This is a translation of Wakako Fukuda’s original Japanese post on her site, with permission by the author. While it was written a couple of months before some of the current emergency relief measures in Japan were passed, many in the country are still suffering from the economic fallout of the country’s state of emergency, making the author’s words as relevant now as they were then.
I’ve been working at a live music venue in Tokyo since last year. And I’ve been taken aback that something like this could ever happen.
It’s strange how the number of infected people increased right after the Tokyo Olympics was postponed. Mind you, I’ve been aware since before Tokyo was announced as the site of the Olympic games that this was never about sports for those in power, but money. Yet I never thought, in the grips of a coronavirus-fueled pandemic that’s claiming lives, that they would choose profit over human life.
Okay, that’s probably a lie. I mean, the LDP admin’s strategy up until now has been all about ignoring people’s rights and lives.
It’s been six years since I realized how dangerous the State Secrets Law was and took to the streets for the first time. Since then, I’ve become accustomed to how this government puts forth numerous laws and strategies that overlook human life. So recently, my anger’s subsided a little.
But this situation has re-kindled my rage. I feel the same uneasiness I did back then.
“Unnecessary and Non-Urgent”
This country’s truly the worst.
Live venues and clubs have become the enemy, but politician’s fundraising parties are A-OK.
It was reported that 50,000 people gathered to see the Flame of Recovery. I imagine they were grateful to be included in the national Olympic festivities. A feeling of, “The government’s paying attention to us here in the boondocks!” It’s the same old song.
This mentality is terrifying. If you’re gonna name something the “Flame of Recovery”, first you should discharge your duties toward those living in temporary housing, and decommission all nuclear reactors.
I caught last night’s emergency presser. They said to refrain from going out unnecessarily and to work from home. I can’t make drinks from home, nor set up sound and lighting. You can’t have live music or performances.
But are these things really “unnecessary and non-urgent”? Isn’t the intention here to say that people who aren’t in a social class where they can handily work from home should be discarded and dismissed? Aren’t they once again wielding the “personal responsibility” theory – “It’s your fault you chose such an unstable job”?
“Shut It All Down”
If you survey Japanese politics over the last few years, this isn’t news. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t make me angry. It’s plain to see if you think a little: there’s no way to shut down businesses without compensation. What are we supposed to do for income in the meantime? Gift vouchers don’t pay rent.
And yet if people are infected with coronavirus, there’s no way to avoid closing businesses. And since no one knows how long these conditions will continue, it’s hard to even make plans for resuming operations. Everyone involved is stuck between a rock and a hard place.
They’re saying, “Please exercise restraint.” What they really mean is, “Shut it all down.”
I also know that there are many Japanese who’ll follow the “request” from the top without hesitation. That’s why I find this way of speaking so frightening.
There was a customer last night who bought me a lot of drinks, saying, “At least let me underwrite your drinking.” I’m grateful for that, and it’s always better to have lots of customers…but you can’t blithely tell people to come to a live venue in these conditions. I least, I can’t.
#StayTheFuckHome, If You Can Afford It
For people who can afford it, I think that saying “Don’t leave your house as much as possible” is a perfectly reasonable request. There’s no doubt that interpersonal contact should be avoided as much as possible to prevent the spread of the virus.
But the point is, “…if you can afford it.” Telling people who can’t earn money for food without leaving home not to leave their homes – and not giving them any assistance – is no different than telling them to starve on the streets.
Calling this random potpourri of countermeasures that don’t even amount to a “response” is the height of irresponsibility, don’t you think?
It was around September of last year that people at the club started murmuring about politics. At that time, all the club’s floors became non-smoking due to the Tokyo Metropolitan Passive Smoking Prevention Ordinance. Even if they dictate separate smoking areas, politicians can’t dictate whether or not individuals smoke. Because of those weird regulations, more people bitched at the city – “Are you fuckers Nazis or something?”
Since the crushing of live venues began in the name of Corona, we’ve heard the voices of people who feel uneasy towards the current administration like never before. As it should be. This is a matter of life and death. Left like this, we could be killed by the coming economic collapse.
“Keep those who can profit and contribute, and abandon those who don’t conform to this framework.”
Even those who can work in an established setting and have something set aside don’t know how things might change. It’s high time to quit looking down on people just because you’ve got yours. My previous job at the venue was 9-to-5 office work. I went to work on a packed train packed in by people in suits. Sure, the working environment itself is completely different, but the fact that there are people living in this society in both communities remains the same. No matter what sort of work you do, your rights as a worker should be guaranteed. There should be no difference in how you’re treated based on that.
This is what this episode has taught us, right? Nothing’s certain in life, and neither is the direction society takes. That’s why we need politicians who will give the people a system of social security in which no one’s abandoned or left behind.
I was surprised to see a six-minute video in which Boris Johnson talked about his corona strategy. I think I was jealous. I’ve never wanted to support him, but I thought, how great it’d be to have a leader who can say such things in times of crisis. Even if he made these comments because he had to. One of the necessary qualities in a politician is being able to properly manage your true opinion versus your public persona.
The Japanese government’s response is just pathetic. When I think to what level it’s rotted, I feel ashamed. Even though I’ve fought as best as I could. Change takes time…but doesn’t it feel like it’s too late? I mean, I’m not gonna pout and quit, but…I used to shout, “No killing” at street demonstrations when I marched against things like the revision of Article 9 or the state secrets system. I can’t believe I have to say it again. I’m more afraid of my own helpless body than this virus.
I’ll be happy if this series of events gets people noticing how this government keeps doing nothing but the same suspicious activities. I’ve always wanted to get closer to a society where we can speak out more.
I want you to remember: We always have the power to change society. But that power can easily be snatched away by nihilism and cynicism. You must soldier on as one of those citizens who demands a mature society.
Although I don’t perform anything at the music venue, I write and I’m an activist. I’ll always speak my mind. Therefore, in order to avoid people falling into poverty due to the pandemic, and to create a society in which everyone can live in safety, as an activist and a laborer, I call for cash payments and compensation for the pandemic, and for the resignation of the Abe administration.
