Questionnaire: “Novel coronavirus measures, vaccine in Japan” City-Cost summary

Between April and May of 2021 the questionnaire, “Novel coronavirus measures and vaccine in Japan” was available for users of City-Cost to answer. This is a summary of the responses. 

In terms of an overall trend emerging from the responses, perhaps the most prominent is that of a growing concern over the way in which authorities in Japan are responding to the coronavirus pandemic. 

At the time of opening the questionnaire it had been well over a year since the earliest reported cases of the novel coronavirus here in Japan (reported in mid-January 2020). It was amid a continuing surge in infections that the questionnaire presented the following question: 

Q: How would you rate the response of authorities in Japan to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, in its early stages and currently?

The following chart is a breakdown of the responses reflecting on the response of authorities during the “early stages” of the outbreak in Japan (percentages rounded to nearest whole number): 

The next chart is a breakdown of the responses reflecting on the response of authorities to the pandemic during the period of the questionnaire (percentages rounded to nearest whole number): 

Looking over the two sets of responses we can see that a rating of “poor - very poor” accounted for 34 percent of responses during the early stages of the outbreak, increasing to 58 percent of responses for the period of the questionnaire. 

Selected responses regarding "response of authorities": 

“I think initially Japan did alright, but since then it's been a bit of a disorganized mess. The go-to travel campaign for one wasn't a very well thought out idea.” Female, 30s

“The government's total ineffectiveness in setting up and expecting CoVid19 vaccination programs is a travesty for a first world country.” Male, 60s

"I believe that the Japanese government has been doing the best that it could to alleviate the situation." Male, 30s

People walk at a crossing in Tokyo’s Ginza area on May 19, 2021 with the Japanese capital still under a virus emergency.

So, how did or does the response of the authorities in Japan to the novel coronavirus outbreak and subsequent pandemic compare as a cause of concern against other factors for us foreign residents of Japan? The following question appeared in the questionnaire: 

Q: In the early stages of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Japan, which of the following options were the greatest sources of concern for you? 

Nine options (causes of concern) were presented of which up to three could be selected.  The table below shows the top five causes of concern based on the number of times they were selected:

During the early stages of the outbreak then, “response of authorities” ranked as the fourth greatest concern (of the options available).

As for causes of concern during the period of the questionnaire: 

“Response of authorities” moved two places to become the second greatest cause of concern. Other causes largely maintained a similar ranking. 

Selected responses regarding "causes of concern": 

“The general public in Japan didn’t seem to be strictly following the stay home guidelines.” Female, 30s

“Growing fatigue from safety measures, people getting too relaxed about social distancing and masks, doubt that Japan can reach "herd immunity" levels of immunization.” Male, 30s

“The slow progress of the vaccination program is really a bummer. Besides that, it is also unclear as to what the purpose and direction there is when it comes to the state of emergency declarations are. Furthermore, the holding of the Olympics being pushed through by authorities without completing the vaccination of both athletes and locals.” Female, 30s

“I am so disappointed in the lack of a plan on behalf of the local and national government leaders throughout the past year. The fact that the population is not vaccinated with any organized plan but (there is) a plan for the Olympics to be held are both examples of such negligence and disrespect to the citizens!” Female, 50s

Looking more specifically at virus-prevention measures and government policies that have constituted the response from authorities to the pandemic thus far, came the following question: 

Q: In regards to virus prevention policy and measures implemented / encouraged by authorities in Japan, have you ever felt them to discriminate against, or to be particularly dismissive of, foreign residents of Japan?

The chart below is a breakdown of responses (percentages rounded to nearest whole number):

Among those who responded “Yes,” some cited measures regarding international travel restrictions imposed by the government during the pandemic which many felt resulted in unfair treatment of foreigners wanting to re-enter the country.

Some of your comments in the responses:

“There were some cases publicised where foreign residents were looked at with more scrutiny than Japanese nationals. There was also the border issue when permanent residents couldn't even access the country.” Female, 30s

“Last year, foreigners were barred from entering Japan. Japanese nationals were not, even if they had been exposed to the virus abroad.” Male, 60s

“When the expat residents were not able to travel - shocking!” Female, 50s 

Entry restrictions imposed in April 2020 in an effort to curb the spread of the virus in Japan applied to even those foreigners with resident status in Japan trying to re-entering the country, with some exceptions, while Japanese nationals were allowed to return.

When the government began dialing back restrictions the following summer, foreign nationals with residence status in Japan found themselves subject to re-entry procedures that weren’t applied to Japanese nationals.

Other cases of unfair treatment in the response to the pandemic, or reaction to it in some cases, were cited, including the speculative theory posited by a morning “news” program in Japan that differences in pronunciation could be behind what were, at that time, Japan’s comparatively low number of infections. 

"Though not "authorities," there was also some misinformation spread about English speakers and why they spread the virus more easily than Japanese, based on pronunciation of different words. The infamous "This is a PEN." video that was widely shared online and on TV, for example." Male, 30s

"Claims that foreigners’ pronunciation was a cause of spreading particles." Female, 30s

Other responses reflected a possible feeling among some foreign residents of a perception in Japan that the virus is still seen as being problem brought in from outside of the country: 

“They have not quashed the rumours that it is foreign people who are bringing in the virus. It was the Japanese returnees who were left unchecked.” Female, 50s. 

One of the more frequently cited reasons for concern over the response of authorities to the pandemic here in Japan was the handling of the vaccine rollout. The vast majority of us seem ready and willing to be vaccinated here in Japan … and soon. 

Q: Are you willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine here in Japan?

Whatever issues we might have regarding the handling of the pandemic here in Japan, for most people it appears to have had little bearing on plans or thinking regarding length of stay in Japan. When asked, over half of you responded that the situation surrounding the pandemic was having no effect on your plans to stay in Japan for either the short or long term. 

Q: So far, how has the outbreak of the novel coronavirus and Japan’s response to it affected your plans regarding your life in Japan?

The questionnaire, “Novel coronavirus measures, vaccine in Japan” was opened on City-Cost between April and May 2021.

Watch a video summary of the questionnaire on the City-Cost Japan YouTube channel