the presidents of the National Mayors' Association. Minister Kono, in charge of vaccination: "I told you that vaccination of the elderly will be after April 1st at the earliest. 7日午後1時過ぎ、厚生労働省と川崎市による新型コロナウイルスワクチンの集団接種の訓練が行われました。訓練は、ワクチンを供給するファイザーも協力。医師や看護師、患者役などのエキストラ約40人で、実際の流れを確認します。会場には、マイナ70度以下でワクチンを保管できる冷凍庫も用意されました。 厚労省は、すでに、集団接種のイメージを各自治体に伝えています。まず受付で、検温や本人確認などを済ませ、健康状態や持病などを問診票に記入。次に、実際に医師が接種できるかどうかを診る予診を行い、問題がなければワクチン接種を行います。その後、接種済みの証明書を受け取り、副反応が出ないかの経過観察のため、15～30分、待機する必要があります。 厚労省は、予診から接種まで1人3分で、7時間行えば、一日280人が、ワクチンを打つことができるとしています。ただ、訓練では予診から接種まで、最大で26分かかった人もいたといいます。 川崎市立看護短期大学・坂元昇学長：「きょうは模擬患者だったが、つい本音で『これってアレルギーが怖いんですね』とか、お医者さんを目の前にすると、そういう話が延々と続いてしまう。受けられる方は不安だろうから、たくさん質問するというものを今後、どうやって調整するか」 会場選びの課題も指摘されました。 川崎市立看護短期大学・坂元昇学長：「体育館だったらなんでもいいやと思われるが、小中高校になると、通常の授業で使う。いったん予防接種が始まれば、少なくとも半年とか、長い期間、使わざる負えないということを考えると、日々、教育で使うような体育館等は使えないだろう」 大きな会場が用意できない自治体もあります。人口約7500人の伊豆大島では、島内唯一の医療機関・大島医療センターで接種を行う予定です。 大島町福祉けんこう課・吉澤哲也課長：「医療従事者の体制等も考えて、休日の診療日にあたる土曜、日曜を予定。それで対応しきれない場合は、平日いずれかの曜日1日くらいを考えている。ただ、厄介なのが2回、接種しなければいけないというところで。いかんせん何もかも初めてなので」 ワクチンは船で運ばれる予定ですが、天候次第でスケジュールに影響が出る可能性もあります。 大島町福祉けんこう課・吉澤哲也課長：「当然、天候状況によっては“欠航”ということもある。我々もワクチンが、いつごろ手元に届くのか、その辺が見えてこないと、準備のほうもなかなか進めるに進められない」 ワクチンは、超低温保存ができる倉庫から、まずは、冷凍設備が整った病院などに運ばれます。ただ、冷凍設備が整った施設は限られているため、その後は、冷蔵で、各接種会場や高齢者施設などに運ばれていく予定です。政府は、超低温冷凍庫を1万台確保する方針で、5月中の設置完了を目指しています。 千葉市にある高齢者施設では、施設で接種ができないかと検討を始めました。入所しているのが認知症の高齢者で、接種会場へ連れていくことが難しいためです。 千葉勤労者福祉会・門脇めぐみ介護部長：「できれば“かかりつけ医”が問診をして、ワクチンを接種してしただくのが一番、安心」 ただ、かかりつけ医に新型コロナのワクチンの接種許可が下りるかは、まだ、わからないといいいます。さらに、門脇さんは、接種までの手続きなどを、なるべく簡潔にしてほしいと訴えます。 千葉勤労者福祉会・門脇めぐみ介護部長：「職員は、感染対策と利用者さんを守ることで精いっぱいなので、新たに生じる事務作業は極力減らしていただきたい」 接種会場に足を運べない人は、まだいます。東京都大田区で訪問診療を行っている富塚医師。訪問診療している患者は現在60人います。今月中旬には、大田区から患者にワクチン接種をする医師として登録するよう呼び掛けられました。応じるつもりだといいますが、ワクチンを運ぶことに不安があるといいます。 せせらぎクリニック多摩川・富塚太郎院長：「マイナス数十度の環境が保てなくて、ワクチンの効果が運搬後になくなっているというのが最大の恐怖。最後は私が打つ。ワクチンの保存と運搬は慣れた人にしていただきたいのが本音」 初めてのワクチン接種に向け、今後は、医師の連携が、より大切になってくるといいます。 せせらぎクリニック多摩川・富塚太郎院長：「かかりつけ医に任せていただければ、より安全・安心で、対処できると思うけど、一方で、速さを求められているワクチン接種なので、うまく地域の医者を巻き込んでいただければなと」 河野大臣は、全国市長会会長らと会談しました。 “ワクチン接種”担当・河野大臣：「高齢者のワクチン接種が、早くても4月1日以降になるとお伝えした。
• 
  2020-05-31

  Finding Creativity in the Unexpected: Bread Art

  There have been many ways people have chosen to let their creative energy loose during the pandemic. The story that I have uploaded is about a woman, named Manami Sasaki, who found her niche during Covid-19 to be turning bread into works of art. Sasaki designs bread with replicas of art as well as traditional Japanese imagery. Sasaki says that this practice keeps her calm and in good mental spirits. I chose to place this object in my mini archive because I feel as though this source attempts to fill an archival silence as well as amplify the voices of marginalized groups. This is an incredibly niche practice that amplifies Japanese culture
• 
  2020-12-03

  [GoTo」自粛キャンセル　13日までに申告で無料(2020年12月3日) - Cancellation of self-restraint of "Go To" Free of charge by declaration by 13th (December 3, 2020)

  In order to reduce the risk of elders, Tokyo Governor is asking elders to cancel their trip and will make canceling fee free. However, like I have said in previous stories, Japan can never enforce rules on citizens. It has to be “we would like you to do it”. I doubt a lot of elders will cancel because using Go To travel allows traveling fee to be reduced, and some would definitely think that it's a waste to not use the government’s money. 東京都は高齢者たちが自粛の呼び掛けに応じて「GoToトラベル」の旅行を取りやめる場合、13日までに申し出ればキャンセル料は無料になると明らかにしました。 　東京都は65歳以上の高齢者や基礎疾患を持つ人たちを対象に「GoToトラベル」の東京発着の旅行を17日まで自粛するよう呼び掛けるとしています。キャンセル料などに関する政府から都への回答によりますと、17日までに出発する旅行については13日までに申し出ればキャンセル料はかかりません。一方、キャンセルされた事業者に対しては解約された旅行代金の35％を国が負担するということです。また、小池都知事は1日に菅総理と会談した際、高齢者らへの「GoToトラベル」の利用自粛の呼び掛けについて、全国規模で行うことを検討するよう求めていたことも明らかにしました。 　その東京都では2日に新たに500人の感染が確認され、重症の患者は59人になりました。また、都は50代から90代の男女5人が死亡したことも発表しました。このうち4人は高血圧などの基礎疾患があったということです。 The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has announced that if elderly people cancel their "Go To Travel" trip, the cancellation fee will be free if they apply by the 13th. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is calling on elderly people aged 65 and over and people with underlying illnesses to refrain from traveling to and from Tokyo on "Go To Travel" until the 17th. According to the government's response to the city regarding cancellation fees, there is no cancellation fee if you apply by the 13th for trips departing by the 17th. On the other hand, the government will bear 35% of the canceled travel fee for the canceled business operator. In addition, when Governor Koike met with Prime Minister Suga on the 1st, he said that he had requested that elderly people consider refraining from using "GoTo Travel" on a nationwide scale. In Tokyo, 500 new infections were confirmed on the 2nd, and the number of patients with severe symptoms became 59. The city also announced that five men and women in their 50s and 90s had died. Four of them had underlying illnesses such as high blood pressure. Video translated by Youngbin Noh
• 
  2020-12-03

