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Japan
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2020-10-07
ビジネス帰国の日本人対象 14日間の待機免除で調整(2020年10月8日) – Adjustment of 14-day quarantine period for Japanese returning to business (October 8, 2020)
This news is about if the Japanese citizen who have business trips outside of Japan meet certain requirement, the 14-day quarantine will be exempted. 政府は新型コロナウイルス対策で実施している入国者の14日間の待機措置について、ビジネスから帰国した日本人が条件を満たした場合には、免除する方向で調整していることが分かりました。 待機措置の免除には、帰国時に検査をするほか、帰国後14日間の行動計画の提出、公共交通機関を使わないことや移動を自宅と勤務先に限定することなどが条件となります。ビジネス上の妨げとなっていた帰国時の14日間の待機措置だけでも免除することで、海外出張しやすい環境を整え、経済活動の再開を後押しする狙いがあります。政府は引き続き各国と出入国制限の交渉を続け、ビジネス往来の要件緩和を目指す方針です。 As a method to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus by having a 14-day quarantine period, the government is moving in the direction of exemption of this period for Japanese immigrants returning from business if they meet certain conditions. The conditions include taking the test when returning to Japan, submission of an action plan for 14 days after returning to Japan, not using public transportation, and limiting the traveling to only between home and work. By exempting the 14-day quarantine period when returning to Japan, which has been a hindrance to business, the aim is to create an easier condition that allows overseas business trips and to bring back the economy. The government will continue to negotiate immigration restrictions with different countries, aiming to ease the requirements for business travels. -
2020-10-07
マスクがスマート化 スマホと連動し通訳機能も(2020年10月7日) - The mask has become smarter. The interpreter function is also linked with the smartphone (October 7, 2020)
This is a news in Japan, where mask technology is becoming more advance. A mask now can translate multiple languages. I think this mask was developed in order for Japan to open up borders safely and have visitors from different countries. マスクの進化が止まりません。感染対策に加え、外国語の翻訳ができるマスクが登場しました。気になるその性能は。 音声を認識するスマートマスクが開発されたと聞き、その機能を試しました。まだ開発段階のものですが、自分のマスクのひもを通して一体化。スイッチを入れて専用アプリでスマホと連動させると、話し言葉が文字に。そして、通訳機能も。さらには、同じアプリを共有している場合は相手のスマートフォンに声を届けることも可能です。まさにコロナ禍のイノベーション。今月末まで、クラウドファンィングで1個4378円で応援購入することができます。 The evolution of the mask does not stop. In addition to infection control, now masks can translate foreign languages has been developed. What is the performance you care about? I heard that a smart mask that recognizes voice was developed, and tried its function. It's still in the development stage, but it's integrated through the string of my mask. When you turn on the switch and link it with your smartphone with the specific app, the spoken words become letters. And an interpreter function as well. Furthermore, if you share the same app, you can have your voice reach the other party's smartphone. This is exactly the innovation during Corona. Until the end of this month, you can buy one by crowdfunding for 4378 yen. -
2020-10-07
マスクめぐり機内で乱闘 フェースシールドは着用(2020年10月7日) - Brawl on the plane about the mask Wearing the face shield (October 7, 2020)
This is a news where on an airplane, a fight happened because a man was wearing a face shield, but not a mask. I would think wearing a face shield is better than nothing, but not enough and for himself and others on the plane, the man should have worn a mask. マスクの着用を巡ってまた、乱闘騒ぎです。 アメリカのアリゾナ州からユタ州に向かっていたLCC(格安航空)の旅客機の中で2人の乗客がもみ合っています。2人はマスクの着用を巡って口論となり、その後、取っ組み合いのけんかになったということです。たまたま機内に乗り合わせた警察官が仲裁に入ったため、大事には至りませんでした。この航空会社では乗客に常にマスクの着用が義務付けられていますが、騒ぎを起こした乗客はフェースシールドを着用していたもののマスクをしておらず、トラブルになったとみられています。 There is another brawl over wearing a mask. Two passengers had a conflict on an LCC (low-cost carrier) airliner heading from Arizona to Utah in the United States. The two argued over wearing a mask, and then became a brawl. A police officer who happened to be on the airplane came in between and calmed down the matter. The airline requires all passengers to wear masks at all times, but it is believed that the passenger was involved in the fight because he wore face shields but not a mask under the face shield. -
2020-10-06
被災地でコロナの落書き 29歳男「ただのいたずら」(2020年10月6日) - Corona graffiti in the disaster area, 29-year-old man "just a prank" (October 6, 2020)
