Japanese COVID-19 Expert Expresses Olympic Concerns, Suddenly Canceled... Suga Cabinet Silencing?

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Experts advising the Japanese government on COVID-19 reportedly abruptly canceled plans to express concerns about holding the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. This has raised suspicions that they were 'silenced' due to pressure from the Yoshihide Suga administration.

According to the Mainichi Shimbun on the 31st, the COVID-19 task force, composed of medical experts and others assembled by the Japanese government to respond to COVID-19, intended to release a negative opinion on pushing forward with the Olympics amid the spread of infections. However, formal discussions did not take place, and preparations were halted.

Amid growing concerns within the task force about holding the Olympics, they were preparing to provide recommendations on the Games based on a four-stage classification of the infection situation. However, the plan was scrapped after a message was conveyed that 'the government dislikes experts mentioning stage-by-stage responses.'

The secretariat of the task force is managed by the Cabinet Secretariat, a government agency that assists and supports the Prime Minister and Cabinet of Japan.

The meetings are operated in a manner where key members discuss agenda items in advance, and Shigeru Omi, the task force chairman, closely coordinates the content with the government, suggesting a structure where free expression of opinions is limited.

A member of the task force pointed out the reality that "the task force cannot be convened without the government's consent."

The content the task force intended to recommend regarding the Olympics reportedly differed significantly from the Japanese government's plans, fueling expectations of a silencing controversy.

They reportedly held the position that if the infection spread reached the third stage?the second most severe level?holding the Olympics without drastically reducing the scale of the event, such as by holding it without spectators, would risk further spread of infections, according to Mainichi.

Regarding the most severe fourth stage, they did not directly mention canceling the Olympics but planned to warn that holding the Games could exacerbate medical system pressures.

Typically, the fourth stage corresponds to a state of emergency being in effect, while the third stage corresponds to priority measures to prevent spread, which are less severe than a state of emergency.

Ultimately, the task force appeared to hesitate, conscious of the Suga administration, after attempting to indirectly express the opinion that the Olympics should not be held during a state of emergency or that even in a slightly improved third-stage situation, the Games should be held without spectators.

In fact, Kazuhiro Tateda, a professor at Toho University and a member of the task force, told reporters that "it is the consensus opinion of the majority that the Olympics are not possible under a state of emergency declaration in Tokyo and should not be held," Mainichi reported.

Prime Minister Suga's enthusiasm for allowing spectators at venues during the Olympics is drawing attention as a reason why experts have been unable to voice their opinions freely.

At a press conference on the 28th, Prime Minister Suga expressed enthusiasm for plans to allow spectators at the Tokyo Olympics, citing experiences of admitting baseball and soccer fans even during states of emergency.

The Yomiuri Shimbun reported on the 31st, citing multiple Japanese government officials, that the government is considering allowing spectators who have received a certificate proving a negative result from a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test within one week to enter venues during the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Prime Minister Suga, who recently decided to extend the state of emergency, appears likely to pursue a plan to admit spectators after accelerating COVID-19 vaccinations to reduce the number of confirmed cases.

He is monitoring the vaccination situation daily and has expressed dissatisfaction, reportedly asking "Why haven't reservations at the large-scale vaccination center in Tokyo, operated by the Self-Defense Forces, been fully booked?" according to the Sankei Shimbun on the 31st.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.