Items

• 
  2020-05-23

  Tenohashi giving out free food, clothing, medical attention at Higashi-Ikebukuro Park.

  An organization called Tenohashi set up in a small park in Ikebukuro (northwestern central Tokyo) to hand out free food, clothing, masks, medical attention, etc. People were very organized, waiting in line at tape markers placed on the ground roughly two meters apart. I donated some extra facemasks I didn't need (including the two "Abe no masks" provided to me as part of a relief package from the government). I think they've been set up there every Saturday, at least, if not more regularly than that.
• 
  2020-05-24

  Toilet paper is coming back to the shelves (Tokyo)

  I noticed at my local supermarket yesterday that, seemingly all of a sudden, toilet paper and facial tissues are totally in-stock. Here in Tokyo, it was hard to find such things (not impossible - check three or four stores and you'd find one package) for quite a while. And now, boom, no problem. Couldn't find any pasta sauce today, though.
• 2020-05-24

  Day to Day (English)

  A series of short stories and other literary writings by Japanese authors, inspired by the Covid crisis, posted online in English translation.
• 
  2020-04-07

  Taketomi Island: At Least Wear a Mask Please

  A poster created by a community organization on the island of Taketomi, in Okinawa prefecture, Japan, reading "At least, wear a mask, please." Taketomi is famous for its traditional Okinawan village environment - it's one of the best places in all of Japan for visitors to experience the white sand paths, limestone walls, and red terracotta roofs of a traditional Okinawan village. The island's residents rely very heavily on tourism revenue to get by. However, an epidemic like Covid19 can quickly overwhelm and devastate a local community like this. The rest of the poster reads: せめてマスクを着用して下さい 竹富島に観光で訪れた皆さまへ ＊竹富島はオジーオバーが非常に多いです。竹富公民館員数２８２名の内103名が70歳以上の高齢者です。 ＊竹富島は小さな診療所が１つだけしかありません。醫師１名看護師1名事務1名のみ。新型コロナウイルス感染者がいても対応できません。 To everyone visiting Taketomi Island for tourism: At least wear a mask please. Taketomi Island has an extremely high number of grannies and granddads. Of the 282 members of the local citizens' organization, 103 are elders over 70 years old. Taketomi Island has only one small clinic. There is only one doctor, one nurse, and one admin staff. Even if someone were to have coronavirus, they can't respond to it.
• 
  2020-04-07

  At Least Wear Facemasks

  A J-Cast News article on a campaign by Taketomi Island, a small island in southern Japan, to encourage tourists/visitors to at least wear facemasks if they're going to visit the island. This article highlights the difficult position so many places and businesses are in - they need tourists for their economic well-being, but they also need to block the spread of the virus. A dilemma. While many islands are discouraging tourism altogether, Taketomi has apparently decided it's too vital for the economy of the tiny community.
• 2020-05-23

  Covid19 in Okinawa Timeline Discussion Thread

  An English-language discussion thread for updates on the coronavirus situation in Okinawa.
• 
  2020-04-26

  Kumamoto Castle Self-Restraint Poster

  A poster created by Kumamoto City in southern Japan, featuring a picture of Kumamoto Castle, which is under repair since a powerful earthquake in 2016. The poster reads: 籠城じゃ。家にいよう。みんなで打ち克とう。熊本市。 We're holed up as if in a castle under siege. Let's stay home. Let's be victorious together. Kumamoto City.
• 
  04/26/2020

  In California, Hawaiians And Other Pacific Islanders Have Highest COVID-19 Death Rate

  Article from Honolulu Civil Beat on the disproportionate impact of Covid19 on those of Pacific Island descent in California
• 
  2020-04-25