This is a news on how someone spray painted a graffiti of image of a logo like COVID-19 in a shopping area that is open for the symbolization of recovery from 3/11/2011 earthquake. The reason of why he did this is unknown. 東日本大震災で被災した商店が集まる宮城県の商店街で新型コロナウイルスとみられる落書きをしたとして29歳の男が逮捕されました。 一瞬、カメラの方を向くもすぐに視線を外し、車に乗り込む容疑者。建造物損壊と器物損壊の疑いで逮捕・送検された宮城県登米市の会社員・阿部大和容疑者(29)です。東日本大震災で被災した商店が集まる「南三陸さんさん商店街」。復興に向けて歩みを進める商店街で落書きが見つかったのは今年8月のことでした。阿部容疑者は8月28日午前0時ごろ、南三陸さんさん商店街で店やトイレの壁など9カ所に黒色のスプレーで落書きをした疑いが持たれています。このうち7カ所には新型コロナウイルスとみられるイラストなどが描かれていました。さんさん商店街では訪れた人が不快な思いをしないように落書きをポスターなどで隠していました。 容疑者逮捕のきっかけは商店街に設置された防犯カメラ。警察が映像を解析するなどして調べたところ、阿部容疑者が浮上したということです。阿部容疑者は容疑を認めているということです。 A 29-year-old man was arrested for scribbling what appears to be the “new coronavirus” in a shopping district in Miyagi prefecture, where the shops were affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake gather. A suspect who turned to the camera for a moment but immediately took his eyes off and got into the car. Yamato Abe (29), an office worker in Tome City, Miyagi Prefecture, was arrested and sent on suspicion of damage to buildings and property. "Minamisanriku-san (Sansan) Shopping Street" is a collection of shops damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake. It was in August of this year that graffiti was found in a shopping district that is moving toward reconstruction. Abe is suspected of having scribbled with black spray on nine places such as the walls of shops and toilets in the Minamisanriku-san shopping district around midnight on August 28th. Illustrations that appear to be the new coronavirus were drawn in seven of these locations. At Sansan Shopping Street, graffiti was hidden with posters so that visitors would not feel uncomfortable. The evidence for the arrest of the suspect was a security camera installed in the shopping district. When the police analyzed the video and investigated it, Abe was found to have been in the area. Abe admits the charges. -
2020-10-05
カイコ」から“純国産”抗体検査キット 予約開始(2020年10月5日) - "Domestic" antibody test kit made from "Silkworm" reservation start (October 5, 2020)
A news that Japan made a domestic antibody kit that allows tracking of antibodies of the COVID-19. The news does not say how far back it can track the antibodies, and there are news saying that the antibodies will disappear in 3 months, so I am not sure if this will be useful for people after that 3 month span. ガの幼虫「蚕」で増殖したたんぱく質を使って新型コロナウイルスの感染履歴を確認できる抗体検査キットの予約受け付けが5日から始まりました。 開発された抗体検査キットは、ガの幼虫の蚕を使って新型コロナウイルスに似た毒性のないたんぱく質を増殖させて開発されました。九州大学発ベンチャー企業「KAICO」と埼玉のベンチャー企業「プロテックス」が共同開発した純国産の検査キットで、これまでの抗体検査よりもより正確に抗体の量も測定できるということです。 KAICO開発・営業担当、谷口雅浩さん:「現状、感染した履歴が分かるのがメリット。(将来的には)抗体の量が通年で分かるようになる」 抗体検査は1回5000円ほどで、法人や団体向けで5日からネットなどで予約を受け付けます。 Pre-orders for an antibody test kit that allows you to check the infection history of the new Coronavirus using the protein grown in the moth larvae "silkworm" began on the 5th. The antibody test kit was developed by using silkworms of moth larvae to propagate a non-toxic protein similar to the new coronavirus. It is a domestic test kit made in Japan developed by Kyushu University venture company "KAICO" and Saitama venture company "Protex", and it can measure the amount of antibody more accurately than the conventional antibody test. Mr. Masahiro Taniguchi, KAICO Development and Sales Manager: "Currently, it is an advantage to know the infection history. (In the future), the amount of antibody will be known throughout the year." The antibody test costs about 5,000 yen each time, and reservations will be accepted online from the 5th for corporations and groups in Japan. -
2020-06
Mask situation in Japan
Like other countries, Japanese people were hoarding masks during March. In June, Uniqulo made a mask using their technology “Airism”. Airism is a popular technology which allows less humidity and dries sweat fast and is very smooth to skin. The Airism mask has three layers, with the outside with UV cut layer, the middle with the filter layer, and inside with Airism layer. When this mask came out, a lot of people waited in line and crowded a lot of stores around Japan. This caused clusters and became news. The mask sold out very quickly and was only limited to one set per person. One set included one small mask for kids, one medium size for women, and one large size for men. They had only one color, which was white, but they now have gray. Recently all stores in Japan have masks, but all of the stocks are from China. Japanese made mask are still very low in stock and is very popular. This is an image from Uniqlo website, which shows the structure of the mask. -
2020-09
GO TO Travel Campaign
