I often get asked questions about the coronavirus epidemic in Japan.  The following is Part One of a four-part post with my take on Japan’s experience to date.  It is based on information from government, medical and media sources.

Japan’s COVID-19 Response –– Part 1

A year after the first confirmed domestic case of COVID-19, Japan now finds itself in the middle of a troubling third wave of infections. The cumulative number of cases in the country recently exceeded 310,000.  Tokyo, a metropolitan center of 13.5 million, is the worst affected part of Japan.

The Japanese government’s initial response to the coronavirus pandemic was largely reactive.  Japan did not impose a compulsory lockdown because the government does not have that authority.  And, it carried out little virus testing.

The government instead advocated a “3 C’s” concept.  Built on traditional Japanese behavior patterns and etiquette, such as wearing face masks and little communal physical contact such as shaking hands, it asked the population to avoid closed spaces with poor ventilation; crowded places; and close-contact settings.  Indeed the strategy helped Japan to hold down its case count and maintain a degree of normal business and economic activity.

However, some critics have said that Japan’s initial relative success was not due to prudent measures, but rather pure luck, noting that while the approach may have slowed the spread of the virus it may have also led to a false sense of reassurance.

My readers who have enjoyed a Japanese konbini snack will understand my passion for the experience. A brief lesson for others follows.

A konbini is a ubiquitous Japanese convenience store, a one-stop shop that you can find at almost every corner of every Japanese street (and usually more than one).  Most are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; they are like a shinning beacon when everything else is closed.

Of course there are convenience stores in America and other nations but nothing that compares to a Japanese konbini!

There are more than 50,000 convenience stores throughout Japan.  The major operators –– Seven Eleven, Family Mart and Lawson –– dominate the market.  One smaller popular brand is the Daily Yamazaki that focuses on rail station and residential neighborhood locations.

You can generally find almost anything or everything the could need or want from a remarkable variety of food and beverages products to other goods including personal care products, cosmetics, batteries, umbrellas, newspapers, magazines and manga to a wide range of services such as ATMs, multi-purpose terminals to purchase event tickets, pay bills, arrange delivery and pick up services, purchase stamps or use as a copy, scanning and fax machine. Many stores also maintain a Wi-Fi network that can be accessed for free.

I believe that anyone who first visits Japan immediately falls in love with Japanese convenience stores.

In fact two of my favorite konbini memories involve UMaine MBA students who accompanied Keiko and I on business school trips to Japan.  There was Tony (anything but a foodie) and his first onigiri encounter –– rice balls with always tasty fillings, the ultimate on-the-go meal –– and I believe he ate one or more of them every day of the trip thereafter! And Jeremy and his discovery of a konbini “one-cup” –– Japan’s single-serve take-away cup of sake.  He was like a kid on Christmas morning as he emerged with his prized One Cup Ōzeki!

One characteristic of this very competitive market is that the major firms constantly produce new innovative products, many that have limited or seasonal availability, some never to be seen again!  Keiko has been known to visit 7-11 stores until she has been able to find and purchase a new dessert she saw featured on a Japanese TV news variety show.

Which brings me to the purpose of this post, one of my all-time favorite konbini snacks — FamilyMart’s Famichiki –– a boneless piece of fried chicken known for its addictive crunch and juiciness that in my humble opinion might be the definitive Japanese konbini snack.

The chain has occasionally rolled out limited-edition variants on the hot treat, and for this winter has introduced a Sichuan-inspired Famichiki that blends gochujang together with Sichuan peppercorn and chili pepper to give each piece a reddish exterior (¥198 after tax).

The Japan Times described the product best: “How do you improve a classic? By literally spicing it up, of course.  Maybe it’s the neon-bright outside or the winter weather, but this Famichiki varietal more than delivers, with a nice peppery kick that offers a lingering tingle without being too strong. It’s a case study in not messing up what works — building off the essential components with a welcome, spicy addition.”

It was in fact this Japan Times article that introduced me to the spicy Famichiki. I had to visit four Family Marts to find one that had it for purchase. It was worth the time and effort. Yummy!

The cherry blossom trees in Tokyo are expected to open their blooms on March 23 according to predictions by the Japan Meteorological Corp., a private weather-forecasting company. The trees are expected to reach full bloom eight days later on March 31. This is earlier than usual due in part due to more mild fall and winter weather conditions in Tokyo.

Unfortunately, the coronavirus discouraged us from attending any traditional viewing party with friends last year and will certainly restrict our options again. However, the beautiful tress are everywhere and as last year, just taking Toma for an early spring day walk was a thrilling experience.

Watching the unimaginable scenes of the recent storming of the U.S. Capitol on world news channels was a painful experience. The words being used to describe the event –– coup, insurrection, sedition –– were equally disturbing.

Readers may be interested in the view from Japan. Below I have posted excerpts of a lengthy Japan Times editorial.

Sadly, unlike other world leaders who have condemned the violent behavior and expressed concern, Japanese Prime Minister Suga has remained silent.

“Heartbreak, Humiliation and Tragedy for the United States.”
The Japan Times Editorial Board | January 8, 2021

Images broadcast from the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. this week are sickening. The building was breached by a mob rejecting Joe Biden’s victory in the November election and demanding that Donald Trump remain as president. One person was shot in the melee, Capitol offices and the chamber were looted and incendiary devices were found there and elsewhere in the city. No one should be surprised by this grim and depressing turn of events. It is the natural culmination of weeks of increasingly strident, baseless and desperate assertions by the president and his supporters that the election was stolen.

The manic intensity erupted Wednesday in Washington when a mob, encouraged by Trump to assemble and protest in support for him, stormed the U.S. Capitol, forcing suspension of proceedings to certify the Electoral College results and evacuation of the building, all of which played out on television. One protestor was shot and later died and looters proudly desecrated the building. It is telling that the mob carried the Confederate flag and the “Trump flag” — a U.S. flag with a blue line running through it. Both confirm President-elect Joe Biden’s declaration on Wednesday that the violence “borders on sedition.” “It was not protest,” he added, “It is insurrection.”

The future is uncertain, but sometimes its outlines are clear. The horrific ending of the Trump administration was not ordained, but it was foreseen and ever more likely as bad behaviors were ignored and enabled. Abigail Spanberger, a Democratic representative from Virginia who served as a CIA case officer, recognized what had transpired. “This is what we see in failing countries,” she said. “This is what leads to a death of democracy.”

That is unlikely in this case. Americans are sobered, horrified and outraged by these events. Still, friends of the U.S. and supporters of democracy must denounce the violence and demand a return to regular order. Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato was right to say that he “hoped for a peaceful transfer of power,” but that is not enough. He must denounce the violence and demand that the results of the election be respected. We expect better from the United States and we must let our ally and partner know that it is falling short of the example it has hoped to set.

The United States will survive this moment, but it will be wounded. We must recognize that even the United States, a bastion of democracy, can be undermined, destabilized and seduced by an autocrat. The guardrails can be and are being stressed and it is up to us all as citizens to see them made strong.

Read the complete editorial and other news coverage here: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2021/01/07/editorials/us-capitol-mob/