  GoToトラベル　来年中ごろまで延長する方針(2020年12月3日)- GoTo Travel, extend until mid-next year (December 3, 2020)

  Go To travel has been something I’ve been submitting to this archive. In order to boost up the economy, Japan has supported people who will be traveling by paying up to half of the traveling fee. Personally, this I think really caused the second wave of COVID-19 in Japan, but people still want to travel because it is cheap using the government’s support. 最大で旅行代金の半額相当が支援されるGoToトラベルについて、政府は来年中ごろまで延長する方針を固めました。 　GoToトラベルはこれまで1月までの旅行を対象としていましたが、政府関係者によりますと、これを来年中ごろまで延長する方針で、8日に取りまとめる緊急経済対策に盛り込むことにしています。ただ、Go Toトラベルが終わった際に旅行の需要が激減することを防ぐため、現在、最大で35％となっている割引率を段階的に引き下げることや受け取ることができる地域共通クーポンの金額の見直しなどを検討するということです。 The government has decided to extend Go To Travel, which supports up to half the travel price, until mid-next year. Go To Travel has been targeted for travel until January, but according to government officials, it is planned to extend this until the middle of next year, and it will be included in the emergency economic measures to be summarized on the 8th. However, in order to prevent the demand for travel from dropping drastically when Go To Travel is over, they will gradually reduce the discount rate, which is currently up to 35%, and review the amount of regional coupons that can be received. Video translated by Youngbin Noh
• 
  2020-11-27

  – COVID-19: A rapid increase to 60 people with severe symptoms in Tokyo this week (November 27, 2020)

  Tokyo continuously has increasing number of severe symptoms patient of COIVD-19. Despite this, Japan still wants to make the economy running, and all the restaurants are not taking proper CDC measures. Japan’s restaurants tend to be way smaller compared to here, and therefore opening one seat or a table apart from each other does not really help. Tokyo continuously has increasing number of severe symptoms patient of COIVD-19. Despite this, Japan still wants to make the economy running, and all the restaurants are not taking proper CDC measures. Japan’s restaurants tend to be way smaller compared to here, and therefore opening one seat or a table apart from each other does not really help.
• 
  2020-11-27

  東京、大阪、札幌、名古屋“時短”全飲食店に協力金(2020年11月27日) - Cooperation money for all restaurants in Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo, and Nagoya (November 27, 2020)

  In order to take measures for COVID-19, the Prime Minister will help restaurants if they reduce the hours open. However, by Japanese law, they cannot force this rule. All the measures taken are always, “We would like you to follow” and it depends on how the citizens act instead of the government’s rule. 菅総理大臣は新型コロナウイルス対策として東京、大阪などの各都市で今週末から営業時間を短縮したすべての飲食店に協力金を支給する方針を表明しました。 　菅総理大臣：「札幌市、東京都、大阪市、名古屋市でも飲食店の時間短縮を今週末から行う。時間短縮に協力するすべての店舗に対して国としてしっかり支援をしていきたい」 　また、感染拡大地域の保健所に派遣する保健師などの専門職について「これまでの倍の1200人を確保した」と明らかにしました。そのうえで、「3週間が極めて重要な時期だ」と強調し、マスクの着用など感染防止対策の徹底を呼び掛けました。 Prime Minister Suga has announced a policy to provide cooperation money to all restaurants whose business hours have been shortened from this weekend in cities such as Tokyo and Osaka as a countermeasure against the new coronavirus. Prime Minister Suga: "We will shorten the time for restaurants in Sapporo, Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya from this weekend. We would like to support all the stores that cooperate in shortening the time as a country." Regarding professional occupations such as public health nurses dispatched to health centers in areas where the infection has spread, he said, "We have secured 1,200 people, twice as many as before." Based on his comments, he emphasized that "three weeks is an extremely important time," and called for thorough infection prevention measures such as wearing masks. Video translated by Youngbin Noh
• 
  2020-11-25

  順番待ち不要！最新の銀行　窓口で現金受け渡しせず(2020年11月25日) - No need to wait in line! No delivery of cash at the latest bank counter (November 25, 2020)

  This is a news where Mitsui Sumitomo Banking Corporation, one of the biggest Banking Corporation in Japan, made the bank stores much more convenient and less clustered. Personally, I felt this was very slow in terms of technology, because compared to countries such as Korea, Japan always were analog with how they organized the bank and putting money. 銀行の順番待ちも窓口前でずっと待つ必要がなくなります。 　三井住友銀行が新たに開設した店舗では番号札を取った客がその場にいる必要がなく、店内が混雑して「密」な状態にならないようにします。また、窓口で現金の受け渡しをしません。高額の入金などは、客は電子サインの後にQRコードを受け取り、高性能なATMを使います。三井住友銀行は全体の約7割をこうした店舗にする計画です。 You don't have to wait in front of the counter to wait for the bank. At the store newly opened by Mitsui Sumitomo Banking Corporation, the customer who picked up the number tag does not need to be in the store, so that the store will not be crowded and become "clustered". In addition, cash will not be delivered at the counter. For large deposits, customers receive a QR code after an electronic signature and use a high-performance ATM. Mitsui Sumitomo Banking Corporation plans to make about 70% of all stores like this. Video Translated by Youngbin Noh
• 
  2020-11-25

  都内の新型コロナ感染者は401人　重症者は54人に(2020年11月25日) - 401 people infected with the new coronavirus in Tokyo, 54 people with severe symptoms (November 25, 2020)

  The capital and my home town, Tokyo, has started to have increased number of COVID-19 cases. It is because Japan is doing this GO TO travel campaign and trying to live as if COVID-19 is not happening. From my perspective, they are focusing more on the economy and trying to make Japan look as if it is fine for the Olympics, rather than focusing on the actual citizen’s health. 東京都は25日、新型コロナウイルスの新規感染者が401人確認され、重症者が54人になったと発表しました。重症者の数は2日連続で緊急事態宣言解除後の過去最多を更新しました。 　都内の重症者数は前日よりも3人増えて54人となりました。2日連続で緊急事態宣言解除後の過去最多を更新したことになります。また、80代から90代の男女3人の死亡も確認されました。重症者の急増などを受けて都は島しょ部を除き、お酒を提供する飲食店などに対して午後10時までの営業時間の短縮を要請することを決めました。期間は28日からの20日間としています。 The Tokyo Metropolitan Government announced on the 25th that 401 new cases of coronavirus infection were confirmed and 54 people were seriously ill. The number of seriously ill people reached a record high for the second consecutive day after the state of emergency was lifted. The number of seriously ill people in Tokyo increased by 3 from the previous day to 54. This is the second consecutive day that we have updated the record high since the state of emergency was lifted. In addition, three men and women in their 80s and 90s were confirmed dead. Due to the rapid increase in the number of seriously ill people, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has decided to request restaurants that serve alcohol to shorten its business hours by 10 pm, except for the restaurants in the islands (that are still in Tokyo province). The period is from 28th of this month to 20th of December. Video translated by Youngbin Noh
• 
  2020-11-01

  Re-entry of foreign nationals with the status of residence

  From November 1st of 2020, foreign residents who have valid residency in Japan who currently are outside finally can come into Japan just like normal citizens. Before this regulation, foreign residents such as permanent residence holders had to get this “the Letter of Confirmation of Submitting Required Documentation for Re-entry into Japan” or “Receipt for Request of Re-entry” from the closest Japanese embassy. On the other hand, Japanese citizen just need to come in with a valid negative result. This applied to me, where I could not go back because that would mean I had to go to LA’s Japanese embassy to get the form, and then go back to Japan. Now, I could go back to japan, if I have a “certificate of negative result”. However, I opened the file, and it turns out I would need a signature from a medical institution and a doctor. All students from ASU can get free test from ASU, but it is not a medical institution. This means I would have to go to other places that can give me this signature, which is not that easy for me.
• 
  2020-11-20

