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COVID-19 Pandemic Response in Japan: What Is behind the Initial Flattening of the Curve?

Author

Listed:
  • Ai Tashiro

    (Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, 468-1 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-0845, Japan)

  • Rajib Shaw

    (Graduate School of Media and Governance, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University, 5322 Endo, Fujisawa-hi, Kanagawa 252-0882, Japan)

Abstract

The new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) emerged in December 2019 and became a global pandemic in March 2020. The unprecedented speed of SARS-CoV2 spread, the high infection rate among the aged population, and the collapse of healthcare systems in several countries have made COVID-19 the worst “modern” pandemic. Despite its proximity to China, a large aged population, and a high urban density, Japan has mitigated successfully the initial catastrophic impacts of COVID-19. This paper analyzed the key policy measures undertaken in Japan and suggests that Japan’s culture, healthcare system, sanitation, immunity, and food habits, along with citizens’ behavior, are the possible reasons for the successful flattening of the curve. Although additional disease peaks may occur, and a consequent increase in the number of affected individuals, a combination of policy, good governance, a healthy society, and good citizen behaviors’ should be sufficient to provide enough time for the health care system to cope with them. Cluster approach, science-based decision making, and scenario planning were some of the key policy decisions taken by the government. Based on the lessons from Japan, this paper suggests the importance of an ecosystem-based lifestyle as a potential way to cope with pandemic events.

Suggested Citation

  • Ai Tashiro & Rajib Shaw, 2020. "COVID-19 Pandemic Response in Japan: What Is behind the Initial Flattening of the Curve?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-15, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:13:p:5250-:d:377480
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    2. Steven J. Davis & Dingqian Liu & Xuguang Simon Sheng, 2022. "Stock Prices and Economic Activity in the Time of Coronavirus," IMF Economic Review, Palgrave Macmillan;International Monetary Fund, vol. 70(1), pages 32-67, March.
    3. Gangwei Cai & Yan Hong & Lei Xu & Weijun Gao & Ka Wang & Xiaoting Chi, 2020. "An Evaluation of Green Ryokans through a Tourism Accommodation Survey and Customer-Satisfaction-Related CASBEE–IPA after COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-24, December.
    4. Takahiro Yamazaki & Akiko Iida & Kimihiro Hino & Akito Murayama & U Hiroi & Toru Terada & Hideki Koizumi & Makoto Yokohari, 2021. "Use of Urban Green Spaces in the Context of Lifestyle Changes during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Tokyo," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-16, September.
    5. Nabin Sapkota & Atsuo Murata & Waldemar Karwowski & Mohammad Reza Davahli & Krzysztof Fiok & Awad M. Aljuaid & Tadeusz Marek & Tareq Ahram, 2022. "The Chaotic Behavior of the Spread of Infection during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-16, October.
    6. Ling, Gabriel Hoh Teck & Suhud, Nur Amiera binti Md & Leng, Pau Chung & Yeo, Lee Bak & Cheng, Chin Tiong & Ahmad, Mohd Hamdan Haji & Matusin, AK Mohd Rafiq AK, 2021. "Factors Influencing Asia-Pacific Countries’ Success Level in Curbing COVID-19: A Review Using a Social–Ecological System (SES) Framework," SocArXiv b9f2w, Center for Open Science.
    7. Ting Wan Tan & Han Ling Tan & Man Na Chang & Wen Shu Lin & Chih Ming Chang, 2021. "Effectiveness of Epidemic Preventive Policies and Hospital Strategies in Combating COVID-19 Outbreak in Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-19, March.
    8. Ryan P. Badman & Yunxin Wu & Keigo Inukai & Rei Akaishi, 2021. "Blessing or Curse of Democracy?: Current Evidence from the Covid-19 Pandemic," Papers 2105.10865, arXiv.org.
    9. Jaeyoung Park & Jeehee Min & Ji-Hun Song & Min Young Park & Hyoungseob Yoo & Ohwi Kwon & Munyoung Yang & Seoyoung Kim & Jongin Lee & Jun-Pyo Myong, 2023. "The COVID-19 Pandemic Response and Its Impact on Post-Corona Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management in Republic of Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-15, February.
    10. Stephen J. Davis & Dingqian Liu & Xuguang Simon Sheng, 2020. "Stock Prices, Lockdowns, and Economic Activity in the Time of Coronavirus," Working Papers 2020-156, Becker Friedman Institute for Research In Economics.
    11. Ryo Takahashi & Kenta Tanaka, 2021. "Social punishment for breaching restrictions during the COVID‐19 pandemic," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 59(4), pages 1467-1482, October.
    12. Shengchen Du & Hongze Tan, 2022. "Location Is Back: The Influence of COVID-19 on Chinese Cities and Urban Governance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-13, March.
    13. Ryo Takahashi & Kenta Tanaka, 2020. "Hostility toward breaching restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic," Working Papers 2007, Waseda University, Faculty of Political Science and Economics.
    14. Zhehao Ren & Ruiyun Li & Tao Zhang & Bin Chen & Che Wang & Miao Li & Shuang Song & Yixiong Xiao & Bo Xu & Zhaoyang Liu & Chong Shen & Dabo Guan & Lin Hou & Ke Deng & Yuqi Bai & Peng Gong & Bing Xu, 2021. "Reduction of Human Mobility Matters during Early COVID-19 Outbreaks: Evidence from India, Japan and China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-15, March.
    15. Mehtap A. Eklund, 2021. "The COVID-19 lessons learned for business and governance," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 1(1), pages 1-11, January.
    16. Tomoyuki Kobayashi & Masaharu Maeda & Yui Takebayashi & Hideki Sato, 2021. "Traditional Gender Differences Create Gaps in the Effect of COVID-19 on Psychological Distress of Japanese Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-19, August.
    17. Pedro Miguel Alves Ribeiro Correia & Ireneu de Oliveira Mendes & Sandra Patrícia Marques Pereira & Inês Subtil, 2020. "The Combat against COVID-19 in Portugal: How State Measures and Data Availability Reinforce Some Organizational Values and Contribute to the Sustainability of the National Health System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-13, September.
    18. Živilė Sederevičiūtė-Pačiauskienė & Ilona Valantinaitė & Romualdas Kliukas, 2021. "Communion, Care, and Leadership in Computer-Mediated Learning during the Early Stage of COVID-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-17, April.
    19. Ng, Kam To & Fu, Xiaowen & Hanaoka, Shinya & Oum, Tae Hoon, 2022. "Japanese aviation market performance during the COVID-19 pandemic - Analyzing airline yield and competition in the domestic market," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 237-247.

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