On March 7, 2020, I introduce Yoshiko Sakurai’s column published in Shukan Shincho. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe rapidly issued a series of measures to prevent the spread of the Wuhan virus, including requests to reconsider events, cancel or postpone sports and cultural gatherings, and temporarily close elementary, junior high, high, and special-needs schools nationwide. One reason for the delayed initial response by the Japanese government, especially the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, was that it trusted information from China and the WHO, which was under China’s influence. Sakurai points out that the reality of the Wuhan virus spread in China was far worse than officially announced.

March 7, 2020
One reason for the delay in the initial response by the Japanese government, especially the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, was that it trusted information from China and from the World Health Organization, WHO, which is under China’s influence.
The following is from Yoshiko Sakurai’s column, which, together with Masayuki Takayama’s, adorns the final pages of Shukan Shincho released on Thursday.
This essay, too, proves that she is a “national treasure” as defined by Saicho.
Virus, Economy, Diplomacy: Xi Jinping at an Impasse.
In response to the outbreak of the new coronavirus that began in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China,
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe launched one measure after another to contain it.
On February 25, he decided on the basic policy.
He did not demand a blanket cancellation of all events,
but requested that each organization reconsider the necessity of holding them.
On the 26th, accepting the opinion of experts that the next two weeks would be a decisive turning point in whether Japan could prevent the spread of the Wuhan virus,
the Prime Minister clearly requested the organizers of sports and cultural events that attract large audiences
to cancel, postpone, or scale down their events during that period.
The impact of the “Prime Minister’s request” was great.
The Asahi Shimbun reported it as the top story on the front page of its evening edition that same day,
and thereafter, the movement to cancel events spread nationwide.
On the 27th, the Prime Minister requested that all elementary schools, junior high schools, high schools, and special-needs schools
be temporarily closed from Monday, March 2, until the spring vacation.
It can be said that only with this series of decisions by the Prime Minister
did society as a whole finally take the form of fighting the Wuhan virus.
Now is the time for all of Japan to set aside minor differences,
unite behind the Prime Minister’s decisions,
and prevent the spread of the virus.
Of course, there is criticism.
“It is sudden and hastily prepared,”
said Fumio Kishida, chairman of the Policy Research Council.
“It should be withdrawn,”
said Renho, deputy leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party.
Beginning with such voices, there are also complaints and criticism from local government heads, but are they serious?
If we could face the onslaught of the virus with a sufficient system already in place, that would be best.
But the Prime Minister himself has said it.
He said that he had resolved:
“When there is no time to spend on making judgments, I must make a political decision.”
Now is the time when measures must be taken while running.
I fully understand the confusion on the ground,
but now the most important thing is to suppress the spread of the virus.
There is no ruling party or opposition party in this.
It is time to regard the Wuhan virus as a national crisis
and for everyone to make every effort.
I highly value the Prime Minister’s decision.
One reason for the delay in the initial response by the Japanese government,
especially the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare,
was that it trusted information from China and from the World Health Organization, WHO, which is under China’s influence.
The reality of the spread of the Wuhan virus in China is far worse than what has been announced.
I reported that point in this column last week,
and there was an interesting reaction from the Chinese side.
This section continues.