  “新型コロナ”分科会会長「札幌『ステージ3』か」(2020年11月20日) - Chairman of the "New Corona" Subcommittee "Sapporo" Stage 3 "?" (November 20, 2020)

  政府の新型コロナウイルス対策分科会の尾身会長は、感染が拡大している札幌について、個人の見解として、「『ステージ3』に入っているのではないか」との認識を示しました。GoToトラベルキャンペーンの見直しを提言したことについては、「感染の早期鎮静化につながり結果的には、経済的なダメージも少なくなる」と説明しました。また、「感染の可能性を自覚しながら検査を受けない事例も増えている」と指摘し、改めて、症状が出れば早期に受診するよう呼び掛けました。 Mr. Omi, chairman of the government's new coronavirus control subcommittee, expressed his personal opinion about Sapporo of Hokkaido, where the infection is spreading, that he may be in "stage 3". He explained that he recommended a review of the GoTo Travel Campaign, which will lead to early sedation of the infection and, as a result, less financial damage." He also pointed out that "the number of cases where people are aware of the symptoms of infection but do not get tested is increasing," and once again called for an early checkup if symptoms occur. Video translated by Youngbin Noh
• 
  2020-11-19

  新型コロナ治療に光　ウイルス侵入防ぐ物質を開発(2020年11月19日) - Developed a substance to prevent invasion of light virus for new corona treatment (November 19, 2020)

  新型コロナウイルスの有力な治療薬になる可能性があります。京都府立医科大学などの研究チームは新型コロナウイルスが細胞に侵入するのを防ぐ特殊なたんぱく質を開発したと発表しました。 　京都府立医科大学・星野温助教：「（新型コロナウイルス）治療薬がまだ『これ』というのが確立されてませんので、その一つの大きな候補となる開発技術になりますので、大きく社会に貢献できるものと期待します」 　新型コロナウイルスは表面にあるトゲが人の細胞の表面にある「ACE2」と呼ばれる突起と結合することで細胞内に侵入します。京都府立医科大学の星野温助教らの研究チームは細胞の突起に結合する前に、ウイルス表面のトゲと結合する特殊なたんぱく質を開発しました。トゲと結合する力がACE2よりも100倍以上強いということです。このたんぱく質を軽症や中等症の患者に投与することで感染した後に症状の悪化を抑える効果が期待できるということです。また、似たような仕組みの抗体製剤と比べてウイルスが変異しても効果が変わらないとしています。 　京都府立医科大学・星野温助教：「抗体製剤は比較的スパイク（ウイルスのトゲ）と点でくっついている感じですね。私たちのたんぱく質製剤は元々、スパイクがACE2（細胞の突起）にくっつく面をすべてカバーしているので」 　今後は企業と協力して来年度に臨床試験を始め、再来年度の実用化を目指したいとしています。 It has the potential to be a powerful remedy for the new coronavirus. Research teams including Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine have announced that they have developed a special protein that prevents the new coronavirus from invading cells. Assistant Professor Atsushi Hoshino, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine: "(New coronavirus) Therapeutic drug has not yet been established, so it will be one of the major candidates for development technology, and will greatly contribute to society. I expect it to be possible. " The new coronavirus invades the cells by binding the spikes on the surface to the protrusions called "ACE2" on the surface of human cells. A research team led by Assistant Professor Atsushi Hoshino of Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine has developed a special protein that binds to spikes on the surface of the virus before it binds to the protrusions of cells. It means that the force to bind to spikes is more than 100 times stronger than ACE2. By administering this protein to patients with mild or moderate illness, it can be expected to have the effect of suppressing the worsening of symptoms after infection. In addition, compared to antibody preparations with a similar mechanism, the effect does not change even if the virus mutates. Atsushi Hoshino, Assistant Professor, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine: "It feels like antibody preparations are relatively sticking to spikes (virus spikes). Our protein preparations already have spikes sticking to ACE2 (cell protrusions) and it covers all of them. " In the future, we would like to cooperate with companies to start clinical trials next year and aim for practical application in the following year of next year. Video translated by Youngbin Noh
• 
  2020-11-19

  東京534人感染 最多を更新　警戒レベル「最高」に（2020年11月19日） - Updated the highest number of infections in 534 people in Tokyo to the highest alert level (November 19, 2020)

  This is a news that talks about the highest number of COVID cases in Tokyo. I believe this is caused by all the GO TO Travel which promoted people to travel despite being in COVID, and how all restaurants are open to dine-in and no one doing take-out. Also, Izakaya, a drinking/eating type of restaurants are usually have seats close to each other and do not have good ventilation. 東京都できょう、新型コロナウイルスの感染者が534人確認され、２日連続、過去最多を更新しました。 都は４段階の警戒レベルを「最高」に引き上げました。 きょう、都内で感染が確認されたのは534人できのうの493人を上回り最多を更新しました。 １日の新規感染者数が500人を超えるのは初めてです。 重症者はきのうから１人減った38人です。 こうした中、都は専門家と会議を開き、「感染状況」についての警戒レベルをおよそ２ヵ月ぶりに４段階で最も深刻な「感染が拡大している」に引き上げました。 特に重症化のリスクがある高齢者が大幅に増加したとして注意を呼びかけました。 （小池知事）「急速な感染拡大の局面にあるということ。高齢者・基礎疾患のある人は会食への参加を控えてもらいたい。避けてもらいたい。」 ただ、飲食店の営業時間の短縮要請については、「時短の効果とマイナスの影響を比較して考える必要がある」など慎重な意見もあり、現時点では行わない方針です。 In Tokyo, 534 people were confirmed to be infected with the new coronavirus, which was a highest number for the second consecutive day. Tokyo has raised the four levels of alertness to "highest". Today, the number of confirmed infections (543) in Tokyo exceeded 493. This is the first time that the number of newly infected people exceeds 500 per day. The number of seriously ill people is 38, one less than yesterday. Under these circumstances, the city held a meeting with experts and raised the alert level for "infection status" to the most serious "infection is spreading" in four stages for the first time in about two months. In particular, Tokyo has stated that the number of elderly people at risk of becoming severe has increased significantly. (Governor Koike) "We are in a phase of rapid infection spread. We would like elderly people and people with underlying illnesses to refrain from attending dinner. Please avoid it." However, regarding the request to shorten the business hours of restaurants, she stated that "It is necessary to compare the effect of shortening the time with the negative effect", so we will not make that decision at this time. Video translated by Youngbin Noh
• 
  2020-11-17

  札幌で感染拡大続く　外出・往来の自粛要請へ(2020年11月17日) - Continued spread of infection in Sapporo: Request to refrain from going out and coming and going (November 17, 2020)

