Chino, Japan, April 19—Just as I am watching on YouTube on Sunday, April 19, 2020 (April 18 US EDT) the One World: Together At Home curated by with support of global musicians and others concerned about the coronavirus , I’ve realized one thing: There’s no input or coverage of Japan thus far since the program began at 9:00 p.m. Japan time.
Video footages of healthcare workers, food delivery guys, scientists, politicians, broadcasters and many others from all over the world are streaming by along with soul-soothing, empathic music to connect people and countries confronting the virus infection. Jennifer Lopez sang ‘People’ and her song – melody and lyrics – sank deeply into my heart.
Steven Colbert of CBS put aside his nightly attack against Trump and exuding his warmth and seriousness, anchored his part of the program with Jimmy Fallon of NBC and Jimmy Kimmel of ABC. Elton John sang and played the piano. Steven Colbert interviewed on-line the former first ladies Barbara Bush and Michelle Obama, as well as Bill and Melinda Gates.
There were footages from Italy, the first country seriously hit by the virus, Africa, India, China (if I am not mistaken), South Korea… But except an image of a Tokyo subway station attendant, I have not seen anything about Japan. That made me wonder why.
Simply put, the world has forgotten Japan! Why? Over the past few decades when the country’s bureaucracy stretched its reach across the country and its people, save a few, Japan has become an island managed by robots called bureaucrats. In other words, its people have los compassions, warms, and most other human traits, their feeling replaced by mechanical commands.
While Venetians and New Yorkers get up onto the roofs and balconies in the evening to blare trumpets and belt songs to cheer up, most Japanese? – barely half stay at home while others visit retail stores that are still open, socialize at parks, and mind other things of their business. They all wear masks in part because it is part of the Japanese trademark act even before the pandemic hit Japan.
Last count of Japan’s coronavirus infections: As of April 17, 2020, 9,167 people tested positive out of ONLY 106,372 PCR-tested. A total of 148 died. The number of positives and dead are rising sharply and Japan’s PCR testing is not even reaching 5,000 a day, while other countries are increasing tests by 10 and 100 times that figure.
–Toshio Aritake