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This is the sixth letter I'm
writing to you from
my apartment.
In Japan, the state of emergency was finally lifted
in 39 of the nation's
47 prefectures. Although
Tokyo is still not allowed to escape from its
emergency status, people are growing more
optimistic about the future,
heartened by what
they see in other parts of the country.
Our cover story this week focuses on
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe always says,
"We do
not follow an immigration policy, per se";
what Japan does, rather,
is allow skilled foreign
labor to enter the archipelago.
This pet phrase of Abe's shows his unwillingness
to accept refugees who
are in difficulty. Can you
believe that only 40 refugees were officially
resettled in Japan last year? Who could respect
such a closed-minded
country?
Japan has become one of the wealthiest nations
since World War II, but it
has never been regarded
as a global humanitarian leader. Japan was once a
poor country, but it was a destination for asylum
seekers like Sun
Yat-sen and Subhas Chandra Bose.
There were, of course, complicated political reasons
behind those events,
but I personally think a
responsible politician should seek to create a
kinder,
gentler nation that can serve as a destination for
those who
suffer.
Another important story we bring you this week is
is supported by refugees and foreign students.
Without these individuals, the country's shrinking population could not
enjoy the reasonable
prices and conveniences they experience
every day.
We also bring you three stories about various aspects
only as alternative
treatments for relieving mild
pneumonia symptoms in COVID-19 patients;
some, such as the medicine Lianhua Qingwen,
are being adopted by the
National Health Commission as primary treatment
options for COVID-19.
These traditional medicines are made from natural ingredients and have
fewer side effects. This is a
field in which the world can expect bigger
contributions from China.
The second piece showcasing an aspect of
This story somehow reminds me of the famous
Korean TV drama "Dae
Jang Geum." Compared
with Japanese cuisine, Korean dishes are generally
prepared with more of a mindset focused on promoting health.
The Michelin-starred chef Cho Hee-sook talks about
her goal for her
diners: "I hope they are comforted
through the food and
surroundings. I want them to
eat healthy, and to feel healed."
The third story is about wearing masks. Masks
have
been popular among Japanese since the
pre-corona era, partly because
many people
suffer from hay fever.
According to the article, "a U.K. government
advisory states that
face masks are at least half
as effective as medical masks and recommends
they become standard safety equipment, like
seat belts and cycling
helmets."
If you believe masks are truly effective and hope
the people around you
wear them, too, I also
wears a mask, because I do not
want masks to
have any political connotations.
Stay safe and have a good weekend.
Shigesaburo Okumura
Editor-in-chief, Nikkei Asian Review
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