Japan's Opening: Reading the Air
Japan officially opened up today to overseas tourists for the first time in nearly three years. Show evidence of three COVID shots or a negative PCR test and you no longer need a visa to enter Japan as a tourist. Great. Progress. One step forward.
Yet Japan has changed in the three years since closing the border. Most Japanese I know are happy Japan remained closed during the pandemic. Some want it to stay that way. After all, society is more predictable that way. People follow the rules and social norms. For example, most Japanese (and even non-Japanese who call Japan home) still wear masks inside trains and enclosed spaces. Heck, even outside most Japanese still wear masks.
So, what will happen when people from many countries where wearing a mask is no longer deemed necessary come to Japan? We shall soon see, but I would venture to say many Japanese will not be too happy with the outcome. Neither will long-term residents like myself. I see three possible scenarios:
1) The evil eye - Japanese will not say anything, but believe me they will be talking about non-Japanese who do not wear masks at lunch.
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2) Japanese action - It is a matter of time until we see an article in the media about a Japanese who gets into a physical fight with non-Japanese on the train for not wearing masks.
3) Non-Japanese altercation - Non-Japanese who live here speak up and ask maskless visitors to wear a mask. One thing leads to another -"Hey, dude, mind you own business" - and we have a bar brawl.
Perhaps I am reading too much into all this and none of the above will happen. I hope so. But it is clear to me that reading the air is important for tourists to do. I am less concerned about Asian visitors and more worried about our Western friends. Individualism meets groupism. Which one will win?
Representative Director, Country Manager Japan, Swiss Re Corporate Solutions
2 年Since the government advocated not wearing masks outdoors in summer because of the greater risk of heatstroke I have noticed a relaxation of mask wearing by Japanese outdoors. Of course, many still continue to wear them, but I have not witnessed any incidents of harassment. Some will cross the road to avoid people without masks but that is as bad as it gets. The reality is that Japan needs the 32m tourists it lost annually since 2019 to come back.
Global Strategic Communications
2 年Face underwear.... https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/maskless-tourists-in-japan-trigger-a-debateover-face-underwear/2022/10/17/1db90a08-4e57-11ed-ada8-04e6e6bf8b19_story.html
General Counsel
2 年David, if that is all that happens, it will be a great deal smoother than the way some people handled these issues in the US.. Here in Southern Osaka, in my neighborhood, roughly 80% of the folks walking alone in the park are still wearing masks outside. I do not when alone in the park, and the few foreigners I see do not in those circumstances. I do keep one visibly on my arm and ready to wear outside in case I need to unexpectedly be in close vicinity to others or need to enter an enclosed space. And, if I am at a crowded outdoor event, like the recent Danjiri festival, I will wear it outside if the majority of my peers are doing so - simply out of respect for them and because I don’t have time to get sick. Cheers!