  Okinawa: Sorry We Are Closed

  One of a series of digital posters produced by the Save Okinawa Project, depicting sites in Okinawa and encouraging people to not visit the islands right now. It reads: おきなわ、休業中 Sorry, We Are Closed 今や人口100万人に対する感染率は全国14位（2020年4月24日現在）。県民も感染防止のために外出を控えたり、休業して頑張っています。沖縄旅行は、今は控えてほしい。お互いに健康になってから、シマを一緒に満喫しましょう。 今、沖縄を満喫できない３つの理由 1）観光施設やビーチが閉まっている ２）娯楽施設が閉まっている ３）医療施設がキャパオーバー（病床数40程度：入院患者数112人） Okinawa, closed for business right now. Right now, our infection rate per 1 million people is 14th in the country (as of 2020/4/24). Residents of the prefecture are also refraining from going out, shutting down operations, trying hard to prevent the spread of infection. Right now, we want you to refrain from Okinawa travel. Once we both are well, let's fully enjoy the islands. Three reasons you cannot fully enjoy Okinawa right now: 1) tourist sites and beaches are closed 2) entertainment venues are closed 3) medical facilities are over-capacity (112 hospitalized patients for each 40 hospital beds)
• 
  2020-05-01

  Peach Aviation rescinding plans to restart flights to vulnerable islands.

  In anticipation of Golden Week - a roughly one-week-long holiday which typically sees a lot of Japanese domestic vacation travel - low-cost-carrier Peach Aviation made plans to restart flights to Amami and Ishigaki Islands. Fearing the spread of the virus to these vulnerable island communities, many petitioned for the flights to be canceled, and not restarted. After some considerable efforts, the airline finally decided to cancel their reopening plans.
• 
  2020-04-23

  After 67 years, Like Like Drive Inn will officially close April 30

  KHON news report on the closing of the Like Like Drive Inn, a 67-year-old iconic Honolulu mainstay. This is sadly but one of a great many small businesses that are going out of business as a result of this crisis.
• 
  2020-04-20

  Postponed opening of Upopoy (National Ainu Museum and Park)

  Countless events were canceled or postponed this year, all around the world. One was the opening of the long-planned National Ainu Museum of Park, a Japanese national museum exploring the history and culture of the indigenous Ainu people of what is now northern Japan. Though originally planned to open in late April 2020, the opening was postponed to May 29.
• 
  2020-04-17

  In Pursuit of PPE

  New England Journal of Medicine article on federal government stealing or otherwise blocking distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) from the states that needed it most.
• 
  2020-04-15

  The incomplete coronavirus map — US territories left behind

  The Hill op-ed piece about how most media coverage of the epidemic "in the United States" overlooks, excludes, ignores, the US territories - e.g. Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa - that are also under great threat from this disease.
• 
  2020-04-14

  Mongols siege meme

  A series of tweets using a Mongol siege as a metaphor for the current lockdown, and the absurdity of trying to open up again too early.
• 
  2020-04-13

  Handling the Coronavirus Dead in New York

  YouTube video from Ask a Mortician, in which mortician Caitlin Doughty addresses some misconceptions about whether New York City's response to the coronavirus - esp. the use of refrigerated trucks, holding bodies in parking lots, anonymous mass graves - are exceptional and worth being upset about, pointing out that most of these practices are actually very reasonable, practical, and standard practices.
• 
  2020-04-13

  Next Time in Person

  An illustration of a piece of matzah, with the words "next year in person" inscribed on it. The Passover Seder traditionally ends with an expression of hope to celebrate "next year in Jerusalem," a hope related to aspirations for the ancient Jewish homeland, and for peace. This year, separated by stay-at-home practices, we simply hope to celebrate "next year in person."
• 
  2020-04-10

  Stan's Donuts Closing

  Stan's Donuts in Westwood, Los Angeles was a long-established fixture located just outside of the UCLA campus. It is one of countless small businesses which sadly have not survived this crisis.
• 
  2020-04-09

  Compilation of Remote Islands' Requests to Refrain from Visiting

  Ritô Keizai Shinbun article compiling requests from various remote islands around Japan for visitors/travelers to avoid coming to the island. Many islands around Japan, and around the world, are trying to restrict or discourage entry into the island, as epidemic spread on small islands could quickly overwhelm limited medical capability on the island.
• 
  2020-04-09

  Marty You Must Not Leave the House

  Posted by Reconsidering Cinema on Twitter (https://twitter.com/coenesqued/status/1248158106988630016/photo/1). A funny reference to the 1985 film Back to the Future, in which Marty must be very careful to not alter the timestream - referring here, of course, to us all having to be careful to stay home, and not risk spreading the disease.
• 
  2020-04-08

  Amy Stanley: The Disaster Era

  Blog post by Prof. Amy Stanley about individuals' ability during disasters to take action.
• 
  2020-04-07

  Acid attack on Brooklyn woman in apparent coronavirus hate crime. NY Mayor DeBlasio calls rise in racist atacks on Asians a “crisis.”

