nippon watch

[nipponwatch]

Will we be able to matsuri this year? It’s not looking good.

[nipponwatch]

Edo-era uber in Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan

[nipponwatch]

Japan’s third wave?

How much “Oh, really?” should I be putting into rumblings of Abe Shinzo becoming Prime Minister again (for the third time) after the elections? And what would be the payoff for Suga Yoshihide for his role as a patsy?

[nipponwatch]

Get all Amerikan warmongers out of Okinawa!

[nipponwatch]

Japan ruling party election loss a blow to Suga government

Japan's ruling party suffered a triple blow at by-elections over the weekend, as voter frustration with scandals and government management of the coronavirus risked weakening the influence of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's government.

So, elections at the very last minute (i.e., mid-October), then? To be fair, that would buy Suga some time to do a charm campaign. Also, it makes sense for the goverment to do an election post-Olympics to have one less distraction and/or to use the fallout of the (ahem) sure to be successful Olympic games to LDP’s advantage.

[nipponwatch]

Suga to declare COVID-19 state of emergency in Tokyo, western Japan

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is set on April 23 to declare a state of emergency in Tokyo and the three western Japan prefectures of Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo in the hopes of curbing a surge in COVID-19 during the upcoming Golden Week holidays.

I’m not sure how this is going to be more effective than last year’s (ahem) shutting down of nighttime establishments, but you do you, I guess.

Honestly, a faster vaccine rollout would’ve helped more. Maybe just straight up canceling the Olympic games would be the way to go, too, but I don’t see that happening with all the money Japan’s paid for such silliness. In the end, it’s all about recouping a return on investment.

[nipponwatch]

京都の夢 吉原の夜 ぜんぶ空想だ