Source::AP
With 2022 being seen as the return to normalcy all over the world with many places relaxing travel restrictions, using better methods of pandemic controls and the accelerating rollout of vaccines. But the country of Japan has been adamant in keeping its travel restrictions amidst growing criticism and backlash from the international country.
The Japanese Government do have a point when they recorded rising infection rates all over the country, with nearly 100,000 people being infected in the past 24 hours. Therefore, the current restrictions only allow Japanese national and permanent foreign residents to visit the country.
This current policy has been under scrutiny by foreign people mostly students or scholars who have pointed out the measures to be unfair, unscientific and is hurting Japanese national interest in the long term.
Frustrated over these restrictions, students have started gathering outside in Japanese diplomatic compounds around the world to let their voices be heard. The foreign and domestic business has reported and protested to the government saying that this restriction has severely affected business, investment and other kinds of economic activity.
Still, the vaccination rate and booster rate remain sluggish in Japan. While the authorities are trying to roll out 1 million doses a day by the end of the month, only 8% of the population have received their third jabs. The government indecision over the interval between the two doses causing delays has also irked people in Japan.
While the foreign students and major companies are protesting the restrictive actions of the government, most of the Japanese public are supportive of the government's actions with the domestic public thinking of the pandemic as coming outside the nation. Therefore, while pressure has been mounting against the government, it is unlikely for the government to repeal its action anytime soon.
