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Delighted to discover that the Japanese Prime Minister's idea of emergency shutdown is politely asking people to stay at home -- which, as this is Japan, would work IF they were offering any support for small businesses, which they have instead forcefully refused.
So: businesses should close, but do not have to. Big businesses can survive a shutdown and many are choosing to (good on them!) but Japan is a land of tiny little restaurants and bars, often the owner's retirement livelihood. If they close *they will go bankrupt*. They *cannot*.
So in short he's asking people to close their businesses, but also refusing to make it possible. Add that to the deeply ingrained post-work bar-and-restaurant culture, and this 'emergency shutdown' is going to do *nothing*. It can't, until Abe takes this seriously.
And I think it's going to take a lot of dead people before he will.
Thankfully, my job has pivoted to WFH. My income is going to drop considerably, but I'm grateful. I'll just wash my hands a lot and be careful, and try to not be one of the numbers that might change his mind.
Thankfully, my job has pivoted to WFH. My income is going to drop considerably, but I'm grateful. I'll just wash my hands a lot and be careful, and try to not be one of the numbers that might change his mind.
