Rocky Swift and Elaine Lies

TOKYO, Reuters – Japan’s inability to obtain a vaccine passport and its limited testing capabilities are threatening the country’s ability to reopen it at a critical year-end when travel agencies and restaurants make half their revenue.

The result is that businesses are not ordering extra supplies and rehiring staff to avoid another winter pandemic. They wait until they learn more about the scheme of reopening, including what it will look like, as well as how long they can remain open. The local authorities were left mostly to their own devices, creating an assortment of compliance and rules.

The question is whether Japan can quickly recoup some of the $44 Billion foreign tourist spending in 2019, and whether $53 Billion worth of domestic debt can be used to revitalize the country’s economy.

Fumio, the new prime minister, could face a costly election if the reopening is not done correctly. He was ousted by his supporters after polls showed that his popularity had plummeted because of perceptions that his government failed to respond properly to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Japan’s bars and restaurants are known for their year-end celebrations. Japanese businesses often host large, forget-the-year parties. A meal with business friends to end the year is a common custom.

Mayumi Saijo of “Beer Bar Bitter”, a trendy Kagurazaka neighborhood in Tokyo, said that “I have always held a special event at year’s end, but now I am thinking about cancelling it because experts predict a sixth wave coronavirus” will come.

Saijo said she’s nervous about buying beer from Czech Republic for $4,000 after having to pour out kegs because of lockdowns and then having difficulty sleeping when the state of emergency lifted.

She stated, “Whatever was prepared for will cost me money.” I want to minimize risk wherever possible.”

Her place was able to withstand earlier pandemic restrictions regarding opening hours. However, the government did not pay any compensation. A record 780 restaurants and bars in Japan went bankrupt between April and April and 298 more since, according private credit company Teikoku Databank.

“How long will it be permitted for restaurants to remain open?” It all depends on this – getting people to order supplies and hiring them,” Shigenori Ishii of Japan Food Service Association (a 75,000 strong industry organization) said.

PASSPORTS & TESTS

Japan’s slowness in implementing vaccinations was first criticised. It left Japan behind many advanced economies. The country became vulnerable to an outbreak of the Delta type virus that made it impossible to stage the Tokyo Olympics.

The cases are now at a steady pace and vaccines have caught up. This has allowed the government and the courts to begin working on a reopening plan that would involve the use of COVID-19 testing and certificate vaccinations.

One problem with vaccine passports, however, is the fact that inoculations are given not only by local authorities but also self defense forces. A unified database doesn’t exist.

“I feel we should have been prepared much sooner,” says Yusuke Nakamura. Yusuke Nagamura is a pioneer in personalized cancer treatment and a geneticist. It’s not possible to create a standardized vaccine passport. Every city has its own passport. But, it isn’t digitised.

According to official reports, the scheme has not made much progress in Tokyo, but some localities are taking it up on their own.

Ishigaki Island is Japan’s most southernmost capital. They modified the cell phone app used to make vaccine reservations so that it can now be used as a mobile record. To receive a discount at restaurants and shops, tourists can present their vaccination record.

Teruyuki Tanahara, an official at Ishigaki City said that if we increase the use to guarantee peace of mind for both shopkeepers as well as shoppers, then Ishigaki’s economic recovery can be achieved.

Partially basing the reopening of the investigation on COVID-19 testing is problematic because Japan did not perform mass testing during the pandemic. It also performed 9 times less tests per person than the United States, according to Oxford University data. These tests aren’t readily available.

The government claims it is following World Health Organization recommendations when it comes to testing. Although the new PM Kishida pledged to expand testing capacities, similar promises from his predecessors didn’t translate into tangible improvement.

Makoto Shimoaraiso was a cabinet officer who is leading the pandemic response.

Shimoaraiso stated that they are going to seek input from local and private stakeholders to develop an operational plan. They also hope to speed up the process.

Mike Grant (co-owner, DevilCraft pizza chain and craft beer restaurant with 20 employees) says that any plan should come with clear enforcement rules.

We don’t mind people being turned away, if allowed…and if government had our backs to say “this is what science tells us.”

If we had adopted such a program early, I think we’d be sought-out. That would definitely be a positive thing.”