  Hokkaido, a region up north of Japan, has been having increased number of cases. A lot of people are saying this is happening because it is cold there. 新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大が続いている北海道では17日から札幌市の警戒ステージを引き上げ、不要不急の外出自粛などを要請します。 　北海道・鈴木直道知事：「明確な減少傾向にしていくためには、さらに強いお願いをしなければならない」 　札幌市・秋元克広市長：「不要不急の外出の自粛をお願いするなども含めてさらに強い対策を取って行く必要があるのではないか」 　北海道では16日も189人の感染が確認され、このうち札幌市では124人と感染拡大が続いています。鈴木知事と札幌市の秋元市長は札幌市の警戒ステージを「4相当」に引き上げ、感染リスクが回避できない場合、「札幌市内での不要不急の外出自粛」や「札幌市と他地域との往来自粛」を要請する方針で合意しました。道は17日午後、対策会議を開いて正式決定します。 In Hokkaido, where the infection of the new coronavirus continues to spread, they decided to raise the alert stage of Sapporo City from the 17th and request that we refrain from going out unnecessarily. Governor Naomichi Suzuki of Hokkaido: "In order to make a clear downward trend, we must make a stronger policy." Mayor of Sapporo City, Katsuhiro Akimoto: "Furthermore, we will be asking people to refrain from going out unnecessarily. It may be necessary to take strong measures.” In Hokkaido, 189 people were confirmed to be infected on the 16th, of which 124 people continued to spread in Sapporo City. Governor Suzuki and Mayor Akimoto of Sapporo City raised the alert stage of Sapporo City to "equivalent to 4", and if the risk of infection cannot be avoided, they have agreed on agreed on a policy of requesting "self-restraint from traffic" to "refrain from going out unnecessarily in Sapporo City" or "Sapporo City and other areas". The policy for the roads will be officially decided by holding a countermeasure meeting on the afternoon of the 17th. Video translated by Youngbin Noh
• 
  2020-11-13

  コロナ　変異で感染力強く　東大がハムスターで実験(2020年11月13日) - Corona mutation strongly infectious University of Tokyo experimented with hamster (November 13, 2020)

  新型コロナウイルスが変異したことで感染力が強まったことを確認したということです。 　東京大学医科学研究所の河岡義裕教授は新型コロナウイルスが変異したことで感染力が強まったと発表しました。変異はD614Gと呼ばれ、ウイルスの表面にある突起部分で起きたもので、変異の前よりも細胞に結合しやすくなったということです。河岡教授はハムスターなどを使った実験で変異したウイルスが従来のウイルスよりも飛沫（ひまつ）感染しやすいことを確認しました。現在、世界で蔓延（まんえん）しているのはこの変異ウイルスですが、変異前のウイルスをもとに作ったワクチンも効果が期待されるとしています。 It was confirmed that the infectivity of the new coronavirus was strengthened by the mutation. Professor Yoshihiro Kawaoka of the Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo, announced that the mutation of the new coronavirus increased the infectivity. The mutation, called D614G, occurs in a protrusion on the surface of the virus (Spikes), which means that it is easier to bind to cells in humans than it was before the mutation. Professor Kawaoka confirmed in experiments using hamsters, hamsters with mutated version of viruses are more susceptible to droplet (himatsu) infection than hamsters with conventional viruses. Currently, it is this mutant virus that is widespread in the world, but it is expected that vaccines made based on the virus before mutation will also be effective. Video translated by Youngbin Noh
• 
  2020-04-01

  "The Coronavirus Is Bringing Back a 1,000-Year-Old ‘Cheese’ in Japan" - Atlas Obscura

  Like other countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan is experiencing a rising interest in learning new cooking recipes, particularly local culinary traditions. In a short article for Atlas Obscura, Makiko Itoh looks at how the recent cooking craze has hit Japan through the lens of a particular dairy product, known as so. Recently, the Japanese dairy industry had a problem with being unable to sell its surplus milk supply overseas due to the transit disruptions created by the pandemic. In response, Japanese consumers were encouraged to purchase more milk to save the industry and to use them for local recipes. One recipe in particular, known as so, has gained increased interest from Japanese foodies. According to Itoh, so is a cheese-like dairy product that was first created during the Nara and Heian periods of Japanese history, when dairy farming was at its height. So was popular among aristocrats, and even the Japanese emperors of the time were avid consumers. However, according to Itoh, the rise of the Kamakura Shogunate and the samurai warrior class caused the popularity of so and other dairy products to decline markedly. So making was recently revived by foodies and history buffs, who have helped popularize the recipe again for new consumers and amateur cooks.
• 
  2020-11-10

  産業医の診療もリモートで　生活習慣病など対応(2020年11月10日) - Remote medical care by occupational physicians for lifestyle-related diseases (November 10, 2020)

  テレワークの定着で産業医による診療も遠隔になりました。 　大和証券医務室・多田愼一郎センター長：「体調は悪くないですか？」 　本社勤務・50代男性：「特に問題ないですね」 　大和証券医務室・多田愼一郎センター長：「テレワークしていて運動もできているからいいですね」 　新型コロナウイルスをきっかけにすべての社員を対象に在宅勤務を導入した大和証券では、今月から産業医による診療をリモートで行っています。本社以外で勤務する社員も利用できるようになり、在宅勤務などの新しい働き方についても相談できるのが特長です。ただ、風邪などの症状には対応できないため、生活習慣病やアレルギーなどを中心に診察するということです。 With the normality of remote work, medical treatment by occupational physicians has become remote. Daiwa Securities Medical Office, Director Shinichiro Tada: "Are you feeling okay?" Working at the head office, male in his 50s: "No particular problem." Daiwa Securities Medical Office, Director Shinichiro Tada: "It’s good that you can do remote work and exercises at the same time.” Daiwa Securities, which introduced tele-commuting for all employees due to the new coronavirus provides medical care by occupational physicians remotely from this month. Employees who work outside the head office can also use it, and it is a feature that they can consult about new work styles such as working from home. However, the doctors do cannot take care of symptoms of colds but rather mainly examine lifestyle-related diseases and allergies. Video is translated by Youngbin Noh
• 
  2020-11-06

  週刊　グラフで見る新型コロナ（2020年11月6日） - Weekly Graph View New Corona (November 6, 2020)

  This video shows the number of cases of COVID-19 in each region of Japan. Tokyo is the capital and the busiest and as you can see, it has the most cases throughout the whole video. 週刊 「グラフで見る新型コロナ」、各自治体などの発表をもとにテレビ東京がまとめた新型コロナウイルス感染症の感染者推移をグラフでお送りします。 まず、1週間ごとの新規感染者の推移を示すグラフです。 首都圏と大阪で感染者数が下げ止まりする状況が続いていて、地域によってはわずかに増えています。そうした中、北海道と愛知県で感染者数が大幅に増えています。愛知県では職場などで小規模のクラスターが多く発生していて、大村知事は「事実上の第三波」との認識を示しました。 次に、地域の医療体制にも影響する一週間毎の人口10万人当たりの新規感染者数です。この1か月の動きを見てみますと、青森や北海道、宮城県など寒い地域で感染が増えていることがわかります。 今週に入ってからは特に北海道が札幌を中心に急速に増えていて、全国で最も多くなりました。道はススキノの酒を出す飲食店での営業時間の短縮要請など、対策を検討しています。 ※「1週間毎の新規感染者」はその日からさかのぼって7日間の陽性確認者を足したものです ※「1週間毎の新規感染者（人口10万人当たり）」で使用している人口は2019年10月時点です。 We will show you a graph of the transition of people infected with the new coronavirus, which was compiled by TV TOKYO based on the weekly "New Coronavirus Seen in Graph" and the announcements of each local government. First, it is a graph showing the transition of newly infected people every week. The number of infected people continues to decline in the Tokyo metropolitan area and Osaka, and is increasing slightly in some areas. Under such circumstances, the number of infected people has increased significantly in Hokkaido and Aichi prefectures. In Aichi Prefecture, there are many small clusters in the workplace, and Governor Omura has indicated that it is the "de facto third wave." Next is the number of new infections per 100,000 population per week, which also affects the local health care system. Looking at the movements over the past month, we can see that infections are increasing in cold regions such as Aomori, Hokkaido, and Miyagi prefectures. Since the beginning of this week, Hokkaido has increased rapidly, especially in Sapporo, and it has become the largest number in Japan. Michi is considering measures such as requesting shortening of business hours at restaurants that serve Susukino sake. Video is translated by Youngbin Noh
• 
  2020-11-05

