J Update

     “Unequal treaty” is the term Japanese students learn in their history class related to the treaties Japanese government had to accept when it resumed foreign relationship at the time of Meiji Restoration in mid-nineteenth century. Signature and its renewal of Japan-US Commerce and Navigation Treaty in late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, which marked Japan’s regain of extraterritoriality and tariff autonomy, are remembered as the end of diplomatically unequal era. The Japanese reminded of that history by unchangeable contract with International Olympic Committee over Tokyo 2020 games.      Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Japanese Olympic Committee and IOC signed Host City Contract 2020 in Buenos Aires in 2013, which determined the conditions to hold Olympic games in Tokyo. In Article 66 on termination of contract, it says “In case of withdrawal of the Games by the IOC, or termination of this Contract by the IOC for any reason whatsoever, t...

Mainly due to malfunctioning of COVID-19 policy of the Japanese government, the operation for Tokyo Olympic Games 2020, which opening ceremony is set three days away, is in total mess. Domestic media in Japan keep on reporting consecutive discovery of athletes or staffs related to Olympic teams, who are infected with the virus. Those who are registered as infected, even if not having symptom of the disease, have to stay in the room, regardless their schedule of the games. All the foreigners required not to have any physical contact with Japanese residents. Those are attributed to the regulative policy of Japanese government or Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee. Though you would not be able to walk around your hotel, welcome to Japan. According to the playbook, actually the regulation list, issued by the committee, foreign athletes or staffs arrived to Japan cannot use public transportation system for 14 days. They are not free to visit anywhere not designated to be visited. Observers are...