Hi, I’m Nathan and welcome to Ninja monkey, the place for Japan travel tips and related
news, currently looking at what’s happening behind Japan’s closed borders and hopefully
giving you some important insights that might be relevant for all prospective travelers
such as potential tourists, business people and students alike.
I do the research so that you don’t have to and as always I will be leaving all the
links in the video description just in case you want to dig a little deeper!
This video will take a dive into the extended state of emergency, Japan’s Vaccine roll
out, and there’s quite a bit to unpack on this this week. We will also look at some
positive student information that’s recently come to light and continue breaking down other
news that is relevant to Japan’s reopening of boarders including what does Elon Musk
know about Japan reopening?
So here it goes.
As expected Japan's government has extended a coronavirus state of emergency for Tokyo,
Osaka and seven other prefectures. It was set to be lifted last week but will instead
remain in place until June 20. The government is however preparing to let the coronavirus
pre-emergency designations for Gunma, Ishikawa and Kumamoto prefectures expire on June 13
as scheduled. This will be decided after Suga returns from Britain on June 14.
So lets look at Japan’s vaccine update, and theres a lot to look into on this topic.
This week I try to break down the stats even more so that you can have a clearer idea of
who exactly has received what.
As the 3rd of June, there have now been 8,095,477 doses administered to healthcare workers (out
of which 3,310,689 are second doses.) This is an increase of 1,044,260 healthcare worker
doses since last weeks update, remembering that these stats includes the second dose
too.
7,512,048 elderly citizen doses have now also been administered. This also includes the
second dose, therefore making it an increase of 3,968,165 elderly citizen doses since my
last update.
Meaning that there have now been collectively 15,607,525 jabs administered including second
doses administered and an increase of 5,012,425 inoculations including the second dose since
my last update.
Breaking this down shows that 4,782,541 medical workers and 6,698,769 seniors have received
at least one dose therefore a total of 11,481,310 People out of the population of 126 million
are now on their way to being inoculated or are fully inoculated.
This week has shown a substantial increase in regard to doses given, still short of the
1 million a day target but a very promising indicator none the less. A target that the
Japanese government is aiming to achieve after mid-June. The government is also expecting
the vaccination of medical personnel to be completed in 10 to 20 days if the current
pace is maintained.
Statistics are always difficult to communicate so I hope that breaking them down like this
is clear enough for you.
In Other Vaccine news, The vaccine rollout for people under the age of 65 in Japan will
be carried out at the same time as those with underlying conditions to help speed up the
process. The health ministry had already instructed municipalities to begin sending vaccination
vouchers to all those eligible under 65 from the middle of June. But now, even those without
underlying medical conditions will be able to get their jab upon receiving the voucher
next month. I’ll include a very handy link which actually goes into the details of how
this works if you are interested in further reading.
Japan will also start vaccinations at workplaces and universities as from June 21st to speed
up the pace of the country's rollout, this date could even be brought forward if the
over 65 vaccine drive is completed earlier than expected.
Japan has also approved expanding the use of the Pfizer vaccine for people aged 12 to
15 in addition to those 16 or older. The ministry is expected provide the vaccine free of charge
for those aged between 12 and 15 too
Following other countries, The panel also gave the green light to extending the vaccine's
maximum storage period at temperatures between 2 and 8 degrees centigrade to one month from
the original five days.
So, Quite a positive vaccine update in my opinion, As always I look forward to reading
your thoughts, I love interacting with you in the comment section!
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So back to the video,
Students rejoice! I hope so anyway. It’s come to light that Students that are
sponsored by the Japanese government to study under the MEXT programme will be able to enter
Japan with entry dates dependent on the place of study or institution, some will be for
June and others for later on in September as there are a number of processes that each
institution will need to follow. This information has yet to be published so as always I suggest
that you contact your university or place of study for further clarification as they
will likely have more up to date information regarding the steps that you will need to
take if this is something that affects you.
Additionally countries where the B1672 variant also known as the Covid delta strain is more
prevalent will be unable to enter under the MEXT programme of study for now, and the same
is likely for any other student entry programme that is made available for the time being.
Last year MEXT programme students were the first to be allowed entry into Japan with
other students of Japanese language schools and exchange programmes allowed entry shortly
after. So this really is a great indicator, and hopefully something that will happen too.
Also, a Source linked to the Jet programme has emailed me evidence that Jet employees
(both the 2020 cohort that have been on hold for departure up until now, and the 2021 cohort)
will be departing between September 11th and December 4th. With 5 groups departing during
that time. However
There will be manditory PCR covid test 72 hours before departing, and a mandatory 2
week quarantine Regardeless of vaccine status once arriving in Tokyo.
I suspect following the same entry requirements students will likely be given some sort of
government hotel accommodation for the whole or part of their quarantine and will likely
not be allowed to use public transport from the airport.
I will certainly keep you updated when more information comes to light.
In other news the European Union has agreed to add Japan to their small list of countries
from which they will allow non-essential travel, This is interesting as currently Japan is
not allowing anyone from the European Union entry.
Continued efforts in a so called vaccine passport that would allow travelers to use mobile phone
apps to prove they've been vaccinated, which could help them avoid quarantine requirements
at their destinations are still in development The European Union, China and Japan are all
working on their own digital vaccination certificates for cross-border travel. The U.K., meanwhile,
updated its National Health Service app last week to let fully vaccinated users prove their
status when traveling abroad, How ever the fact that the EU is slowly starting to allow
visitors in without such implementation does really make me question weather or not this
will ever come to fruition. What do you think?
In Olympic news, More than 1,600 foreign staff and athletes involved in the Tokyo Olympics
and Paralympics entered Japan during a period of over one and a half months through mid-May
under special exceptional circumstances, with the most receiving relaxed self-quarantine
requirements. They were exempted from Japan's 14-day self-quarantine requirement instead
doing three days of quarantine provided they take COVID-19 tests on the third, eighth and
14th day of their arrival, and were also having their movement and modes of transportation
restricted.
How would you feel about a system like this? Would you be willing to travel to Japan as
a tourist or other if you could take a 3 day quarantine and be tested on fay 3,8 and 14?
This actually sounds to me like a good compromise, but I’d hope that the restrictions on movement
and transportation would be removed.
As we wait the decision on weather any spectators will actually be allowed into the Olympics,
Japan is considering requiring fans attending the Tokyo Olympics to show negative COVID-19
test results or vaccination records, however The president of the Tokyo Olympic organizing
committee hinted that even local fans may be barred, but a decision will be made after
the state of emergency is lifted!
“We would like to make a decision as soon as possible (on fans), but after the state
of emergency is lifted we will assess,”
This will only leave a few weeks for spectators to be organised before the actual Olympics
commence.
And in what is a random silly last story, and possibly a long shot: Elon Musk was asked
on twitter when he would get his Shiba Inu puppy in which he replied by saying ‘when
I visit Japan later this year’
Does this mean that Elon has some insider info about business or tourist travel reopening
later this year, has special treatment and rules don’t apply to him or he’s just
not watched any of my updated videos and does not realise that Japan is currently closed.
What do you think guys
So if you are still watching, thanks for watching all the way to the end! If you haven’t checked
out any of my older travel videos I recommend you do so and leave a like and comment there
too!
I’m really looking forward to returning to Japan and making more content once I’m
there taking you along for the ride! but in the meantime I will continue giving you useful
information, tips and insights.
As always I’d love to hear your thoughts. Lets get a conversation started in the comment
section. I do try to respond to as many as I can!
Don’t forget to like the video too!
Till next time . Arigatou, gracias thanks bye!