People discriminate Chinese because of the virus right now. It's scary.
They should talk about the virus more in parliament.
I was made to carry this one today.
Hey guys and girls on Ask Japanese it's Cathy Cat.
How is the Coronavirus situation in Japan
and how save is it, is a question you have asked us
so this time we're gonna go to the streets of Tokyo an ask several Japanese people
what they think about it. Let's go and Ask Japanese.
You are not wearing masks like everyone? - I forgot mine
I heard they don't work that much. - They don't?
I heard masks are not as effective. So I left it.
So in Japan you are not worried about the virus?
We are worried... but we think we personally will be fine.
Are you doing any prevention measures? - Washing hands and gargling.
Are you wearing masks because of the Coronavirus? - Yes.
And you are not. - If you get it you get it. I don't care.
You think you are fine. - Yeah. - How is Japan doing? - I don't think its safe.
I want to say it's safe but... it's scary.
I think. - You are having a mask so...
I heard masks are sold out in Japan?
Generally they are gone but sometimes they get delivered again.
People wait and check continuously. If they're in stock, buy them quickly.
And that's how I managed to buy some for myself today.
I FINALLY found masks. I HAD TO buy them!
So generally you can't buy them? - It's really difficult. - How long did you line up>
One person found it, there were some Chinese people there too...
And then 10 people crowded around it and tried to buy it all up.
But the store limited it to one pack per customer so I could buy this.
What have you heard in the news about the coronavirus in Japan?
Do you trust it? - I think we have to
look after ourselves.
What's the scariest thing? - To be honest...
I am scared about the discrimination of Chinese people in Japan
The prejudices have gotten worse?
When people see Chinese, they only see the coronavirus.
My mother and her generation is saying that...
Humans can be scary like that.
Director: Same here. The older generation says things like that
So the older generation is pretty prejudiced?
Some young people say it too, but the older ones even more
Are the news on TV propagating that? - Yes.
There is no medicine, vaccine or cure for this
it will take a year do develop it. What shall I do when I get it?
I think that's scary. So I gotta try and stay save.
We have to avoid crowds, and I was worried about coming here today
You were scared? - Going to crowded places is worrying.
The reason for the increase of the masks is because of the virus?
To prevent the virus and influenza
Are you doing anything apart from wearing masks - This one here
It's an "air mask" you add it here and it supports the mask
It is supposed to block viruses from coming close
It looks like a pen. - Yeah like this
It contains this, you add it to your neck
I hope that will help. - I carry alcohol
disinfectant and wipes
When I touch something and before eating I disinfect my hands
and before I touch certain things.
You come from out of Tokyo. Are you worried in Tokyo?
There are more infected people in Tokyo
I braced myself for that - There is lots in the news
but what makes you the most worried? - The ship.
And the taxi driver that got it. It feels very close.
That makes me worried.
We have to be careful.
They're trying to quarantine people but...
In parliament there is a discussion now
but they are not doing a real debate about the coronavirus yet
and I wish they would properly address the issue in parliament.
I think we all need to look after ourselves too.
Do you think it will be able to stop the virus, even though it's cold
I don't know if we can stop the spread
They have to find out the sources of the spread now
Not knowing is scary.
You're not wearing a mask? - I don't
The reason why people wear masks these days... - Is the coronavirus
Are you worried? - I am not worried at all...
I am not from Tokyo you see. Where I am from...
the virus isn't a big deal so we don't worry.
Are you from far away? - Aichi prefecture. - I am visiting Tokyo
right now. Everyone is wearing masks. THAT made me worried.
In Aichi you can still buy masks. - WHAT?
Here you can't buy them. - Even if you wanted to. - Yeah it's crazy.
So the capital and countryside are different? - Yeah
Here are people from all round the world. I realized that.
The coronavirus issue is different in Tokyo.
Everyone is doing masks. Like that. I wasn't worried.
Are you trusting the news? - Not at all.
You thought the number of infected people is higher? - They are hiding it
There are more infected people than we think. At home in Aichi...
we had a rumor that a store had the virus
because we had many Chinese customers.
