[Update] On Thursday, February 17th, Prime Minister Kishida announced that the government will indeed be easing entry restrictions from March. As a “first step” towards exiting the sixth wave of the pandemic, the country will begin allowing more of those waiting into the country. The government will also implement a much-reduced three-day quarantine for those who can prove they are boosted, and the quarantine may be waived entirely for those from countries without major spread. However, Kishida also cautioned that “it is unrealistic that [border control] be eased all at once.”
The past two years have been a very trying time for those hoping to enter Japan to start a new life. As covered many times over the period of the pandemic, strict border control implemented by the Japanese government at the start of the pandemic has left families, students, workers, researchers, trainees, and significant others stranded outside of the country. The total count of those waiting to come into Japan has been in the hundreds of thousands. Now, Japanese government sources have once again begun to promise a scaling back of the entry ban, as well as an easing of quarantine policies. Those jaded by previously rescinded moves in this direction could be excused of being wary of new promises; however, these new policy announcements remain a reason for cautious optimism.
Various Japanese [1] and English-language sources [2] report that the limited number of daily entrants to Japan will be raised from 3000 to 5000 starting in March; moreover, those who can provide proof of having received a third COVID vaccine injection, alongside a negative PCR test, will be able to waive the currently strictly enforced 7-day quarantine period. That mandatory period of isolation has already been reduced only very recently; it was previously a 14-day quarantine for most arrivals, whether Japanese or foreign nationals. (Japanese sources vaguely state this only be applicable for arrivals from countries without “a spread of infection,” which could rule out many locations.) [3] As of yet, the country has implemented very few policies wherein proof of vaccination resulted in the easement of stringent controls on behavior, so this may represent a step in a new direction.
Mounting Protests
This all comes as the backlash against the seemingly unending entry ban continues to mount. Critics use tongue-in-cheek references to “sakoku 2.0″ (referencing the near 250 years of self-imposed isolation from Western trade and diplomacy during the Edo era); others have begun to employ the term “Cruel Japan,” mocking the government’s own “Cool Japan” soft power initiative. Others have taken to social media to share just how deeply and negatively the travel ban has affected their lives. Petitions are picking up more and more signatures. From the higher echelons of Japan itself, the powerful Japan Foreign Trade Council, Inc. has raised its collective voice as well. [4] In a regularly scheduled meeting on Feb. 16th, JFTC chairman Kobayashi said that:
“Amongst the easing of border control amongst all nations, only Japan continues with this hardened situation. The interchange between people and their coming and going is restricted in the utmost. We wish for recognition of a move towards relaxation.”
「各国が水際対策を緩和するなか日本だけがかたい状況が続いていて、人の交流や往来が極度に制限されている。緩和の方向は評価したい。」
Hopes Again Cautiously Raised
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party itself has now asked the central government to begin allowing foreigners into the country. This all points towards the hopeful, much-delayed easing of border controls. However, it’s worth noting that only months ago similar policies were being announced; the arrival of the Omicron variant immediately sent the government backpedaling, and Japanese airlines were even briefly asked to halt all incoming flights for the month of December. This in turn was then backpedaled due to outcry from Japanese citizens attempting to return to Japan.
Prime Minister Kishida is scheduled to discuss the border policy and quarantine policy changes in greater detail this Thursday. Until then, those aching to get on with their lives must, as ever, live in hope.
What to Read Next:
What Is My Worth as a Foreigner in Japan? A Pandemic Query
Sources:
[1] テレ朝ニュース. (2/16/2022 12:15.) コロナ水際対策を緩和へ 入国者の待機期間3日間に. Yahoo! News.
[2] Kyodo. (Feb 16, 2022). Japan to ease COVID border controls and lift entry quarantine from March. The Japan Times.
[3] (2022年2月15日.) 入国後待機3日に短縮、条件満たせば撤廃 政府検討. 日本経済新聞.
[4] (2022年2月16日.) 12時09分日本貿易会の会長 “水際対策緩和は評価 もう1つ踏み込んで”. NHK.
