Japan is doing its best to deal with the outbreak of the "new-type influenza virus" that has taken hold here, with 302 cases officially reported, although no deaths thanks to Japan's excellent medical system. Everywhere you go, Japanese consumers are snapping up those health masks and wearing them to keep the germs away. The influenza fear is having an effect on the economy, too, as travel plans to areas where flu cases have been reported are cancelled, including my son's scheduled school trip to Kyoto next month (it's been put off for a year). Prime Minister Aso has appeared on TV and urged people to remain calm, but I know this has to run its course: once Japanese people have decided they're going to freak out about something, everyone gets on board. This is thanks to the concept of migi e narae (migi eh nah-rah-eh), an old army command that literally means "Copy the person on your right!" although it's more useful to think of it as "me, too-ism." Basically, this word describes the Japanese tendency to do whatever people them are doing. If you're concerned about the new influenza, the best advice might be to stay home and avoid unnecessary contact with others. To that end, I recommend everyone buy cool stuff from J-List. That's a great idea!
Japan is currently undergoing fear of the new influenza. Good thing we stocked up on Hello Kitty masks.
8 comments:
I could never wear one of those masks.
Japanese people go so overboard, and I would never wear one of those masks.
still, its easier to get some space on the train. Just cough and mutter "I knew I shouldn't have gone to mexico". Probably have the whole carriage to yourself.
I was wondering when this would get around to great Nihon. So, is this the H1N1? You know every nation has their own title for it. Or, is this something else?
@Chris
Yes, it is swine flu
No, it was renamed so that pigs wouldn't be defamed and discriminated against (or, more likely, be culled in droves in the mistaken belief that they were a danger, as has happened in some countries already). A waste of tasty pigs.
My cousin is a doctor and she says that you have to change the masks every few hours as they get moist, but they are mostly so that you are less likely to infect others. I think they are more for psychological reassurance than anything else.
[hijack]@Chris
OK then, let me change that to 'yes, it's A(H1N1), New Type whatever flu in Japan as well" ...nah it's swine flu for me and you are free to call it whatever you want of course, but do not tell me that I am wrong in referring to it as swine flu. If BBCworld service radio can still call it swine flu, so can I and even if they didn't, I would still be able to and as long as you or anybody else who hear/read me use it understand what I am talking about the words have served their intended purpose. As to changing the name to prevent the preemptive slaughter of pigs, I do not really see how some peoples ignorance is helped by obfuscating language - would it not be better to educate these people WHO would be the perfect organization for this job, though they have also bought the renaming. You might also find it interesting to know that the renaming has more to do with hurt religious sensibilities than culling of herds.
Anyhoo you understoof what I ment by writing swine flu, so there was really no need to correct me in my choice of words, now was there?[/hijack]
I wear those masks when I need to clean somewhere that's dusty. Well, maybe it's not exactly the same mask; I got mine at a hardware store.
I have a friend who is ill; her daughter came home from elementary school feeling sick, and then she caught it. The doctor said "She has a mild flu; you might have heard about it on the news". Fortunately, she doesn't seem to be too worried about it. ("I've been sicker", she says!)
Where do they get those rain slickers in Denver Broncos colors?
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