The "Go To Travel Campaign" is a campaign that the government made to support up to half of the price when making a domestic travel reservation within the campaign period through a travel agency or travel reservation site. The maximum amount of support is planned to be up to 20,000 yen per person per night, and up to 10,000 yen for a day trip. (Not applicable to overseas travel) 70% of the amount of support will be given as a discount on travel expenses, and the remaining 30% will be given as a "regional common coupon" that can be used when purchasing local food and drinks, tourist facilities, and local souvenirs. This campaign was so that local restaurants and travel areas can start functioning and have the economy back. However, this campaign had a lot of flaws. First, we were still in a Pandemic and the government was urging traveling within Japan. Second, Tokyo residents were not allowed to travel outside, but people from outside of Tokyo can use the campaign and use Tokyo as a place for transportation. Tokyo residents were not allowed to use the campaign due to the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Japan, and yet they are allowing people outside to use Tokyo. Recently, the Governor of Tokyo is thinking of adding Tokyo residents to the campaign as well. This is image of one of the posters of the campaign. -
2020-02
Hoarding toilet papers in Japan
Between the end of February to the beginning of March, people started to hoard toilet papers. This was caused by an SNS post, which was fake, stating “Toilet paper is made mainly in China, and due to the COVID -19, the importation of toilet paper will be very limited and the stock will be gone”. This post itself did not cause a huge hoarding situation. What caused the hoarding was the feeling of fear and anxiety. Because of COVID-19, people were put into a different situation than so-called normal, and on TV, there were people lining up to buy toilet papers where you can see that the store is having limited stock left caused people to think “I need to get some too”. However, the reality was that most of the toilet papers that are sold in Japan are made in Japan, and if everyone does not hoard, then there will be more than enough for everyone. Even though the news said that all toilet was made in Japan, people still were hoarding because other people were and felt like if they do not buy one, they will not get the toilet paper for a while. My mother was also hoarding a lot of toilet papers, and now we probably have a stock that will last for months. The image is an example of how stores looked like in the toilet paper section, where there were no toilet papers. -
2020-09-24
「美女と野獣」東京ディズニーランド 新エリア公開(2020年9月25日) - "Beauty and the Beast" Tokyo Disneyland new area released (September 25, 2020)
新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大の影響で公開が延期になっていた東京ディズニーランドの大規模開発エリアがお披露目されました。 東京ディズニーランドを運営するオリエンタルランドは、約3年かけて完成した大規模開発エリアを報道向けに公開しました。新たなエリアは4万7000平方メートルあり、ディズニー映画の「美女と野獣」をテーマとしたエリアや「ベイマックス」などのアトラクションが楽しめます。当初は4月15日に開園する予定でしたが、新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大の影響で延期していました。一般公開は今月28日からとなりますが、当面は混雑を避けるためアトラクションの利用は事前に抽選予約に申し込んで当選した人に限定します。 The large-scale development area of Tokyo Disneyland, where the open date was postponed due to the spread of the new Coronavirus, was revealed. Oriental Land Co., Ltd., which operates Tokyo Disneyland, has released to the press the large-scale development area that took about three years. The new area covers 47,000 square meters, and you can enjoy rides with the theme of the Disney movies "Beauty and the Beast" and "Big Hero 6". Initially, the park was scheduled to open on April 15, but it was postponed due to the spread of the new Coronavirus. It will be open to the public from the 28th of this month, but for the time being, the use of the rides will be limited to those who have applied for a reservation in advance and got the tickets to avoid cluster of people. -
2020-04-10
Benefit during COVID-19 in Japan
