I finally got a “NoMask” mask and carried it with me today at the city tax office in case they made me put it on. No one said anything. Although, the woman behind me may have gone to complain.
I think about the future. At some point people will have to face themselves. I've been facing bad things I've done (or failed to do) in the past and living with the consequences of that. They will have to as well. It's not going to age well, complaining about other people especially in terms of masks. You would think after three years people would realize they don't work...heck all I had to do was check all the movies before 2020 where we all were talking to one another through masks.
The latest rationale I am hearing now is "If we only masked the right way, it would have worked" You know, like socialism.
Sadly, here I have to disagree. People do not have to face themselves or reality at anytime in their life. I used to think that those who did not were the few, not is seems like it is the few you do. Most go on lying to themselves.
Where I am in that as long as I breathe and am alive, I have to think it has to get better. The good news in all of this is those of us motivated by the truth aren't motivated by money, but a passion for it. I think you are motivated by leaving a world better than you found it for your son.
Many also have lost friends and loved ones due to the ill advised policies. Still others see in the world around them the way it ought to be, not what it is, and as long as there is life remaining to them, will work towards that world in some fashion.
I ordered some of those from the US for my husband, in case he has to wear one at the museums he wants to visit in Tokyo next month before he heads to Osaka for sumo. They arrived today. Lookin' good ... and he tried one on for breathability. Thumbs up.
I should add that it's obvious that the NoMask is full of holes when the mask is held in one's hands to look at it (backlit). but on the face, it's not evident.
Most shops have signs like that. I just ignore them and go in naked anyway. We have this huge store near here called Nishimuta - sells absolutely everything. They even have a message on the PA that comes on every 5 minutes reminding shoppers to wear a mask. As I've said before, not had one person say anything to me in 3 years.
As for PCR tests I only know one place next to the city hall but I'm sure there are more. I live in a city of 120,000 in Miyazaki. More like a big town. The "city" limits are constantly expanding and include a number of smaller towns around the area. It's more like a big town spread out 20km in all directions. Super rural. I like it a lot.
I'm almost finished converting an old room into a store room. Had to put in a floor and build a set of shelving. My closets are all full of food and gear and need a better system. Also somewhere to store 50 sacks of rice. 😊 Getting ready for the apocalypse that is surely coming within 18 months.
Same here in the greater Tokyo area. Signs at every entrance and announcements inside for larger shops. For the first 18 months, no one said anything to me for not wearing a mask. Then all of sudden my employers stated demanding I wore one, even for online classes. I don’t and it has not made for pleasant times. Last year store clerks started telling me I had to mask or leave. In most cases I leave and do not return.
The sign I posted a photo of was the first I recall with 必ず on it, certainly the first with red dots above for emphasis. The longer this craziness continues, the crazier they are becoming over masking.
Things were not that different here in the states. The Big Box grocery store Krogers had signs outside their doors. I walked in without wearing one. And every 15 minutes without fail was a masking PSA. It was surreal and I felt betrayed. Also, not sure if you remember it, but in June of 2020 all sorts of big companies were walking all over one another to tell us how "safe" they were being during the pandemic. In the parlance of today's young people it was "cringe" to hear such antiseptic language.
They still are promoting their anti covid measures here. Either with photos of them spraying and wiping shopping carts and other surfaces to onboard videos showing the spraying, wiping, measuring how far the windows are left open on the trains and subways. Have no idea about what they have on buses as I have not ridden once since all this silliness began.
Here in NZ when we were told by our gubmint to wear masks indoors, I would walk into a retail establishment without a mask, and if a clerk or manager came over and asked "where is your mask?", I'd roll my eyes and say as I was leaving "I'll take my money elsewhere." There were enough retailers who didn't bother customers about masks, and so I soon found out who those retailers were in our small town of 25,000.
It was midway though the second school year when suddenly, two of my employers suddenly demanded that I wear a mask for class. One of these was an online class. The other was in person instruction at a nursing school. These two battles were within a short period of time and came out of the blue. Just an impression, but it seemed like something must have changed that caused them to suddenly demand masks. Before this, no one said anything to me about being maskless.