  Brazillin JiuJitsu Classes During the Pandemic

  At the start of the pandemic many gyms had to close all around the world. As the pandemic has continued, gyms have reopened and had to change the way they do things. In this tweet we can see that during the Brazilian JIuJitsu class, that all of the attendees are wearing masks. This is one adaptation that had to be made for them to continue training as safe as they possibly could.
• 
  2020-10-30

  Volunteering at the 2020 Otsukimi festival in Phoenix

  I volunteered at the Otsukimi moon viewing festival this October in 2020. I was impressed regarding mask wearing and following overall Covid-19 protocols. They had to dial back the event from last years due to the pandemic, so there was less food and entertainment available. It was more similar to a showcase than a festival. Also all the tickets were sold prior rather than at the door. Otherwise it was a pleasant and calm experience.
• 2020-09-27

  Rizin 24 Behind the Scenes Photos

  Watching this event I found it interesting to see all of the masks that were being worn by staff and around the ring contrasting with the fighter not wearing one. I was also surprised that there were so many people in the crowd. This tweet and the photos it includes show that even in Japan, masks are strictly being worn in some capacity. ASU, HST485
• 
  2020-10-30

  コロナ検査1日6万5000件へ　インフル同時流行に備え(2020年10月30日) - Corona testing up to 65,000 cases a day in preparation for simultaneous spread with influenza (October 30, 2020)

  I personally think this is important to increase the amount of cases they can test per day. However, from what I hear from my parents who live in Tokyo, getting tested is really hard because you have to have symptoms to get tested. With no symptoms, a lot test centers turn you down even though there are so many cases who are asymptomatic. 東京都は一日あたりの検査能力を6万5000件まで拡充します。 　東京都の現在の新型コロナウイルスの検査能力は一日あたり約2万5000件ですが、インフルエンザとの同時流行で発熱患者が増えた場合、最大で約6万5000件必要になる可能性があります。こうした状況を受けて都は、新型コロナの検査能力を12月上旬までに一日あたり最大6万5000件へ拡充する方針を明らかにしました。今月25日までに都内で確認されている今シーズンのインフルエンザの患者は4人ですが、これからの流行期に備える狙いです。 The Tokyo Metropolitan Government will expand its daily testing capacity to 65,000 tests. The current testing capacity of the new coronavirus in Tokyo is about 25,000 per day, but if the number of fever patients increases due to the simultaneous spread with influenza, a maximum of about 65,000 may be required. In response to this situation, the city has announced that it will expand the testing capacity of the new coronavirus to a maximum of 65,000 per day by early December. By the 25th of this month, four influenza patients have been confirmed in Tokyo this season, but we are aiming to prepare for the coming flu season.
• 
  2020-10-28

  混雑戻り感染懸念も・・・鉄道の換気を検証　結果は？(2020年10月28日) - Concerns about returning to crowded situation ... Verifying railway ventilation What are the results? (October 28, 2020)

  Japan is the country that uses public transportation a lot compared to the United States. I personally also commuted to school with train for more than 10 years and it is normal to use public transport to commute and to get anywhere rather than your own car. Parking on streets is very hard to find and all parking lots are very expensive, especially in downtown areas. It is also just more convenient to use public transport because Japan is one of the countries that trains/bus are never late and come on time. This news is really important because infection can easily happen in trains if it is not ventilated properly and people are not taking distances. However, Japan is very rigid on rules about time and a lot of workers have to get to work on certain time, which causes crowds on trains/bus at certain time. 最近、また列車が混んできたなと感じることが増えてきました。気になるのは車両の中の換気です。ある研究データが出てきました。 　シミュレーションの結果は意外なものでした。一時はガラガラだった列車も、いつの間にかコロナ前の混雑が戻りつつあります。気になるのは感染リスクです。混み具合によって車内の空気の流れはどのように変化するのか・・・。 　鉄道総合技術研究所は、この「換気」の問題に焦点を絞り、シミュレーションを実施しました。例えば乗客ゼロの状態と、乗客が増えて立っている人ですべてのつり革が埋まっている乗車率100％の状態を比べると、換気の効率にどのような違いが出るのか・・・。 　条件は6カ所の窓を10センチ程度開け、時速70キロで走行した場合です。結果、乗車率ゼロでも乗車率100％でも換気効率に大きな違いは出ませんでした。 　これは乗客が増えると、その分、車内の空気の体積が減るため。乗客がいないと5.3分に1回のペースで車内の空気が入れ替わりますが、乗車率100％だと4.5分。むしろ早まることが分かりました。ちなみに山手線の混み具合はコロナの影響が出る直前の2月初旬を「100」とした場合、5月に38％まで落ち込んだものの、その後、徐々に回復し、先月は65％まで戻しています。 　今回のシミュレーションでは乗客が増えても空気の流れ自体にはさほど悪い影響がないことが分かりました。ただし、乗客が増えることによって不特定多数と接近してしまうなどのリスクは今回の計算には含まれていません。 Recently, I feel that the trains are getting crowded again. What is concerning is the ventilation inside the vehicle. Some research data came out. The result of the simulation was surprising. The train, which was once rattled, is returning to congestion in front of Corona. What is concerning is the risk of infection. How does the air flow inside the car change depending on how crowded it is? The Railway Technical Research Institute focused on this "ventilation" problem and conducted a simulation. For example, if you compare the state of zero passengers with the state of 100% occupancy rate where all the holding straps are filled with people standing with more passengers, what kind of difference will there be in ventilation efficiency? The condition is when 6 windows are opened about 10 cm and the vehicle travels at 70 km / h. As a result, there was no big difference in ventilation efficiency between zero occupancy rate and 100% occupancy rate. This is because the volume of air inside the car decreases as the number of passengers increases. If there are no passengers, the air inside the car changes at a pace of once every 5.3 minutes, but if the occupancy rate is 100%, it takes 4.5 minutes. It turned out to be rather quick. By the way, if the congestion level of the Yamanote Line is set to "100" in early February just before the influence of the corona, it dropped to 38% in May, but then gradually recovered and returned to 65% last month. .. In this simulation, it was found that even if the number of passengers increased, the air flow itself was not so badly affected. However, the risk of approaching an unspecified number of passengers due to an increase in passengers is not included in this calculation.
• 
  2020-10-27

  五輪コロナ対策会議　無症状陽性に複数回検査検討へ(2020年10月27日) - Olympic Corona Countermeasures Conference: Asymptomatic positive multiple test studies (October 27, 2020)

  27日に開かれる東京オリンピック・パラリンピックの新型コロナウイルス対策会議で、陽性と判定された選手が無症状の場合、複数回の検査を行うことを検討することが分かりました。 　大会に出場する選手が陽性と判定された場合、その選手が出場できないことも想定されます。このため、無症状でも陽性と判断された選手に対して複数回の検査を行うことが検討されます。また、濃厚接触者の特定にあたっては、チーム競技か個人競技かや、格闘技など多くの接触を伴う競技かを踏まえたうえで、試合直前までに陰性と証明されれば出場を認めることも検討されます。組織委員会は「感染症対策センター」を設置して、選手の健康状況を確認したい考えです。 On 27th, at the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics' New Coronavirus Countermeasures Conference, it was concluded that if athletes who test positive are asymptomatic, they have considered to do multiple tests. If a player who participates in the tournament is found to be positive, it is assumed that the player cannot participate. For this reason, it is considered to perform multiple tests on athletes who are asymptomatic but positive. In addition, if the participants were found to be in close contact with the infected participants, they have considered to allow participation if they prove that they are negative until right before the match, based on whether it is a team competition or an individual competition, or a competition that involves a lot of contact such as martial arts. The Organizing Committee wants to set up an "Infectious Disease Control Center" to check the health status of athletes.
• 
  2020-10-26