  AsAm News report on acid attack on a Brooklyn woman. Hate crimes against people of Asian and Jewish descent have increased dramatically during this crisis, as people pin the blame on scapegoats.
• 
  2020-04-06

  Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Including Crypt, Will Become a Hospital

  NY Times article on St. John the Divine coming to be used as a field hospital,
• 
  2020-04-05

  Ceci n'est pas une ecole

  Parody of the famous Rene Magritte painting "The Treachery of Images (This is Not a Pipe)." During this crisis, many schools around the world have moved to an online-learning format. Most educators (and most students) say this is no substitute for in-person classes, however. There may be pressure once this is all over for online / distance learning to remain a prominent element of education, but many educators are pushing back against this.
• 
  2020-04-03

  Foreigners in Japan given extra 3 months to renew stay due to coronavirus

  Kyodo News article about Japanese government granting visitors a three-month extension on having to apply to renew their visas.
• 
  2020-03-31

  Turkmenistan Has Banned Use Of The Word 'Coronavirus'

  NPR report on coronavirus in Turkmenistan
• 
  2020-03-25

  Panic in the Toilet Paper Aisle on the Record with Dr. Eiko Maruko Siniawer

  Japan on the Record podcast by Tristan Grunow, talking with Dr. Eiko Maruko Siniawer about crises and toilet paper panic buying.
• 
  2020-03-22

  Irony: The Passover Seder Is Canceled Due to a Plague.

  This was, for many of us, the first Passover that we could not celebrate together, in person, as a family. Various rabbinical authorities even authorized that it was okay to celebrate Passover over Zoom, even though all electronics are normally off-limits during the first two nights/days of the holiday. Passover is, of course, a holiday which celebrates a story in which Ten Plagues brought down upon the Egyptian slavemasters by God, feature prominently. Many of us, particularly in the United States, have been privileged to never have to suffer from anything we might call a "plague." Most years, the Ten Plagues are a much more abstract concept - some families even joke around about the plagues, with a wide variety of children's toys available to help make the Passover Seder more tolerable / enjoyable for little ones. This year, I would imagine there was far less interest in making light of the Plagues. *From Creator: Cheryl Rosen (https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1039073053139568&id=100011106495553)
• 
  unkown

  Monty Python coronavirus meme

  As of late February and into March, many parts of the world still had not yet seen major outbreaks. Many felt that their governments - in New York, Washington, Tokyo, and elsewhere - were not doing nearly enough to prepare for what was coming. People circulated memes and explanations about how exponential growth can sneak up, seeming small for a long time until suddenly it explodes into a crisis-level. This meme, drawing on a clip from the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, makes fun of that process.
• 
  2020-03-19

  ‘We should blow up the bridges’ — coronavirus leads to class warfare in Hamptons

  New York Post article on 1%ers "escaping" to the Hamptons and putting severe pressure on local communities.
• 
  2020-03-15

  Post by Norwegian University of Science and Technology calling for students to come home.

  As countries around the world began to institute travel bans, many universities began to urge their students studying abroad to come home. The Norwegian University of Science and Technology posted that "this applies especially if you are staying in a country with poorly developed health services and infrastructure and/or collective infrastructure, for example the USA." The coronavirus pandemic has made all the more stark just how poor, how less than ideal, the health insurance system in the United States - and numerous other aspects of our infrastructure and structural systems - are. Though the Norwegian university later changed their post, their initial honesty about how many in Europe and elsewhere see the United States helped call this into stark relief.
• 
  2020-03-11

  Zionism could be behind the #coronavirus

  Tweet by Prof. Louis Fishman highlighting suggestions by some in Turkey that Zionism could be behind the coronavirus.
• 
  02/13/2020

