The
second year of the Reiwa period began with a nightmare. More precisely, at the
beginning of the year, nobody could predict what would be going on just two
months later. I am talking about what the entire world is fighting against—COVID-19.
The
coronavirus outbreak has been an urgent global issue. It was just the case of
people in a limited area of a particular country, or poor, rich travelers
within a trapped gorgeous cruise ship in February. Only a few weeks later,
however, it became the case relevant in most parts of the world. Now the situation
is changing day by day. For days, thousands of people around the world have
been newly hospitalized due to this disease. More than 10,000 patients have
died from it in China, Japan, Iran, Italy, Spain, Germany, France, the United
States, and more.
The
World Health Organization declared a pandemic. Lockdown is underway in many
cities and even nationwide in some countries. Going out for non-essential
reasons is banned or discouraged. People are forced to stay home and keep six
feet away from others so as not to be six feet under.
The
lockdown has had a massive impact on the world economy. The Dow Jones Industrial
Average fell by around 1,000 points this month with circuit breakers taking
effect many times. The share price of Boeing has become less than a third for
weeks. This financial crisis is even worse than those in the great depression
in 1929.
That
is true with Japan. Here in Tokyo, the governor stated that lockdown in Tokyo
is likely because patients tested positive are increasing every day by more
than the number of cases a day before. She requested Tokyoites for being home this
weekend except for essential business.
People
in Japan look afraid of a state of emergency being declared and lockdown being issued.
I hate to say that, but I’m sure that these will be near. I think lockdown orders
will be released in weeks or even in days because we see other civilized
countries being already like this.
Lockdown
being inevitable, how should we do? Most people will be forced to stay away
from their workplaces, such as offices, farms, fishing grounds, milk plants,
and factories. Then it is likely to run short of various things needed for
daily life. As a result, the production of foods and groceries will be severely
restricted.
Once
supply cease, panic buying is likely to take place. This action must be blamed
as antisocial behavior since not all households have enough money or means to
get what they need. It will be difficult to supply daily necessities if panic
buying occurs, because the distribution system will be burdened more than
usual, and the distribution of domestic inventory will be unfair. Participating
in such panic buying is nothing but not only exposing your low awareness of
social solidarity, that is, lack of knowledge that society will not be
established if we do our own things, but also proving that you have neglected
to be prepared and save in case of an emergency.
We
have no choice but to secure the needed supplies for the time being before lockdown
takes effect. It would help us a lot to find out what people in countries where
lockdown is already in place are doing.
This
experience gives us the following important suggestions and lessons: the fact
that even the most rights-sensitive liberal nations can easily and quickly control
individual’s rights and freedom before the impending crisis. It means that,
once an emergency happens, the rights of individuals are insignificant and
vulnerable.
What
is happening in front of us now seems like a dry run exercise for the third
world war. I think it is likely to occur in the coming decades because it is a
very similar situation where a big earthquake occurred in 1923, the world financial
crisis in 1929, and WWII 12 years later. Likewise, the big earthquake and tsunami
happened in 2011, and the economic crisis derived from the coronavirus epidemic
eight years later. Now the world is divided. Each country is isolated and closing
its borders. How many years is left for us to see those countries to collide?
The
time is right to be prepared for in the future. Divide your assets into some
pieces and save them in different countries. If possible, have multiple places
to live and jobs in two or more countries. Having as many life options as
possible will save you in this volatile future with many uncertainties.