Tytułem wprowadzenia, Yuki jest moją koleżanką, którą poznałam w trakcie studiów za granicą. Obecnie mieszka w Tokio, mówi po angielsku i uczy się języka niemieckiego. Utrzymujemy kontakt i rozmawiamy w języku angielskim, dlatego wywiad został przeprowadzony również w tym języku. Zdjęcia zamieszczone w artykule zostały wykonane przez Yuki kilka dni przed wywiadem.
The current state of everyday life during the coronavirus outbreak in Japan
Interview with Yuki Mizusawa (29.03.2020)
Beata: So, Yuki, please tell me, how are you doing? How’s life in Japan nowadays?
Yuki: These days it’s almost the same as usual for me. The public transportation functions normally and I have to work every weekday.
B: You work at the university, right?
Y: At the Institute for private schools. We hold seminars for private schools’ teachers, but we need to cancel many seminars because of corona virus. Our government requests citizens to avoid such events with many people. It’s still just a request, though, it doesn’t have any legal consequences. The organizer of each event needs to decide whether to do it or not. Almost every event is canceled. The same applies to schools. Shops are open only on weekdays.
B: How about your life then? Did something change?
Y: My life didn’t change that much. It’s recommended to do Telework or staggered working hours, but it wasn’t adopted at my Institute.
B: Can you tell me more about shopping? Are there any restrictions?
Y: Some products like masks or disinfectants are restricted. There are no restrictions for food. How about Poland?
B: Right now the number of people in shops is limited and you need to keep distance from other customers. It means you sometimes have to wait in front of the shop to get inside to buy something.
Did people in Japan also massively buy toilet paper and food in the first few weeks, so that the shelves were empty?
Y: Yes, it was difficult to find toilet paper in shops during the first week. Now I easily can find it. But still, I really can’t find any masks!! Each person is allowed to buy only one mask, but it’s pretty much impossible, because masks are sold out in every shop. Only the shelves for masks are empty… Other shelves are full as usual, including food. Speaking of shops, the situation is really different in Japan. There are no limits for getting inside. Is it still possible to move to Germany or other European countries?
B: The situation on the border is very hard and keeps changing. It is a really hard topic. Not everyone can come to Poland from Germany but even if you cross the border, you have to stay at home for 14 days. Can you move without any problems in Japan?
Y: It’s still a suggestion too, but many flights are canceled. My friend is trying to come back from Canada. She said that she would need to stay at home for 14 days.
B: How about the public transport?
Y: Public transport works as usual!
B: Do people wear masks on the street? In the pictures they don’t…
Y: In the picture they don’t, but most people are wearing masks on the streets.
B: And how about the seminars? Do you have them online as well, or via e-mail?
Y: Our seminars in March were just cancelled, and I think that the next seminar in June will be cancelled too. We lack an appropriate facility, costs, etc. to do online seminars, but we need to try to do them, I think, when this situation lasts long. In the field of education in Japan, ICT isn’t used that much. It’s said that schools will be reopened in April, but the number of patients is still increasing, so it may be postponed. When will schools open again in Poland?
B: It is said after Easter, but we are not sure. That’s why students have lessons online, because nobody knows…
Y: I see. It’s still good that they’re able to study online. The disparity between schools is serious.
B: What about public universities? Are they closed as well? Are schools closed, but offices not?
Y: The situation of public universities is the same as private ones’. The one in Tokyo says it will start again in May. Offices, banks, pubs, etc. are open. Big companies adopt the Telework strategy, so they are still doing business. However, many of them are closed during the weekend.
B: How’s the situation with pubs or restaurants?
Y: It’s the same, they are opened during the week and closed on weekends. How about Poland?
B: The majority of restaurants is closed. You can order food delivery, but you cannot buy it and eat inside.
Y: That’s hard. It seems like not many measures are taken here now, compared to Poland.
B: Was it different three weeks ago?
Y: Yes, three weeks ago life was almost the same as usual. Some events were held, I also went to a theatre to watch a musical. Of course we wore masks, but the theatre was full of people…
B: Musical! What kind of musical? I wanted to go to an opera, but it was closed.
Y: That’s too bad…! One was a Broadway musical, the other one was a musical based on a manga.
B: Oh, I see. Lucky you! And tell me, how do you feel? Many people in Poland are afraid they will lose their jobs…
Y: I have vague anxiety for the future, when this epidemic will finish. The risk of losing your job is still not so serious in Japan.
B: I see. I think we’ll finish for now. Thank you for your time Yuki!
Y: Thank you too!
