Why lockdown scepticism is growing in Japan

‘We all know it’s bull and we’ve had enough.’ This is not the kind of language I have come to expect from the Japanese. But this protester, who lived for twelve years in Reading, which accounted for his excellent, if rather fruity English, was clearly angry. He was one of hundreds outside Tokyo’s Shinjuku station last week, attending the latest in a series of small but significant demonstrations of the growing Covid-sceptic movement.

The gatherings may not have been huge, but it is noteworthy that they have taken place at all in a country generally regarded as a Covid success story (‘only’ around 2,000 deaths so far, and limited restrictions). This is especially true as protesting is regarded by many here as selfishly disruptive (in Japan, strikes often take place at weekends, so as not to inconvenience anyone). What is also remarkable, given how much they are fetishised in Japan, is seeing a large crowd entirely without face masks, which in winter would be odd even if there weren’t a nasty virus wafting around.