Similar experience. Most shops have the sign and most shops don't "enforce" their signs. And of those who go "masuku ha?" and decline entry despite not being able to wear one is a small fraction.
I think more people appreciate your gesture than you might realize. Look how many people so quickly take their masks off just as soon as rules change. It really does take some fortitude to go maskless when everyone else is wearing one, and not everyone has that strength, much as they might like to.
I guess it depends on where one is. Last summer the Government of Japan recommended that masks NOT be worn outdoors. More than 99% still do though. It must be noted in case you do not know, none of the anti-covid measures in Japan have been through mandates. They are all recommendations. In theory, the recommendation to stop wearing them should carry the same weight as the recommendation to wear them. It has not.
For the benefit of non-Japanese speakers, would you be kind enough to translate the “strongly worded” notice, and tell us the significance of the ominous red dots?
What does the sign say on masking? Wear the damn mask? Don't be a plaguespreader? Let's do our best to make even the small beauties in life like faces monotonous and dreary?
They certainly aren't using the Cochrane Report on masks to determine that the paper ones work best. In fact, according to the Cochrane report, which is really an aggregate of many other studies, no mask is effective. It's not surprising that there is still plenty of pushback on masks, the vaccine, and other measures on Twitter. But the point is not to change the minds, it is to speak up and disrupt. I think that it is working.
Maybe not in Japan, maybe not in certain pockets of the States and other countries, but it is working. First of all, it is enough just that people know there is an alternative view.
It is known here in the states. It's funny though. The people I am talking to on twitter say that isn't what the report says at all...when the author of the report literally says that is exactly what it says.
Then again, many in the pro mask camp have gotten Covid, and that hasn't stopped them.
They will use anything to discredit any evidence that masks do not do what they claim they do, including make stuff up on the fly. The latest I had, “What, you’re going to believe a RETIRED neurosurgeon?”. They are mad, mad as a masker.
I will be printing at least the abstract out to hand to the those at school that try to get me to wear one.
I've heard similar arguments to that as well. The ones I hear are "those studies are more than five years old." Could you imagine if I walked around and said the planets didn't exist because all the studies that discussed there existence was over 5 years old.
Although to be honest, the Constitution is over 5 years old and here in the states we are acting as if it is an "expired" document.
We must be fighting the same morons (Just had a post removed on Quora for calling someone a moron after he called me a Stalinist.) as I too have had the exact same 5 year argument thrown at me. My responds similar to yours, “Better hope some has published a study on gravity with in the past 5 years or we will be floating off in to space soon.”
Years I ago I read that at least one law school in Texas was teaching that the Constitution’s only value was as a historical document, that it had no legal value. Incredulous at the time, I must now admit that it seems to be the case.
You're on Quora as well! Most of my writings on there have to do with art and the one person that was recommended to me regarding Covid was towing the company line and had comments turned off. A lot of substacks are like that as well. If the substack is pro narrative chances are it has commenting only on for paid subscribers.
Nice one on Gravity! I wonder if I could relate to them that a recent study showed that respiration does not necessarily mean that the brain is functional.
I am trying to collect data about true Covid incidence following the jabs, not 14 days after 2nd jab. Is it possible to ask Japanese authorities under the FOIA (if there is one) to release the Covid diagnosis and outcome data along with the time from the latest injection, not by the fudged "vaccination" status?
Sweden was forced to release such data, and also Alberta (inadvertently?) reported such stats in 2021. In my latest post I projected what number of deaths have been truly caused by the jabs, and by the withdrawal of treatment, and I get over 90% of deaths caused by both factors combined in 2021, no matter how generous I am to the jabs: https://live2fightanotherday.substack.com/p/council-of-canadian-academies-against
Sorry, I forgot the translation. 必ず can be translated as “surely”, “certainly” or “without fail”. Given the red dots, I translate the sign as follows.
“Within the store, without fail wear a mask, please !!”
Thanks. I wondered if the dots were meant to convey some extra layer of menace.
The dots are above “without fail mask”, so I took it mean exactly that.
I would keep walking past that store as well.
If for some reason I had to go into it, my response would be to make them ask me to wear it.
"Why should I succeed in wearing something that fails to stop transmission?"