Before the 100,000yen per person stimulus payment, Japan had a different plan. Originally, the plan was to give 300,000-yen stimulus payment to households with reduced revenue. However, this had many issues. To begin with, who can receive the stimulus payment was very narrow and hard to understand. The measurement of reduced revenue was based on who was considered as the「世帯主」meaning the head of the household. If the income of the head of household from February to June due to the spread of the new corona infection has… (1) Decreased and becomes the resident tax exemption level (2) Decreased by more than half and becomes less than twice the resident tax exemption level The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications decided that single-person households would be considered as tax-exempt households if their monthly income after the decrease was 100,000 yen or less, in order to make the stimulus payment conditions uniform nationwide. As one person is increased in the household, the standard monthly income increases by 50,000 yen. The problem was that this only covers 20% of the whole citizens/residents and cannot cover the majority. Other problems were the fact that the stimulus payment is based on the income of the head of the household. In modern days, it is normal for both husband and wife to work and especially in Japan, it is hard to just live with an income of one person. Therefore, even though the head of the household’s income did not decrease for example for the husband, if the wife’s income has significantly decreased, it will cause problems. The nuisance of head of the household is considered to be a man/husband in Japan and hence using the word 世帯主/head of the household is a problem. Finally, the problem of this stimulus payment plan is that the money is given to the head of the household. A simple calculation will indicate that a single-person household can receive 300,000 yen per person, but a four-person household can only receive 75,000 yen per person. This may create a sense of unfairness. Also, if the head of the household receives the stimulus payment, it may not be distributed properly to all household members. In particular, due to COVID-19, there is an increase in cases of domestic violence and child abuse and these victims will have trouble receiving the money. -
2020-09-15
Youtube - コロナ時代の新常識!?レジなし“非接触”で買い物(2020年9月15日)
It is a clip of a news in Japan, where a supermarket called Trial in Chiba city made a cart named "no-contact" cart. How to use the cart is where you have a prepaid card, and as you go thorugh the store and put stuff in the cart, you scan your items and the monitor keeps track of what you bought and the price. At the exit, a staff will do a quick check to see if all items are scanned, and then you can go through a designated gate to exit the store. The designated gate will print out the receipt of what you bought. This allows less cluster around the register, and people can use their own bag on the cart and put what they want inside their own bag as they scan. The store also has AI cameras all around the store to prevent stealing and keep track of the stock so that it can minimize the staff to be exposed. -
2020-04-01
Cherry Blossom in Tokyo during COVID-19 Pandemic
When I landed in Japan on end of March, I was taken back at the cherry blossom blooming completely. After moving to U.S. in Freshman year, I have never thought I would see cherry blossoms again in Japan because the season is in the middle of the school year. Even though it was in the middle of the pandemic, I noticed that there were so many people out in the river seeing cherry blossom without taking proper social distancing rules. I think this was because the Japanese government did not close down famous parks and rivers until the number of COVID-19 patients got out of control. A little before I landed, there was a 3-day weekend, and my mom had told me that there was immense amount of people outside to see the cherry blossom even though we were in a pandemic and the government actually insisted on going out because it is an holiday. After the number of COVID-19 patient increased drastically, the government insisted on people to stay home. However, unlike other countries, Japanese government cannot enforce people to stay home, but rather just say “please stay home”. The residents and citizens will not be punished because the rules are not enforced. For me, I stayed home and watched cherry blossom from the deck, and just enjoyed it from my house to be safe. Even though the government insisted on staying home, I noticed a lot of people still going out to see the cherry blossom because it is there culture and a seasonal event called “Hanami”. On the news, there were constantly reports saying that the patient went to the famous cherry blossom parks, and yet we still see people there because they think it was ok unless they are “somewhat” careful. Honestly, I was very frustrated and the issue because it was not like the cherry blossom was going to be gone after this year, and felt it was very irresponsible for others.