There was a rumor that one person got the virus
Everyone panicked. It came out it was a fluke though There was a rumor that one person got the virus
even though it wasn't true, nobody went to the store anymore. Everyone panicked. It came out it was a fluke though
even though it wasn't true, nobody went to the store anymore.
When people get worried, stuff happens, and that's why they keep it secret
Since you're both wearing masks...
Are you worried about the virus? - Yes there are a lot
of people from around the world here. You never know.
So just in case I feel like I have to wear these.
Yeah - Did you parents stop you from coming to Tokyo?
They gave me a disinfectant to carry.
and told me to use it whenever I touch something.
Do you think you have to do all of that?
You never know, I wanna do what I can.
Masks are sold out too. Shows that everyone is worried.
They are sold out, how did you buy yours?
In my household we got a stock of 5-6 large boxes
and I took one of them for today. - You are safe for a while
I am. - The disinfectant looked handmade?
They are not selling disinfectant anymore so
I bought this bottle and filled up some disinfectant from home
Can't buy it. - Not anymore.
I carry masks. I carry two today.
You have two but you're not wearing them. - Well we were
talking and shopping and I let my guard down. - And you?
Not worried? - Not much. - Not doing much - However
my parents cancelled their trip to Yokohama
because they were scared. - Any effects on you?
Not really. I don't feel like it has come to close to my life.
I don't do any preventive measures. - What will happen from now on?
I stayed at a hotel the other day. The staff there said...
that until it becomes summer
the number of infects won't go down.
We can't relax yet.
Do you feel like more people wear masks? - Yes
I am trying not to touch handholds on the train now.
Once there are more cases you'll be careful? - I'm from Saitama
and there are only 2-3 cases. There are more in Tokyo
and that's scary.
The reason why you brought all of this, is BECAUSE you're visiting Tokyo?
Yeah Tokyo has more people and that's scary so I
took preventive measures.
Just updating you a little more about the situation right now. At this point in time
it is very hard to buy facemasks and hand sanitizer. It is
instantly sold out if it goes into stores and in the mornings when people hope new deliveries
come in, there can be lines down the street. I've seen it in my area and other areas of tokyo
people will line up for hours to get their hands on face masks. They're very hard to
get hold of at this point in time. Other countries have implemented some very
strong measures for example Taiwan has changed the length of their school break right now to
make sure not too many people are outside and the chances of people giving the virus to other
people has lessened. Japan hasn't done measures like that and is getting criticized for it
but maybe soon there might be new measures coming out so keep checking for that
another issue that people are talking about is the cruise ship Diamond Princess
which is currently here in Japan but people are denied entry into Japan
everyone is quarantined on the ship. That's a very urgent situation at this point in time.
A lot of people have gotten the virus on that boat. The American
citizens have been evacuated back to America and that's another issue that Japan has
to deal with at this point. There are some conspiracy theories where people say there
are lots more people infected with the virus in Japan but it's kept a little quiet...
like one of the people has said, that's one of the theories going round because the numbers kept
low because the olympics might be coming. Don't know if that's true. Those
rumors are at least out there. We already know that Japan is gonna get a
big hit economically wise from this because Japan really counts on
it's Chinese tourists and since many Chinese tourist groups have cancelled and now even
tourists from other parts of the world are cancelling their trips to Japan. This might impact
the Japanese economy unless Japan manages to pull out and get everything sorted
before the Olympics come. This is a very important time for Japan right now. I hope
the people in power will implement the right things to make sure everyone is save
and hopefully this will blow over in a couple of months time and we will all be
safe. So trick no1 don't forget whenever you go out
try to wear a facemasks, always wash your hands and gargle with fresh water
just to get things out of your throat as well. If you can, if you can find it get yourself
some hand sanitizer as well to make sure everything is clean at all times especially
if you touch public properties. That's the things we can do for this point in time. There might be more coming
out soon so keep checking. Stay informed, stay save, hope you have a great day. Catch you soon on
Ask Japanese. Bye