Wife and kids went in, I waited outside….fuming.
I finally got a “NoMask” mask and carried it with me today at the city tax office in case they made me put it on. No one said anything. Although, the woman behind me may have gone to complain.
I think about the future. At some point people will have to face themselves. I've been facing bad things I've done (or failed to do) in the past and living with the consequences of that. They will have to as well. It's not going to age well, complaining about other people especially in terms of masks. You would think after three years people would realize they don't work...heck all I had to do was check all the movies before 2020 where we all were talking to one another through masks.
The latest rationale I am hearing now is "If we only masked the right way, it would have worked" You know, like socialism.
Sadly, here I have to disagree. People do not have to face themselves or reality at anytime in their life. I used to think that those who did not were the few, not is seems like it is the few you do. Most go on lying to themselves.
Black Pills and White Pills.
Where I am in that as long as I breathe and am alive, I have to think it has to get better. The good news in all of this is those of us motivated by the truth aren't motivated by money, but a passion for it. I think you are motivated by leaving a world better than you found it for your son.
Many also have lost friends and loved ones due to the ill advised policies. Still others see in the world around them the way it ought to be, not what it is, and as long as there is life remaining to them, will work towards that world in some fashion.
I ordered some of those from the US for my husband, in case he has to wear one at the museums he wants to visit in Tokyo next month before he heads to Osaka for sumo. They arrived today. Lookin' good ... and he tried one on for breathability. Thumbs up.
I should add that it's obvious that the NoMask is full of holes when the mask is held in one's hands to look at it (backlit). but on the face, it's not evident.
Most shops have signs like that. I just ignore them and go in naked anyway. We have this huge store near here called Nishimuta - sells absolutely everything. They even have a message on the PA that comes on every 5 minutes reminding shoppers to wear a mask. As I've said before, not had one person say anything to me in 3 years.
As for PCR tests I only know one place next to the city hall but I'm sure there are more. I live in a city of 120,000 in Miyazaki. More like a big town. The "city" limits are constantly expanding and include a number of smaller towns around the area. It's more like a big town spread out 20km in all directions. Super rural. I like it a lot.
I'm almost finished converting an old room into a store room. Had to put in a floor and build a set of shelving. My closets are all full of food and gear and need a better system. Also somewhere to store 50 sacks of rice. 😊 Getting ready for the apocalypse that is surely coming within 18 months.
Same here in the greater Tokyo area. Signs at every entrance and announcements inside for larger shops. For the first 18 months, no one said anything to me for not wearing a mask. Then all of sudden my employers stated demanding I wore one, even for online classes. I don’t and it has not made for pleasant times. Last year store clerks started telling me I had to mask or leave. In most cases I leave and do not return.
The sign I posted a photo of was the first I recall with 必ず on it, certainly the first with red dots above for emphasis. The longer this craziness continues, the crazier they are becoming over masking.
Things were not that different here in the states. The Big Box grocery store Krogers had signs outside their doors. I walked in without wearing one. And every 15 minutes without fail was a masking PSA. It was surreal and I felt betrayed. Also, not sure if you remember it, but in June of 2020 all sorts of big companies were walking all over one another to tell us how "safe" they were being during the pandemic. In the parlance of today's young people it was "cringe" to hear such antiseptic language.
They still are promoting their anti covid measures here. Either with photos of them spraying and wiping shopping carts and other surfaces to onboard videos showing the spraying, wiping, measuring how far the windows are left open on the trains and subways. Have no idea about what they have on buses as I have not ridden once since all this silliness began.
Surreal sums it up. And we STILL have that here.
Here in NZ when we were told by our gubmint to wear masks indoors, I would walk into a retail establishment without a mask, and if a clerk or manager came over and asked "where is your mask?", I'd roll my eyes and say as I was leaving "I'll take my money elsewhere." There were enough retailers who didn't bother customers about masks, and so I soon found out who those retailers were in our small town of 25,000.
How do you calculate 18 months?
It was midway though the second school year when suddenly, two of my employers suddenly demanded that I wear a mask for class. One of these was an online class. The other was in person instruction at a nursing school. These two battles were within a short period of time and came out of the blue. Just an impression, but it seemed like something must have changed that caused them to suddenly demand masks. Before this, no one said anything to me about being maskless.
