Japan: Tokyo residents react to declaration of state of emergency amid coronavirus crisis

M/S Crowded street prior to declaration of state of emergency, Tokyo
M/S Residents walking in street
SOT, Oya Shichi, Employee (Japanese): "Certainly, it is said that it is late, but I think it was a difficult decision as well. I am now working and commuting, but what happens after this [state of emergency] actually happens? In such workplaces, I think, there are many places that are close to each other, so maybe I think that it should be alleviated even a little and the coronavirus should be dropped. Well, I do not know what will happen from now on, but I think it was good that it came out like that [declaration] for the time being."
SOT, Ken Shota, Employee (Japanese): "So from tomorrow the state of emergency will start, but on the contrary, I feel that it is rather late. Despite the fact that Japan is also infected by the coronavirus a lot, but Japan is particularly late in [implementing] countermeasures when compared with other foreign countries' measures against the coronavirus. Honestly, it is so slow. However I think it'll be in time now, so I hope that people will take this opportunity to change the consciousness, our mind and our perception that coronavirus is really dangerous and to take the action of self-imposed control." *NO CUTAWAY AT SOURCE*
SOT, Fujita Yukihiro, Employee (Japanese): "I think it's late. After all, I think that there are some problems with money, but I also think that we can make a living. So I would like to ask for some kind of support. I'm sure that some people will be out of work. Though I am still working. Therefore, I hope there will be some kind of support for those who are losing their jobs." *NO CUTAWAY AT SOURCE*
SOT, Nakagawa Ryo, Resident (Japanese): "I hope that there will be less human-to-human contact, and the risk of infection will be reduced, and many people will not be infected. I think it's the right refrain." *NO CUTAWAY AT SOURCE*
SOT, Maeda, Resident (Japanese): "It means that there may be no work from tomorrow. Well, it's also the situation like this, so I think there is no way to prevent further diffusion, so while refraining from going out as much as possible for nonessential and non-urgent reasons, I really hope that this is coming to an end and that the daily routine as soon as possible will be back." *NO CUTAWAY AT SOURCE*
SOT, Kashihara, Resident (Japanese): "Yeah, life will be very boring, isn't it? If you can't go anywhere. So, as soon as possible, in order to have our ordinary life back like as usual, now I will try self-control and stay at home." *NO CUTAWAY AT SOURCE*
SOT, Takaki Tamagawa, Resident (Japanese): "If the government had dealt with each of the problems faster, I don't think it would have spread more and more." *NO CUTAWAY AT SOURCE*
SOT, Araki Iria, Resident (Japanese): "If I can't go for work, I'm bit worried about what my salary and what life will be like." *NO CUTAWAY AT SOURCE*
M/S Residents walking in street
W/S Governor of Tokyo announcing coronavirus measures on billboard
SCRIPT
Tokyo residents reacted on Monday to the government's decision to implement a state of emergency in seven prefectures, including the capital, amid the coronavirus outbreak. The measures will go into effect on Tuesday, for about a month.
"Japan is particularly late in [implementing] countermeasures when compared to other foreign countries," said a resident named Ken Shota, who hoped that "people will take this opportunity to change the consciousness, our mind and our perception that coronavirus is really dangerous and to take the action of self-imposed control."
Another resident, Araki Iria, shared her worries over her salary and what "life will be like" if she is not able to go to work.
The same concerns were echoed by a resident named Fujita Yukihiro, who called on the government to provide "some kind of support for those who are losing their jobs."
The state of emergency measures will help minimise person-to-person contact, with local urged to stay at home, at the exception of shopping for food, seeking medial care, doing a daily exercise and going to work, if necessary.
According to the John Hopkins University, Japan has over 3,500 reported cases of coronavirus infections and 85 deaths.