Corona and sumo

[Seiyashi 4,074]

9 minutes ago, Kaminariyuki said:

I'm not certain they were ever more COVID naive than the average country, population-wise, or the average G-20 country for that matter. The government was fairly naive, certainly, when they didn't restrict travel immediately like the most savvy Asian governments did. Although linked, I'd suggest there's a big difference between the population and the government on many issues.

 

I meant in the biological sense - i.e. so much of the population has acquired natural resistance via prior infection that the infection chains are no longer sustainable as a result. Contrast e.g. Singapore where the population has been heavily vaccinated but not largely infected, and is therefore still struggling with a good deal of community transmission (albeit with less drastic results than without vaccination).

[Asashosakari 19,150]

The WHO lists 1.7 million confirmed cases for Japan, or less than 1.5% of the population. Even if that's highly underreported, I doubt the percentage is anywhere near high enough to be contributing to herd immunity in a meaningful way.

[Seiyashi 4,074]

43 minutes ago, Asashosakari said:

The WHO lists 1.7 million confirmed cases for Japan, or less than 1.5% of the population. Even if that's highly underreported, I doubt the percentage is anywhere near high enough to be contributing to herd immunity in a meaningful way.

That's really odd, then. I wonder why the cases have so sharply nosedived.

[rhyen 1,833]

Just now, Seiyashi said:

That's really odd, then. I wonder why the cases have so sharply nosedived.

Even the government advisory council is puzzled, they have not ruled out a winter spike when more people stay indoors. 

[Tsuchinoninjin 1,262]

I'm pretty sure way more than 1.5% were infected, we had guys on calls everyday hacking their heads off but weren't getting tested because they didn't have a fever or whatever.

Obesity being a comorbidity factor here might have something to do with it.

[Kintamayama 44,910]

The Kyokai has lifted the ban on koenkai members, supporters and close relatives visiting a heya and watching keiko., Shibatayama announced now. This permission has been in place since November 5th, after all Kyokai members had their PCR tests and were tested negative for the virus. This permission does not include the general public. Masks,  sterilization and temperature checks are obligatory for those that are allowed to visit.  This permit extends to during the basho as well. "Still, if things go downhill, we may have to look at this again, " explained Shibatayama.

Edited November 9, 2021 by Kintamayama

[sumojoann 1,263]

7 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

Masks,  sterilization and temperature checks are obligatory for those that are allowed to visit.  This permit extends to during the basho as well. "Still, if things go downhill, we may have to look at this again, " explained Shibatayama.

Making visitors have a vasectomy or tubal ligation seems kind of extreme to just be able to watch keiko.  I mean, just how much mingling are the visitors allowed to have with the rikishi??

[Yamanashi 3,806]

6 minutes ago, sumojoann said:

Making visitors have a vasectomy or tubal ligation seems kind of extreme to just be able to watch keiko.  I mean, just how much mingling are the visitors allowed to have with the rikishi??

This is the first time I've heard of a "spay to play" scheme before, and I don't think it's going to catch on.

[sumojoann 1,263]

7 minutes ago, Yamanashi said:

This is the first time I've heard of a "spay to play" scheme before, and I don't think it's going to catch on.

For everyone's safety, why not tell Aoiyama to "neuter those hooters!" (I may be skating on thin ice here,,,,,,)

[Kintamayama 44,910]

2 hours ago, sumojoann said:

Making visitors have a vasectomy or tubal ligation seems kind of extreme to just be able to watch keiko.  I mean, just how much mingling are the visitors allowed to have with the rikishi??

Extreme times demand extreme measures. I don't see anything funny here. This is serious business.

[Kaninoyama 1,731]

On 04/11/2021 at 00:02, Kaminariyuki said:

So, I wonder when the government will allow vaccinated foreign visitors back into the country. I understand that they are now issuing vaccination passports to Japanese nationals for travel abroad. I'd think reciprocity will hopefully allow me to watch the Many pr July basho in person in 2022. 

As one who lives in Japan and is anxious for restrictions to loosen so I can make a trip home, I don't believe this is the case--either for Japanese nationals or non-Japanese residents. 

[Kaninoyama 1,731]

On 04/11/2021 at 06:52, Seiyashi said:

That's really odd, then. I wonder why the cases have so sharply nosedived.

It is a mystery, although the last spike coincided almost exactly with the Olympic Games and then dropped off following the Games.

One thing I can say is that despite the dwindling case numbers and growing vaccinated population, mask-wearing hasn't dropped off at all--even among the vaccinated.

I was surprised when I made a trip into Tokyo a few weeks ago and it was still near 100% masks, even out on the streets. It's almost as though everyone's waiting for someone to signal that it's OK to take the masks off and resume a semblance of pre-COVID normalcy, but since it's Japan, no one's willing to take the initiative.  

Edited November 10, 2021 by Kaninoyama

[Yamanashi 3,806]

4 hours ago, Kaninoyama said:

It is a mystery, although the last spike coincided almost exactly with the Olympic Games and then dropped off following the Games.

Hakuho sneaks off to watch Judo -- cases go up.

Hakuho retires - cases go down.

Wake up, sheeple.

[Kaminariyuki 498]

On 10/11/2021 at 00:26, Kaninoyama said:

As one who lives in Japan and is anxious for restrictions to loosen so I can make a trip home, I don't believe this is the case--either for Japanese nationals or non-Japanese residents. 