  Exiled Uighurs fear spread of coronavirus in China camps

  Japan Times article on fears of the spread of coronavirus in Uyghur concentration camps in Xinjiang, China.
• 
  2020-03-05

  The Most Drastic Anti-Coronavirus Travel Ban in the World

  Online article about severe lockdown in Micronesia.
• 
  2020-01-24

  Japan confirms 2nd new coronavirus infection

  Japan Today article reporting the 2nd new infection, on Jan 24.
• 
  2020-03-13

  Turkish TV clip blaming Israel for the coronavirus

  Prof. Louis Fishman shares a clip from Turkish television, in which an "expert" blames Israel for the coronavirus.
• 
  05/12/2020

  New York Orthodox Jews make up HALF of all US plasma donors volunteering blood to help treat COVID-19 patients as the community turns 'tragedy into a superpower'

  Daily Mail news article about Orthodox Jews being major source of plasma donations during the crisis.
• 2020-05-13

  The Grand Reopening

  A comic strip about the dangers to workers of reopening.
• 2020-05-13

  Yuimaaru is Needed Now!

  One of many Facebook posts by the organizers of Honolulu's annual Okinawan Festival, calling upon Honolulu residents to patronize local Okinawan-Americans' businesses, to help them stay in business despite lockdown.
• 
  2020-05-10

  Sioux tribe rejects South Dakota governor request to remove Covid-19 checkpoints

  CNN online article and video about coronavirus in Sioux reservations.
• 
  2020-05-04

  'If the virus gets in, it will spread like wildfire'

  Japan Times article on the spread of coronavirus within asylum seekers' detention centers in Japan.
• 2020-05-08

  Japan on the Record Podcast: Refugee Detention in Tokyo on the Record with Dr. David Slater (Sophia)

  A podcast interview with Dr. David Slater (Sophia University) about coronavirus and asylum seekers' detention in Japan.
• 
  2020-05-05

  Blessing for the Mitzvah of Putting on a Mask

  In Judaism, there are blessings to be said for nearly any action or occasion. For lighting candles, for waking up in the morning, for getting dressed. A blessing for wine, a different one for bread, a different one for fruits. This blessing can be said when putting on a facemask, and emphasizes the central and important place in Judaism of the divine commandment to protect life.
• 
  2020-04-24

  Why CO2 Isn’t Falling More during a Global Lockdown

  Article from Scientific American. Even though so many people all around the world are now staying at home, not driving, etc., the total drop in CO2 emissions hasn't dropped by all that much, showing that it really is industry, and not individual citizens, that needs to take drastic action to reduce carbon emissions if we want to escape the impending doom of climate change.
• 
  05/19/2020

  Fever Checks and Quarantine Dorms: The Fall College Experience?

  New York Times article on the discussions and debates happening at US universities as to the many considerations involved in potentially reopening campuses for Fall 2020.
• 
  2020-05-17

  FB post by Michael Berry about the Wuhan Diary

  Facebook post by Dr. Michael Berry, translator of Fang Fang's Wuhan Diary: Dispatches from a Quarantined City, as it was released (in English) on May 17.
• 
  2020-04-17

  Facebook Album: Zoom backgrounds

  As more meetings, classes, and social events moved to online video chat platforms like Zoom. This is one of many Facebook posts sharing images to use as one's virtual background on Zoom, placing oneself in the scene of a television show, or elsewhere, for humor value and in order to block the potentially unattractive actual view of one's home.
• 
  04/24/2020

  A haiku: "We isolate now / So when we gather again / No one is missing."

  The very idea of staying home, wearing masks, etc. became politicized as some on the Right decided that stay-at-home orders and the like were undemocratic or authoritarian measures. This haiku encapsulates a kind, caring, non-politicized perspective on the reasons we are practicing self-isolation and social distancing as we are.
• 2020-05-01

  Missing Sounds of New York: An Auditory Love Letter to New Yorkers

  Soundscape recordings of pre-Covid New York City life, from the New York Public Library
• 2020-04-08

  Blog Post: Life in Tokyo Update: State of Emergency

  A blog post by an American postdoctoral scholar living in Tokyo, about his experience of self-isolation and working from home.