Why did Shimane Prefecture pull out the card of “no torch relay” for “zero corona deaths”

Liberal Democratic Party member “It’s not something the governor decides”
Governor of Shimane Prefecture “It should be the Olympics, but residents are uneasy”
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– According to Japanese media on the 26th, Maruyama Tetsuya, Governor of Shimane Prefecture, traveled to Tokyo on the 25th to meet with former Liberal Democratic Party President Wataru Takeshita. Assemblyman Takeshita is the head of the Takeshita faction within the Liberal Democratic Party and is a 7th-choice member of the National Assembly from Shimane Prefecture.

At this meeting, Rep. Takeshita rebuked Governor Maruyama, saying, “It is not up to the governor to decide whether or not to perform (torch relay).” He said, “Although countermeasures against the corona are important, the torch relay is a different story.”

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Shimane Prefecture Governor Tatsuya Maruyama holds a press conference at the National Assembly on the 25th. [TV아사히 캡쳐]

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At this meeting, Governor Maruyama is known to have confessed his grievance, saying, “I think I should do the Olympics too, but the anxiety of the residents (about Corona 19) has not been resolved.” He said, “The government’s countermeasures against the coronavirus were correct,” and said, “We couldn’t talk about the cancellation of the torch relay in the interview.”

At first glance, it may appear that the card for canceling the torch relay was folded, but Governor Maruyama did not bend at a later press conference saying, “It is difficult to accept the risks from the Tokyo Olympics in this difficult situation in Shimane Prefecture.”

Shimane Prefecture is also counted as a clean area for Corona 19 among 47 metropolitan local governments (prefectures) in Japan. As of the 24th, the cumulative number of infected people in Shimane Prefecture is 284, and it is the only region in the country where no one died from corona. Nevertheless, what was the reason for refusing to send the Olympic torch because of concerns about the spread of Corona 19?

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On March 20 of last year, the torch of the Tokyo Olympics arrived in Japan on the 20th. The torch leaves Fukushima Prefecture on the 25th of next month and travels throughout Japan. [EPA=연합뉴스]

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Shimane Prefecture has repeatedly protested the lack of corona countermeasures to the central government and Tokyo as the third wave of Corona 19 spread nationwide at the end of last year, but it is known that it was virtually ignored.

Although the number of people infected with Corona 19 is small, the local economy has been hit hard by fewer tourists and shorter business hours. According to the Mainichi Shimbun, about 100 shops are closed in downtown Matsue City (200m2), the central city of Shimane Prefecture. However, as the government’s countermeasures were made mainly in areas where the emergency was declared, no subsidies came to Shimane Prefecture. Shimane Prefecture, which lacked financial resources, had no way of supporting its own residents.

In the end, the remarks of the’review of the cancellation of the torch relay’ are an evaluation that a kind of performance that tried to draw attention from the central government is strong. On that day, Governor Maruyama visited the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the Minister of Economy and Renewal in Tokyo and delivered a request to strengthen Corona 19 measures.

At a press conference calling for a review of the cancellation of the torch relay on the 17th, Governor Maruyama said, “I have a shortage of my own and the results are not coming out. I am very sorry.” “There is a big difference in strength between the Tokyo Governor and I, but the difference should not affect the residents as well,” he appealed for support.

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Citizens watch the torch of the Tokyo Olympics in J Village in Fukushima Prefecture in April of last year. [교도=연합뉴스]

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A member of the Shimane Prefecture also asked the Asahi Shimbun, “Is it possible to enjoy the Olympics right now?” “It cannot be said that the conditions for hosting the Olympics have been met. Other local governments in mountainous areas would be the same.”

The torch relay is jointly hosted by the metropolitan local government and the Olympic Organizing Committee. The time when Shimane Prefecture said it would make a final decision was in mid-March. The torch relay procession departs from Fukushima Prefecture on the 25th of next month.

Tokyo = correspondent Yoon Seol-young [email protected]



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