This chapter criticizes opposition politicians and the mass media for using the spread of the novel coronavirus for political purposes, including attacks on school closures and calls for mass testing. Referring to the pandemic in Europe and America, Italy’s medical collapse, and Professor Shinya Yamanaka’s remarks, it argues that in a crisis equivalent to war, the nation should unite beyond left and right.

2020-03-26
There is an article that clearly informs us that it was precisely opposition-party political operators and the mass media in sympathy with them that brought about this kind of attitude.
As for why the attitudes of those people in Tokyo, which can only be called foolish, arose in the previous chapter,
there is an element common to the events that occurred after Prime Minister Abe recently requested the closure of schools nationwide.
The attitude as if people could not go on living if schools were closed for merely a few weeks, or perhaps a few months;
the attitude as if children who could not cope even with such a thing were Japanese children;
the reason such things occurred is that there were far too many people who did not understand that this is war.
If they had understood that we are at war, there would not have been the foolish attitude of saying, after only a few days or one week, that children were having a hard time and so on.
There is an article that clearly informs us that it was precisely opposition-party political operators and the mass media in sympathy with them that brought about this kind of attitude.
Yesterday, on goo, I read it in the blog of a well-known writer and German literature scholar whom I was seeing for the first time, although he had been reading my work.
In the first half, it is written that what I had felt about “the uncleanliness of Westerners” was exactly to the point.
I was seeing for the first time the opposition lawmaker’s question in the Diet in the latter half, probably Renho and others, but this, indeed, is the cause of the attitude of the people I mentioned in the previous chapter.
Not only I, but all readers as well, will surely feel gratitude that he is sending this out on the Internet in this way.
The emphasis in the text is mine.
https://blog.goo.ne.jp/hanatumi2006
The novel coronavirus disaster is not easily subsiding.
My lecture at the Courtauld exhibition in Kobe on April 11 has been canceled.
I sincerely apologize to those who were planning to attend.
This incident has made me deeply realize how peaceful, happy, and precious ordinary daily life is, in which we can enjoy art exhibitions.
When I look at the disastrous situation in Italy, I am confronted with the terror of medical collapse.
Italy has already abandoned patients aged 70 and older.
I have read various articles analyzing why Italy alone has ended up in such a situation.
First, there are as many as 400,000 Chinese people there, and they traveled back and forth between Italy and China around the New Year;
the passengers of a cruise ship were allowed to disembark as they were;
there are many elderly people;
there is the custom of hugging;
and, on the other hand, there is almost no habit of washing hands.
In fact, as in France, people do not bathe very often either.
The level of cleanliness is low.
However, many other countries also fit these conditions, so they are not the decisive factors.
Then what is the problem?
Perhaps the large factor is that the national economy stopped functioning and the financial resources for medical care were reduced.
Moreover, the present Italian government is anti-vaccine, and mandatory vaccination has already been abolished!
http://www.donga.com/jp/article/all/20180814/1425447/1/
And then there is the example of America.
In Japan, people rushed to buy tissues, but what are Americans rushing to buy?
Astonishingly, guns, it seems.
It is surprising.
https://www.sankei.com/column/news/200319/clm2003190004-n1.html
Putting that aside, what makes me angriest now is the mass media, which tries to use the pandemic politically.
Even now they do not stop stirring things up, saying that everyone should be tested, or that tents should be set up in front of hospitals and tests conducted there.
Do they think that doctors and nurses will spring up magically from somewhere?
In science-fiction novels, the moment aliens attack, enemy nations unite with each other, but in reality the opposite seems to be true.
Regarding the government’s temporary closure of schools as well, there was a Diet member who pressed the government, saying, “Is there any scientific basis for this?”
On this point, Professor Shinya Yamanaka dismissed it, saying that, since this is humanity’s first experience, there is no evidence.
https://twitter.com/mi2_yes/status/1237923058943438848?lang=ja
At least when we are fighting a murderous virus, let us unite as one, without right or left.