  コロナ拡大後初クルーズ船商業運航“GoTo”対象も(2020年10月26日) - First cruise ship commercial operation "GoTo" Travel Campaign after the spread of coronavirus(October 26, 2020)

  Personally, when I saw this news, I was very confused at the fact that they would start a cruise ship after all the incidents that happened on the cruise earlier this year, where cluster of infection happened. Even though bringing back the economy is important, starting a cruise ship where if an infection happens, others cannot run away and avoid infection. 25日にチャータークルーズ「にっぽん丸」が愛媛県の新居浜港を出港しました。クルーズ船の商業運航は新型コロナの感染拡大後、初めてです。 　にっぽん丸は日本で3番目の大きさを誇る豪華客船です。今回のクルーズツアーは2泊3日の予定で、GoToトラベルキャンペーンの対象となっています。四国を中心に乗客約190人が参加しました。 　乗客：「うれしいです。ずっと待っていたので再開を」 　今回のクルーズツアーは乗船客へのPCR検査、サーモグラフィー検温など、徹底した感染対策を講じたうえでの運航となっています。にっぽん丸は26日、長崎県佐世保港に到着する予定です。 On the 25th, the charter cruise "Nippon Maru" departed from Niihama Port in Ehime Prefecture. This is the first commercial cruise ship operation since the spread of the new coronavirus. Nippon Maru is the third largest luxury liner in Japan. This cruise tour is scheduled for 2 nights and 3 days and is covered by the GoTo Travel Campaign. About 190 passengers participated, mainly from the Shikoku area. Passenger: "I'm happy. I've been waiting for a long time to restart." This cruise tour is operated after thorough infection countermeasures such as PCR inspection for passengers and thermography temperature measurement. Nippon Maru is scheduled to arrive at Sasebo Port in Nagasaki Prefecture on the 26th.
• 
  2020-10-26

  コロナと同時流行懸念　全世代でインフル予防接種(2020年10月26日) - Concerns about simultaneous spread with corona Influenza vaccination for all age group (October 26, 2020)

  新型コロナウイルスとの同時流行が懸念されているインフルエンザのワクチンの接種が26日からすべての人を対象に始まりました。 　厚生労働省によりますと、今シーズンのインフルエンザワクチンは過去5年で最も多い6650万人分を供給できる見通しです。新型コロナウイルスとの同時流行の可能性が指摘されるなか、1日から重症化リスクの高い65歳以上の高齢者などへの接種が優先的に行われていました。26日からはすべての人が対象になります。 　予防接種を受けた女性（60）：「このところ（ワクチン接種を）していなかったが、新型コロナのこともあるので接種しようと」 　厚労省は本数に限りがあることから医療従事者や妊婦、小学2年までの子どもなどは早めに接種するよう呼び掛けています。これまでのところ、全国のインフルエンザの患者は例年と比べて大幅に少ない状況です。 Influenza vaccination, which is feared to be a simultaneous spread with the new coronavirus, began on the 26th for all people. According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, this season's influenza vaccine is expected to supply 66.5 million people, the highest number in the past five years. While it has been pointed out that there is a possibility of a simultaneous spread with the new coronavirus, inoculation was given priority to elderly people aged 65 and over who are at high risk of becoming severe from the 1st. From the 26th, everyone will be eligible. Vaccinated woman (60): "I haven't been vaccinated recently, but I'm trying to get vaccinated because of the coronavirus." The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is calling for early vaccination of medical staff, pregnant women, children up to the second grade of elementary school, etc. So far, the number of influenza patients nationwide is significantly lower than usual.
• 
  2020-10-23

  GoTo対象　北海道のバスツアーで41人のうち12人感染(2020年10月23日) - GoTo travel: 12 out of 41 people infected on a bus tour in Hokkaido (October 23, 2020)

  Go to travel is a program in Japan that covers certain amount of traveling fee in Japan in order for the economy to boost back up. This program has been somewhat controversial I would say because we are still in a pandemic and we should not really travel around, especially Japan has one of the highest numbers of elderly people, and by traveling we could expose them to the virus. Also, I really do not understand how they can just overlook someone when they are having some kind of symptoms. It is very irresponsible for the tour company to do so and risk others to get the virus. GoToトラベルの対象になっている北海道のバスツアーで参加者など41人のうち12人が新型コロナウイルスに感染したことが分かりました。 　読売旅行によりますと、感染者が出たのは今月中旬に関西地方から新千歳空港に入り、北海道をバスで周遊した3泊4日のツアーです。参加者38人と添乗員ら合わせて41人のうち12人の感染が確認されました。参加者は新千歳空港に到着した際、体温や健康状態を書くチェックシートを添乗員に提出しました。この時、参加者の1人が「せきや喉の痛みなどの呼吸器症状」の項目をチェックしましたが、添乗員が見落としていました。その後、この人の感染が確認されて全員の検査をすることになりました。その北海道では22日に新たに40人の感染が確認されました。このうち札幌市は31人で、一日あたりとしては過去2番目に多い人数です。 It was found that 12 out of 41 participants, were infected with the new coronavirus on a bus tour in Hokkaido, which is a part of GoTo Travel. According to the Yomiuri trip, the infected participants came from the Kansai region in the middle of this month on a 3-night 4-day tour that landed New Chitose Airport and traveled around Hokkaido by bus. Infection was confirmed in 12 out of 41 people, including 38 participants and tour conductors. When the participants arrived at New Chitose Airport, they submitted a check sheet to the tour operator to write down their body temperature and health condition. At this time, one of the participants checked the item "Respiratory symptoms such as coughing and sore throat", but the tour operator overlooked it. After that, this person's infection was confirmed and everyone had to be tested. In Hokkaido, 40 new infections were confirmed on the 22nd. Of these, 31 are in Sapporo, the second-highest number per day in the past.
• 
  2020-10-23

  テレワークでもキチンと決まる「テレウェア」とは？(2020年10月23日) - What is "tele-wear" that works for working from home? (October 23, 2020)

  This is just a fun news talking about how to look good in meetings despite feeling comfortable in meetings. In japan working from home is “Telework”, like telephone, and they used “Tele” with wear to signify business clothes that is used for remote work. 紳士服大手の「はるやま商事」は20代から30代をターゲットとした店舗でテレワークに合わせ、楽ちんなのに、きちんと決められるビジネスウェア「テレウェア」の提案を始めます。テレワークが続くなか、デニム風でやわらかい着心地のジャケットとの組み合わせやオンライン会議で自分の服装がどのように見えるか店頭で確かめて買うという新しい「試着」のスタイルも期間限定で提案します。 Haruyama Trading Co., Ltd., a major men's clothing company, is a store targeting people in their 20s and 30s, and started proposing a business wear "tele-wear", which is comfortable yet looks put together. As working from home continues, we propose this new "try-on" style for a limited time, such as combining it with a denim-like soft jacket and checking the look at the store to see what your clothes will look like for online meeting.
• 
  2020-10-17

  「コロナで収入途絶え」自殺目的で放火か　４人死傷（2020年10月17日）- "The drop in income due to Corona" Suicidal arson 4 people killed/injured (October 17, 2020)

