There is a marked difference between how slowly Japan handled its worst-ever air disaster—and its rapid and decisive response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Mark JosephIn 1963 Japanese pop star Kyu Sakamoto topped the American pop charts with a song titled"Ue O Muite Aruko" and, weirdly, retitled Sukiyaki in the U.S. The song promptly became the only Japanese language song to reach the top of the pop charts. Released in Japan 16 years after the devastation of World War II in which the island nation was all but leveled by the United States, Sakamoto's hit ushered a new, younger generation into the cultural mainstream.
The plane's wreckage was spotted within 20 minutes of the crash by U.S. forces stationed nearby, who notified both Japanese and U.S. officials, and though U.S. forces were ready to help in rescue efforts which could have commenced before nightfall, they were reportedly told to stand down by Japanese authorities.
The stilling of the voice of one of Japan's greatest international pop stars—and hundreds of fellow passengers—is a reminder that on occasion, Japan has not been effective as it should be when it comes to rapid response to disaster. Japanese cultural observers have long debated the topic, with some blaming the consensus-oriented nature of much of Japanese decision making.
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