Similar experience. Most shops have the sign and most shops don't "enforce" their signs. And of those who go "masuku ha?" and decline entry despite not being able to wear one is a small fraction.
It gives me heart to know that someone refuses the mask. Thank you.
Thanks.
It gives me heartburn every time I am forced to challenge this nonsense. Truly not a comfortable feeling. But better than the alternative.
I think more people appreciate your gesture than you might realize. Look how many people so quickly take their masks off just as soon as rules change. It really does take some fortitude to go maskless when everyone else is wearing one, and not everyone has that strength, much as they might like to.
I guess it depends on where one is. Last summer the Government of Japan recommended that masks NOT be worn outdoors. More than 99% still do though. It must be noted in case you do not know, none of the anti-covid measures in Japan have been through mandates. They are all recommendations. In theory, the recommendation to stop wearing them should carry the same weight as the recommendation to wear them. It has not.
But thank you. It does mean a lot, what you said.
For the benefit of non-Japanese speakers, would you be kind enough to translate the “strongly worded” notice, and tell us the significance of the ominous red dots?
What does the sign say on masking? Wear the damn mask? Don't be a plaguespreader? Let's do our best to make even the small beauties in life like faces monotonous and dreary?
They certainly aren't using the Cochrane Report on masks to determine that the paper ones work best. In fact, according to the Cochrane report, which is really an aggregate of many other studies, no mask is effective. It's not surprising that there is still plenty of pushback on masks, the vaccine, and other measures on Twitter. But the point is not to change the minds, it is to speak up and disrupt. I think that it is working.
Maybe not in Japan, maybe not in certain pockets of the States and other countries, but it is working. First of all, it is enough just that people know there is an alternative view.
https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD006207.pub6/full
That report is unknown here. At least they will never let on that they know of it.
It is known here in the states. It's funny though. The people I am talking to on twitter say that isn't what the report says at all...when the author of the report literally says that is exactly what it says.
Then again, many in the pro mask camp have gotten Covid, and that hasn't stopped them.
They will use anything to discredit any evidence that masks do not do what they claim they do, including make stuff up on the fly. The latest I had, “What, you’re going to believe a RETIRED neurosurgeon?”. They are mad, mad as a masker.
I will be printing at least the abstract out to hand to the those at school that try to get me to wear one.
I've heard similar arguments to that as well. The ones I hear are "those studies are more than five years old." Could you imagine if I walked around and said the planets didn't exist because all the studies that discussed there existence was over 5 years old.
Although to be honest, the Constitution is over 5 years old and here in the states we are acting as if it is an "expired" document.
We must be fighting the same morons (Just had a post removed on Quora for calling someone a moron after he called me a Stalinist.) as I too have had the exact same 5 year argument thrown at me. My responds similar to yours, “Better hope some has published a study on gravity with in the past 5 years or we will be floating off in to space soon.”
Years I ago I read that at least one law school in Texas was teaching that the Constitution’s only value was as a historical document, that it had no legal value. Incredulous at the time, I must now admit that it seems to be the case.
You're on Quora as well! Most of my writings on there have to do with art and the one person that was recommended to me regarding Covid was towing the company line and had comments turned off. A lot of substacks are like that as well. If the substack is pro narrative chances are it has commenting only on for paid subscribers.
Nice one on Gravity! I wonder if I could relate to them that a recent study showed that respiration does not necessarily mean that the brain is functional.
Hi Kitsune,
I am trying to collect data about true Covid incidence following the jabs, not 14 days after 2nd jab. Is it possible to ask Japanese authorities under the FOIA (if there is one) to release the Covid diagnosis and outcome data along with the time from the latest injection, not by the fudged "vaccination" status?
Sweden was forced to release such data, and also Alberta (inadvertently?) reported such stats in 2021. In my latest post I projected what number of deaths have been truly caused by the jabs, and by the withdrawal of treatment, and I get over 90% of deaths caused by both factors combined in 2021, no matter how generous I am to the jabs: https://live2fightanotherday.substack.com/p/council-of-canadian-academies-against
Regards, Andreas