  Personally, when I watched this news, I felt like a lot of people can relate to this man. He felt depressed most likely due to loss of income from COVID-19, and just could not handle the reality. However, he did kill and injure people during his suicidal arson, which is of course wrong. What is worse is that he is alive while he involved other people. 「コロナで収入が途絶え死を意識した」ということです。 おとといの夜、東京・北区の木造アパートの自室に灯油をまき、ライターで火を付けたとして、放火の疑いで逮捕された自称・金田一淳悦容疑者が、調べに対し「新型コロナで収入が途絶え、自殺したくて火を付けた」と供述していることがわかりました。 この火事で、２階に住む小野豊さんが死亡したほか男女３人がケガをしています "I considered of killing myself because my income was cut off in Corona." On the night two days, a self-proclaimed Kazuyoshi Kaneda, who was arrested on suspicion of arson for sprinkling kerosene in his room in a wooden apartment in Kita-ku, Tokyo and igniting it with a lighter, the investigation found that he stated, "Income is gone due the new Corona. I lit a fire because I wanted to commit himself". The fire killed Yutaka Ono, who lives on the second floor, and injured three men and women.
• 2020-10-15

  The Olympics

  Crazy how the olympics was postponed and cancelled. I met a Japanese lady who worked as a tour guide. She said the olympics was going to be an amazing time business wise for her. She works with olympic atheletes who need translation for Japanese to English. I remember carrying her golf bags. Everyone on the ship wanted to carry her golf bags considering she tipped $20 everytime!
• 
  2020-10-16

  Worrying for future scholarships

  I'm worried about applying for a future scholarship called the MEXT scholarship because supposedly international students are still not allowed to enter Japan. While this will likely change, I'm fearful that due to many governments around the world losing tax revenue due to the pandemic, that they'll will cut extraneous programs such as the MEXT scholarship. The pandemic prevented people taking the JLPT language assessment last July as well. That makes it harder to get certifications to help boost my current resume. They say that there will be a test date in December, but like many events during the pandemic, it's up in the air.
• 
  2020-10-16

  アビガンで新型コロナ症状早く改善　承認を申請(2020年10月16日) - Apply for approval for early improvement of new corona symptoms with Avigan (October 16, 2020)

  I previously uploaded a story about the drug Avigan, where FUJIFILM was still in the process of asking for approval. This news talks about how FUJIFILM now actually asked for manufacturing approval and could be another drug that could be used for the new coronavirus. Personally, I do here that this drug also has a lot of side effects for certain patients, so I feel like we are rushing the development of drug. Side note, Avigan is also known as Favipiravir which is known to be used for treating influenza mainly in Japan. 承認されれば日本の製薬会社が作る初めての新型コロナ治療薬となります。 　富士フイルムは「アビガン」について、新型コロナウイルスの治療薬として製造販売の承認を申請したと発表しました。3月末から行われていた臨床試験で新型コロナの患者に対してアビガンを投与すると症状が早く改善することが確認でき、安全性の面でも新たな懸念事項は認められなかったということです。厚生労働省が承認すれば「レムデシベル」「デキサメタゾン」に続いて新型コロナの治療薬としては3例目となり、日本の製薬会社が開発した薬としては初めてとなります。 If approved, it will be the first new corona treatment made by a Japanese pharmaceutical company. FUJIFILM announced that it has applied for manufacturing and marketing approval of "Avigan" as a therapeutic drug for the new coronavirus. In clinical trials that began at the end of March, it was confirmed that administration of Avigan to patients with the new corona improved their symptoms quickly, and there were no new safety concerns. If approved by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, it will be the third therapeutic drug for the new corona following the "Remdesiver" and "Dexamethasone", and the first drug developed by a Japanese pharmaceutical company.
• 
  2020-10-13

  Trapped in Peru

  A Japanese tourist, Jesse Katayama is Stuck in Peru during the pandemic. He has been allowed into the ruins of Machu Picchu after a seven month wait. Stuck in Peru since mid-March, he was only allowed to enter the Inca Citadel on special request. There are 33,305 deaths because of Covid-19, which is the highest per capita mortality rate.
• 
  2020-10-10

  コロナ感染予防にリップクリームが効果(2020年10月10日) - Lip balm is effective in preventing corona infection (October 10, 2020)

  This is a news talking how lip balms could be effective in the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 virus. 新型コロナウイルスの感染経路の一つであるつばの飛散防止について、リップクリームが効果的だとフランスの研究者らが発表しました。 　研究はフランス・モンペリエ大学のアブカリアン教授らが行いました。会話中では特にPやBの発音の際、唇の間に唾液の糸ができ、それがつばとなって空気中に放出されます。しかし、リップクリームを塗ったところ唾液の糸はできにくくなり、人によっては飛散するつばの量が4分の1になったということです。 　アブカリアン教授：「もし唇の表面の質を変えたらどうなるんだろうと思いました。研究では、保湿などに使うクリームを塗ると飛沫（ひまつ）の量が減ったんです」 　音によって効果が異なるほか、効果自体も1分ほどしか持たないことから、リップクリームはマスクの代わりにはなりませんが、研究を続けていくとしています。 French researchers have announced that lip balm is effective in preventing the spread of the spit, which is one of the infection routes of the new coronavirus. The research was conducted by Professor Abcarian of the University of Montpellier, France. During conversations, especially when pronouncing P or B, a thread of saliva is formed between the lips, which becomes a spit and is released into the air. However, when lip balm was applied, it became difficult for the saliva threads to form, and for some people, the amount of scattered spit was reduced to one-fourth. Professor Abcarian: "I wondered what would happen if I changed the quality of the surface of my lips. In my research, applying a cream used for moisturizing reduced the amount of droplets (himatsu)." The effect differs depending on the sound, and the effect itself lasts only about 1 minute, so lip balm is not a substitute for a mask, but they will continue their research.
• 
  2020-10-13

  「富岳」飛沫拡散を計算　“座り位置”で飛沫5倍に(2020年10月13日) - "Tomitake" calculated that the depending on the position of the seat, the droplet could be 5 times more (October 13, 2020)

  This is the news explaining how droplets travel and the risk of exposure. スーパーコンピューター「富岳」を使った新型コロナ感染リスクの検証で、飲食店で隣同士に座って会話した場合は正面で会話するよりも5倍の飛沫（ひまつ）を浴びることが分かりました。 　富岳が4人が飲食店で1分程度話をした場合を計算した飛沫の広がり方です。理化学研究所のチームリーダーを務める神戸大学の坪倉誠教授によりますと、感染者が横に座っていて話をした場合は、正面に座った場合の5倍の飛沫を受けることが分かりました。さらに、飛沫そのものも湿度が低ければ低いほど、下に落ちずに空中に漂う量が急激に増えることが分かりました。湿度30％の場合は、60％の場合の2倍以上の飛沫が1.8メートル先まで到達したということです。また、コンサートホールなどで、合唱をする場合は飛沫は直進するため前方の人ほどリスクが高まるほか、合唱で生まれた気流によって飛沫がより遠くまで届くということです。 In the verification of the risk of new corona infection using the supercomputer "Tomitake", it was found that when sitting next to each other at a restaurant and talking, they are exposed to five times as many droplets (himatsu) compared to when sitting and talking in front of each other. “Tomitake” calculated how the droplets spread when four people talked at a restaurant for about one minute. According to Professor Makoto Tsubokura of Kobe University, who is the team leader of RIKEN, it was found that when an infected person sits next to an individual and talks, he/she is exposed to five times as many droplets as when he/she sits in front of him/her. Furthermore, it was found that the lower the humidity of the droplets themselves, the more the droplets will be floating in the air without falling down. At a humidity of 30%, more than twice as many droplets, compared to the humidity at 60%, reached 1.8 meters away. Also, when a choir is singing in a concert hall, the droplets go straight forwards and thus the risk increases for the person in front, and the airflow created by the chorus causes the droplets to reach farther.
• 
  2020-10-06

