Roger OngToday was supposed to be Japan’s last day of self-quarantine. But that was not to be. The Japanese government has extended the period to 31 May for 13 cities. Until the numbers of infections drop below and under control, the situation will continue for many Japanese citizens.
These are amid the uncertainty of the government’s response to the outbreak, the lack of testing for the population and the worry of a post-corona future. But it is precisely now that we need to look beyond negative sentiments. Because among all the uncertainty, we have learnt a lot about ourselves in the past month. We are reminding ourselves of what is truly important, and what we need to protect.
We reminded ourselves of society’s vulnerable groups
Self-restraining began to limit access and freedom to many things we have taken granted pre-corona period. It was also then when we started to grow more empathetic towards minorities and the vulnerable in society.
Crises plunge the vulnerable into danger
These groups includes those living in poverty, single mothers, the homeless, victims of domestic violence, refugees and many more. While we find accessibility limited to us, access is instead cut to them. Their jobs are in peril because businesses are closed. Income decrease threatens their livelihood. Government support is slow and lacking. The coronavirus has pushed them off the edge of vulnerability into a state of danger.
For example, 1 in 7 children in Japan lives in poverty. When schools were closed and Children Canteens stopped operations, these children are threatened by loss of food security. This also meant an increase in household spending in a time when recession is on the bay and many are unable to continue working. In Learning For All, an organization tackling child poverty, conducted a survey that revealed how half of the families did not had essential protection like masks and disinfectants.
Another vulnerable group is the victims of domestic violence. Self-restraining at home means extended exposure to danger. Leaving the house used to be for limiting that exposure and getting external support. Now lives are potentially in danger.
We are also the sum of our goodness
Instead of the depending and waiting for the government to take action, we find the grassroots are ready to help. Local businesses and citizens are helping in different areas, like making masks, providing free food and offering shelter. (This is not unique to Japan, as there should be many similar examples in your own neighborhood.)
And Japanese communities are looking out for neighbors, including the children. For example, Chonando, a lunch box shop in Tokyo, is offering their bento lunches with a twist. “If you do not enough to pay, you can pay later instead. Even if it means coming back to pay when you have grown up and graduated.” (Message shown in the Twitter picture below.)
吉祥寺の長男堂の貼り紙。
なかなかできる事じゃないよなぁ??
こういう事態なんだよ。 pic.twitter.com/yxe7fiSM9F— haruna (@haru_chat) April 29, 2020
Moreover, when the government announced that it will support each resident with 100 thousand yen handouts, application methods were quickly loosened for victims of domestic violence. Originally, the total amount will be sent to the head of the households. This therefore ensures help, no matter the amount, reaches them.
NGOs and social businesses are also doubling their efforts during this coronavirus crisis for the vulnerable groups they are supporting. Florence launched the Coronavirus Child Emergency Support Project to protect households, like those with children with disabilities. Flowercyclist RIN also upcycles flowers reserved by cancelled events due to self-quarantine. Flower Demo continues to rage against ignorance of sexual violence in Japan too.
We reminded ourselves that work needs to be redefined
Even in the risk of infection and the call of self-quarantine from the government, many Japanese are still commuting to work. According to a survey conducted by YouGov, a British market research company, while 80% of surveyed workers were worried about the COVID-19 infection, only 18% are avoiding commuting to work.
Old mindsets still grip the Japanese workplace
There are certain sticky ideals that still exist in some Japanese companies. Thinking like “It’s not work if there’s no physical office” or “One must be physically on-site to understand it” still persists. It’s even been suggested that it breeds jealousy among workers, so everyone should do the same thing for fairness. Although these ideals may seem strange or irrelevant outside of Japan, they nevertheless have a stubborn grasp on the work style.
Furthermore, the outbreak has revealed flaws in many Japanese SMEs because of these misplaced priorities. A survey on Tokyo SMEs revealed that only 26% were able to implement remote work. While some of these included face-to-face services like restaurants and cafes, the percentage is still alarmingly low. Turns out many of them do not have the equipment or infrastructure to implement remote working. Poverty is also an issue, as many as half of the households who earn less then an annual 2 million yen do not have internet at home.
