There are many false rumors going around about the Coronavirus.
From how to cure the disease by gargling with vinegar or hot water to predicting the date of the state of emergency declaration, there are so many of them. We don’t know who spread these rumors and with what intentions (perhaps the first person starts with good intentions to let people know what is upcoming or help people be prepared, but then the information is embellished as it spreads). Similar types of false rumors were spread after the Tohoku Earthquake disaster. With SNS being the mainstream communication tool nowadays, false information likely spreads faster than ever.
The other day, I heard a popular Japanese comedian commenting, “We keep talking about false rumors, but I honestly don’t know how to distinguish fact from fiction. Earlier, I heard experts saying that young people are much less susceptible to the coronavirus, but it now seems to be false, too.” I strongly agreed with him. After all, we just need to use our own judgment.
One thing that looks certain to me, though, is that this kind of urgent situation really reveals the government’s administrative capacity, as they are tested to demonstrate their ability to communicate with both its citizens and the global communities effectively. Are they disclosing reliable information? Are they making timely political decisions that help foresee changes in the daily life? Are they direct and clear about the burden that the public needs to bear? Are they effectively comforting its people who are fearful? And, are they effectively disseminating clear messages to the global society about Japan’s standpoints and the roles it intends to play? When it comes to this, the Japanese government always performs very poorly, be it the aftermath of the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake or the Coronavirus crisis we are facing; they always fail to provide critical information in a timely manner.
In the Analects, there is the following:
You must make people trust you. It is difficult to force people to understand.
The Analects of Confucius: Tai Bo
Traditionally, in East Asia, the character of the leader has played a particularly important role in governance. Whether people can believe in the virtue of their leader or not is key for effective governance. What the citizens are looking at is not necessarily the details of the government actions, but its attitude: the confidence, the responses to the public, and its commitment.
At the same time, as we live in a complex world and a democracy-based society, it is crucially important for the government to provide appropriate information at the appropriate time and guide its people in the right direction and the right faith. If reliable leadership is demonstrated, the society will be less prone to get lost in false rumors or be suspicious and discriminatory to each other. This would also minimize or reduce panic-buying of commodities.
It seems that hatred is increasing towards kids of health workers in Japan, because their parents have higher risk of being infected with the Coronavirus, and thus the kids are also put at risk of catching the virus. It is unlikely that kids would initiate such bullying, so it is more natural to assume that they are influenced by their parents. In many other countries, health professionals are highly praised and applauded. Why are they treated this way in Japan? One may say that such is the quality of a Japanese citizen, which may well be true, but I think that weak or lack of political guidance is another factor.
Just recently, Mr. Ken Shimura, one of the most well-known comedians in Japan, died of Coronavirus. While watching special TV programs that aired commemorating his death, I learned that his real personality off-stage was surprisingly humble, earnest, and calm – it’s hard to imagine this from the character we used to see on TV. It seems that, whomever he spoke with, he used “Keigo,” the polite form (by the way, I feel that this is not unusual among Japanese comedians; making us laugh is their profession and may be different from their real characters). I imagine that Mr. Shimura always embraced his role and did his best acting as a professional comedian.
Nietzsche writes:
Thou canst not adorn thyself fine enough for thy friend; for thou shalt be unto him an arrow and a longing for the Superman.
Friedrich Nietzsche, “Thus Spoke Zarathustra: XIV. The Friend”
The same can be said about politicians and business leaders. They need to demonstrate an ideal leadership. A leader who can put forth courage, bravery, and encouragement in a crisis situation. A fond farewell to Shimura-san. I will do my best in demonstrating what I can do as a business person.