That's a shame, but given your situation , I'm sure you have more accurate and current info. I continue to hope. The story I'd seen last summer was in the JT:

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/07/22/national/vaccine-passports-explainer/

 

[Kaninoyama 1,731]

1 hour ago, Kaminariyuki said:

That's a shame, but given your situation , I'm sure you have more accurate and current info. I continue to hope. The story I'd seen last summer was in the JT:

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/07/22/national/vaccine-passports-explainer/

 

The document in the article you linked does provide vaccine status info to help people who need such documentation go abroad.

But the real issue is the tight country entry and exit restrictions, requiring residents of Japan to get an expensive PCR test before leaving and coming back, and also quarantine for 10-14 days upon return with no exceptions, even for the fully vaccinated. 

[Kaminariyuki 498]

19 hours ago, Kaninoyama said:

The document in the article you linked does provide vaccine status info to help people who need such documentation go abroad.

But the real issue is the tight country entry and exit restrictions, requiring residents of Japan to get an expensive PCR test before leaving and coming back, and also quarantine for 10-14 days upon return with no exceptions, even for the fully vaccinated. 

I just poked around a bit and I'm hopeful. Apparently Business travelers can now get in with a three day quarantine and a negative test. There's noise that tourism could open up before cherry blossom season but I'm dubious, myself, until I see some action. When they let tourists in, all the other visas routes should be open, as well.

Edited November 21, 2021 by Kaminariyuki

[Kaninoyama 1,731]

3 hours ago, Kaminariyuki said:

I just poked around a bit and I'm hopeful. Apparently Business travelers can now get in with a three day quarantine and a negative test. There's noise that tourism could open up before cherry blossom season but I'm dubious, myself, until I see some action. When they let tourists in, all the other visas routes should be open, as well.

At least for the business travelers exiting Japan and coming back, it's true that there's a 3-day quarantine option--but only after the company fills out a massive amount of paperwork, including an hour-by-hour travel itinerary. There are also some exceptions for migrant workers coming into the country. I imagine there's an equal amount of paperwork to be filled out by business travelers coming in from abroad. 

But yes, all I can do is wait and hope. I've resolved to make a trip home by next March regardless, but hopefully things will have eased by then. 

[Akinomaki 40,247]

As of day 13, eating out with supporters is allowed again, if the shisho has given the approval https://www.sanspo.com/article/20211123-6EX5ZH75ARK6JKTBWB7BXTZMUM/

- nice to have the same action get punished severely and next allowed again. No one of those punished for infractions caused any infection, some of those who traveled while allowed brought home the virus.

[Seiyashi 4,074]

For the sake of playing devil's advocate, though, it's not about keeping the virus completely out but reducing the possible infection vectors. If everyone had been allowed to eat with supporters we could possibly have seen 50% of makuuchi down, which would be a complete nightmare. The punishments weren't so much about them definitely infecting people per se, but about making sure everyone understood there was a consequence to breaching a measure designed to contain the sumo world and reduce the probability of infection.

[Akinomaki 40,247]

If the shisho decides that it is possible, visiting asa-geiko is allowed from tomorrow till the 12th next month. http://www.sankei.com/article/20211128-D25Q5OPSDRP63PISPOKGIHMDGI/

Punishment in sumo is always for rule infraction, not for the damage caused, see the driving ban - the inconsistency of the rules is what I'm criticizing. Corona rules are idiotic and chaotic all over the world, the NSK with its change every 2 weeks is simply average among that.

Edited November 28, 2021 by Akinomaki

[Seiyashi 4,074]

Were they that inconsistent, though? Incompetent themselves in their initial response, maybe, but I had the impression that for the longest time, not going out except for necessities - especially during basho - was a pretty standard rule, and the only major exceptions were hometown visits immediately after a basho and oyakata scouting trips.

In any case, with Omicron now a thing, there's a good possibility these latest relaxations will have to be rolled back. I wouldn't call this inconsistency either - at worst an overeager relaxation. I wonder if two straight years of limited access to supporters is really causing supporter largesse to heya to dry up badly, since these latest relaxations are quite out of the blue.

Edited November 28, 2021 by Seiyashi

[rhyen 1,833]

3 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

Were they that inconsistent, though? Incompetent themselves in their initial response, maybe, but I had the impression that for the longest time, not going out except for necessities - especially during basho - was a pretty standard rule, and the only major exceptions were hometown visits immediately after a basho and oyakata scouting trips.

In any case, with Omicron now a thing, there's a good possibility these latest relaxations will have to be rolled back. I wouldn't call this inconsistency either - at worst an overeager relaxation. I wonder if two straight years of limited access to supporters is really causing supporter largesse to heya to dry up badly, since these latest relaxations are quite out of the blue.

Mostly because the numbers have nosedived, so they probably weigh that the risk is minimal as long as the heya visits and meals are limited.

Japan’s response to most developments has been travel bans and restrictions, foreign travellers will be strictly quarantined and monitored to keep out new variants. 

[Inside Sport Japan 762]

As of midnight last night Japan is banning all incoming foreign visitors. Previously certain people (athletes joining football or rugby teams for example) could enter for work purposes, and there was to be a loosening of restrictions to allow in more students etc. That is now suspended and, it appears, only Japanese nationals and those with residency will be allowed in. Of course even in those cases the paperwork, delays etc promise to be a nightmare, and it seems everyone entering will have to quarantine for ten days at a government facility - the details are still slightly unclear on that. 

The latest figures have the total number of Covid cases in the country at 968. That's down from 270,000 in August. Tokyo has 138 cases. All figures are the lowest they've been since mid March 2020 - just as the pandemic was beginning.

[Katooshu 3,182]

Looks like it's going to scupper some good boxing events that were set around New Year's Eve 

Better safe than sorry I guess

Edited November 29, 2021 by Katooshu

[Kintamayama 44,910]

March will be held in Osaka. 75% capacity to be allowed.