Japanese Workers Ignore Government Request to Work Remotely, Return to Office

Japanese Workers Ignore Government Request to Work Remotely, Return to Office

With the Tokyo Olympics a few months away and a state of emergency extended through May 31, the Japanese government is struggling to contain the spread of the coronavirus through nonobligatory restrictions.

During the "Golden Week" holiday, there was an influx of people at popular tourist spots and young people drinking in the streets because bars are closed. When the holiday ended, many people defied requests to work remotely and returned to their offices on packed trains. After the holiday, Tokyo logged 907 new cases, up from 635 when the state of emergency began in the capital last month.

"I understand there are concerns about hosting the Olympics," Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said, adding that foreign athletes and other participants will be strictly separated from the Japanese public and that "it is possible to hold a safe and secure Olympics while protecting the people's lives and health."