  「オンライン診療」コロナ禍特例→“恒常化”へ(2020年10月9日) - "Online diagnosis/check-up " Exception for Corona → To "normalized" (October 9, 2020)

  オンライン診療が初診から解禁される見通しです。 　オンライン診療は新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大を防ぐために現在、特例的に初診であっても認められています。田村厚生労働大臣は8日に平井デジタル改革大臣と河野規制改革大臣と会談し、感染の収束後も安全性と信頼性を確保したうえで、初診も含めてオンライン診療を認める方向で合意したということです。テレビ電話など映像があることが原則となります。オンライン診療を巡っては、医療の質に影響が出ると日本医師会が慎重な姿勢を示していました。 Online medical care/diagnosis is expected to be used from the first visit. Using online medical care/diagnosis for the first visit is currently only permitted for special instances to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus infection. Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Tamura met with Minister of Digital Reform Hirai and Minister of Regulatory Reform Kono on the 8th, and agreed to allow online medical care including the first medical diagnosis after ensuring safety and reliability even after the infection has resolved. As a general rule, there should be camera and ways to do video calls. The Japan Medical Association has been cautious about online medical care, saying that it will affect the quality of medical care.
• 
  2020-10-09

  Japanese Pokémon Cards Keep Me Sane.

  I chose to write about how Japanese Pokémon cards have helped to keep me sane. While it might seem silly at first, I am serious about this topic. I’ve been diagnosed with severe anxiety, and at one point went outside in a thunderstorm holding an umbrella because my mom wasn’t home when she said she would be. Being only 6 at the time, I didn’t really understand that her job doesn’t always end at the same time everyday since she is a professor at UWSP. Going back to the anxiety and Covid, I’ve gotten much better at handling my anxiety since then, but I cannot help but worry about my family. Due to my anxiety, I need to get confirmation that they are ok before I can fully relax. I am currently in my 3rd semester of Japanese. I’m also a huge nerd, so I really like Pokémon. I saw a video on youtube of a guy opening Japanese Pokemon cards, and it clicked in my head that I could distract myself by using Pokemon cards. Since I didn’t take any classes over the summer, I used that time to practice my Japanese by translating the cards to English and comparing them to the English versions of the cards from pictures I found online. Because I was able to do that , I was able to make it through my summer mostly anxiety free. It did cost a bit, roughly $50 US dollars for 20 packs of 7 cards, but it really did help keep me sane while the world went to hell and back.
• 
  2020-03-03

  Survival of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus on the human skin: Importance of hand hygiene in COVID-19

  This is a manuscript published recently in Japan regarding the survival time of COVID-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2) and the influenza A virus (IAV). Overall, the results showed that SARS-CoV-2 and IAV were inactivated more rapidly on skin surfaces than on other surfaces such as stainless steel/glass/plastic. However, the survival time of SARS-CoV-2 was significantly longer for than for IAV. Moreover, both SARS-CoV-2 and IAV in the mucus/medium on human skin were completely inactivated within 15 s by ethanol treatment. This showed that the COVID-19 virus we are facing now survives longer on our skin than influenza A virus, and thus it could spread much easier. Also, this paper shows the importance of sanitization, and how ethanol is one method that is useful in helping the virus to not be spread.
• 
  2020-10-06

  新型コロナ、皮膚上でインフルより５倍長い９時間生存…エタノール消毒の重要性も実証 京都府立医科大（2020年10月6日）- New corona survives 9 hours on the skin, 5 times longer than influenza … Demonstrates the importance of ethanol disinfection Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine (October 6, 2020)

  京都府立医科大学の研究チームは、 新型コロナウイルスが、インフルエンザウイルスに比べて ヒトの皮膚上で長期間生存することを明らかにしたと発表しました。 こちらは ヒトの皮膚表面でのウイルス量が時間とともにどう変化するかを示したグラフで、 赤が新型コロナウイルスを、青がインフルエンザＡ型ウイルスを表しています。 研究チームによりますと、 新型コロナウイルスは皮膚上で９時間程度生存することが明らかになり、 これはインフルエンザウイルスよりもおよそ５倍長いということです。 京都府立医科大・廣瀬亮平助教 「ウイルスが付いているものを手で触って、 その後喉や口や目の辺を触ると、それによって感染するので、 手の上で長生きをするということは、 そういう機会が増えてしまうということでいくと、 感染リスクが上がると考えたほうがいいのではないかと思っている。」 一方、研究チームは、 濃度８０％のエタノールによる消毒効果についても評価を行いました。 それによれば、15秒間の消毒でウイルスが完全に不活化され、 「新型コロナウイルスに対する手指消毒の重要性を実証した」 としています。 京都府立医科大・廣瀬亮平助教 「エタノール消毒薬を使用すれば、 （ウイルスが皮膚上で）長生きするとはいえ、 過度に心配する必要はないのではないかと思っている。 ただ、長い時間生存するということは、裏を返すと、 やはり感染のきっかけが把握しづらい。 例えば手に１時間しか付いていないということであれば、 感染のきっかけ、他者に移すきっかけとかも認識できる可能性があるが、 やはり７，８，９時間と長い時間手に感染性のウイルスが残っていて、 どこを触ったかもわからないとか、どこからもらったかわからないという 状態になってしまう可能性がある。 最近、感染した人への風当たりが厳しい部分もあるが、 接触感染という観点から行くと、 なかなか個人の努力だけでは厳しいかなというところがあるので、 そこに関しては周りの方も優しい目で見てほしいと思う。」 ※引用元 ●論文：Clinical Infectious Diseases Ryohei Hirose et al., (2020) Survival of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus on the human skin: Importance of hand hygiene in COVID-19 https://academic.oup.com/cid/advance-... ●プレスリリース：京都府立医科大のHP ヒトの皮膚上に存在する新型コロナウイルスの生存期間を解明 https://www.kpu-m.ac.jp/doc/news/2020... The research team at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine discovered that the new coronavirus, compared to influenza virus, survives for a longer time on human skin. This is (graph shown on the screenshot) a graph showing how the amount of virus that is viral on the human skin surface changes over time. Red represents the new coronavirus and blue represents influenza A virus. According to the research team, it was revealed that the new coronavirus survives on the skin for about 9 hours. This is about five times longer than the influenza A virus. Assistant Professor Ryohei Hirose, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine stated "By touching something with a virus with your hand, then touching your throat, mouth, or eyes, you will be infected by it. The evidence that the virus lives long on your hands means the higher you will be exposed to the virus and thus I think it's better to think that the risk of infection will increase. " Meanwhile, the research team also evaluated the disinfecting effect of ethanol with a concentration of 80%. According to the research, the virus was completely inactivated by disinfecting with the 80% ethanol for 15 seconds and it "demonstrated the importance of hand sanitizer for the new coronavirus". Assistant Professor Ryohei Hirose, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine stated "If you use an ethanol disinfectant, Although the virus lives longer (on the skin), I don't think we need to worry too much. However, the fact that the virus survives longer means it is hard to figure out how an individual got infected. For example, if you the virus was on your hand for only an hour, It may be possible to track down the cause of infection and the cause of transfer to another person, but the infectious virus can remain on the hand for 7, 8 and 9 hours, and it is hard to tell what you touched that had the virus and where you got the virus from. Recently, there are negative views on people how got the virus, but looking from the point of view of infection via contact, it is difficult for an individual to put in the effort only, and I would like people to be more kind to them.”