Japan is at a crossroad to redefine work in Japan
On the other hand, the Japanese are starting to question what is truly necessary, especially in work aspects. The coronavirus pandemic has forced companies to implement remote work, thus accelerating the use of online tools and quite possibly progress a different work style. Some are even questioning if a physical office is really needed.
And Zenbird is already seeing advantages of such progress. Japanese companies that were already experimenting with remote work are advancing new work style concepts like “work anywhere” and “live anywhere”. Pasona’s Job Hub Travel and Otesutabi continue to promote a work-and-travel in support of regional revitalization. In travel-for-work heavy Japan, these Product as a Service companies are thus slowly redefining what “work” and “home”. It is no surprise that these involve the sharing economy too.
Even remote communication is growing more interest, as Japan is on the cusp of a discourse around effective remote communication.
We reminded ourselves how important connections are
Stress from being holed up at home is showing to be of a burden mentally and emotionally. And we are beginning to realize why that is.
Not appreciating things till we lose it
We are reminded of how connection with others was important to us. Reports of loneliness and self-quarantined fatigue reveals how humans are social creatures. Online nomikai, or drinking gatherings, are growing more common among the Japanese, as are online events.
Of course, how can we forget our Corona Heroes? The doctors, nurses and workers at medical facilities, who are working their best to literally protect lives from the virus? We are being reminded of the essential roles in our society, and gratitude runs strong. For example, Fukuoka city does a Friday Ovation every Friday noon for these heroes.
But online is not a replacement for face-to-face
Cities and cultures care born from interactions between one another. That is also how we create ideals and values. So unless we are trying to create “The Matrix”, online will remain a tool, and not become a replacement to face-to-face interactions.
The Japanese are also realizing how important they relationships with brands are. This is especially true when we look at amount of support for the food and beverage industry. Gochimeshi, originally an app service to gift meals, launched the Seki-meshi service. It is a service that users can pre-pay for meals, and redeem after the COVID-19 outbreak blows over. So, takeaways and deliveries are temporary solutions. Ultimately, it’s the customers who wants to support their favorite places that matters.
Another local business located in Yokohama, Woo-By.Style, is hiring people with disabilities to make gauze masks too. It doesn’t just provide jobs during this difficult time. Because it places these masks at other local businesses for sale, it also creates a revitalization by creating economic flow to these businesses too.
We reminded ourselves of our connection with our environment
Climate change is already affecting multiple industries pre-corona period. For example, the fisheries in Japan. Japan Fisheries Association is warning against scenarios like ocean acidification and increase in fish diseases due to increase in ocean temperature.
Now, we see how human activity has once again affected nature, now that the cause of COVID-19 is being pinned to the rampant wildlife trade in China. And we are bearing the brunt of the devastating impact on the our economy. We are being awaken to how our actions affects nature and ourselves. If we continue to disrupt ecosystems, pandemics like COVID-19 will occur more frequently.
Fridays for Future understands this intrinsic relationship with environment well. They are reminding us that is a misunderstanding that the coronavirus is the only crisis humanity is facing. Climate change is also demanding our attention, with an impact more devastating than what COVID-19 will bring. Greta Thunberg thus continues to encourage youths by asking them to bring climate strikes online. Fridays for Future Japan held its first Climate Strike Online two weeks ago against Japan’s low commitment. We can also expect more online events and inter-prefectural collaboration.
We are the missing pieces in finding solutions
Human beings are in no way perfect. It is human nature to panic when faced with a crisis. But surely we have not advanced through centuries of technology, social and philosophical discourse, in order to hoard toilet paper? Many say that the coronavirus outbreak has revealed our “true colors,” even to the point when “COVIDIOT” has its own meme.
But “true colors” also include the social good we are witnessing from day to day. The examples of what we have covered today are just a drop in a bucket of the good in people. These individuals aren’t waiting for government action or a miracle cure; they believe they are part of the solution. The scale of their actions may be small, but impactful in the grand scheme of things.
So even if our self-quarantine continues, even when the days seem darker, even when the economy starts to suffer, remember that we are pieces of the puzzle to create a better world. This is the time for us to draw together, not referring only to Japan, but as part of humanity. We shall prevail.
