I'm going to Kobe this summer for one year to go to highschool. First of all, I haven't got my visa yet, they're processing it right now with immigration, I've been deathly afraid of being denied entrance into Japan or my High school being closed down. What are the chances of the this at this time or around august?
hahaha. I guess that there isnt so much of a difference with Korea and Japan when coming to "germ-phobia". Everyone had a mask when SARS hit korea. And now theres the new N1H1.
I was at L.A. LAX two weeks ago and EVERYONE from Japanese airline wore a mask. It wasn't so for other countries. That was very strange and interesting to watch because I don't see any people in L.A. walking around with their mask on. And L.A. isn't too far from Mexico.
haha....now that's a great idea. I actually have to wear one at work all this week and that's exactly what I'm going to do! Mind you...I think the students will giggle every time they look at me!
so i'm in china right now. i had a cold when i went to do my medical check for my work visa and they freaked out. i was locked in a crusty office for 5 hours while the hazmat guys came and talked to me and everyone else in my group was locked in a different room. they were so worried about the stupid swine flu it couldn't possibly have been anything else =p it was freaking nuts.
I'm glad I haven't gotten the flu in a few years :) When I was in school, I used to get it every year in the spring. Boo to institutionalized viruses!
Yea the big H1N1 scare was here in Canada about 2 weeks ago. It seems like people have sort of forgot about it by now. I was never worried, the media was just over exadurating whole thing. I think there were about 50 cases just in Nova Scotia. But even so people here didn't seem to care too much and I think only 1 school closed because a bunch of their students had it.
i wore a mask at the airport, arriving in the states. unfortunately it just made me look like a crazy asian lady. they kept telling me to take it off so they could identify me!
scary stuff but the Japanese people are very cautious about these things. But very diligent about handling it. Are you afraid of catching it? Do you just go get vaccinated if you get it? Is there a medicine for it in the first place?
I'm not worried about catching it. If I was working I probably would. Once something like that gets into a school...it spread like wild fire! Closing schools was a smart move.
Hopefully it won't cause you any problems. I've heard of some delays with planes arriving at Narita and Kansai though. They are checking people more carefully....with infrared cameras....to make sure they don't have a fever.
True. I totally agree with you. But on the other hand, we Japanese tend to overreact to this. Is this only in Japan? It's even funny to me that I see most people wearing medical mask on the street now. And it's good to get a paid holiday!! Am I too over-optimistic?:p
playing things safe is a good thing. I agree that it was a great move to close school, but the media and many people are acting as if it is more dangerous than it really is. Even the governor of Osaka Prefecture is telling people to calm down and that they are overreacting.
But, I certainly do feel safe here. I know Japan has a very good medical system to deal with everything :)
Yeah media maybe over reacting. However I am a little worried because when a virus meets with another virus it can merge to a new more dangerous virus.
I haven't heard what the Governer said but would be supprized if he meant to discourage the use of masks.
I think weraing mask is an interesting part of the Japanese culture worth filming but it is a responsible and wise attitude toward the society though it may look strange and over reactive.
I haven't heard anyone discouraging the use of masks. I was basically pointing it out as a "cultural difference." I've actually been wearing one at work for the last week. I find it uncomfortable, but wasn't going to argue the point. It's better than not wearing one.
The virus has already started to clear up in other parts of the world. The Canadian government has just lifted it's travel advisory to Mexico. I think things will be back to normal in a few weeks.
Wearing a mask? Best precaution? Not really. Best precaution is to make sure you never touch your fingers to any part of your face, and wash your hands a lot. Like every time you touch something. Avoiding people is also better.
Yeah but you can do all those except the last part which is really hard, unless you are taking a couple of months leave from your job till the flu goes away :P
Wearing a Mask in an Overcrowded Train in Japan or any Crowded place is also a very good precatuion. Not puting your fingers in your mouth is a good idea, but covering your mouth with a mask is even better.
Yep....washing your hands constantly and sneezing into your sleeve, not your hands is what they recommend in Canada. I agree with you about wearing a mask on a crowded train. there are always people coughing and sneezing and it is such a confined area.
No. But yesterday a woman Namba recoiled in fear at the thought of coming within 10 feet of me. I was filled with so much rage I didn't know what to do...
I didn't have pants on, nor had I showered, and I'm pretty sure there was fecal matter plastered to my chin but regardless...
That second line was fake. The first however wasn't.
thank you for making this video. I'm glad someone is trying to make waves about how absurd the media takes this problem to be. People get the flu and die of the flu every year.
i have been wondering about the situation of the virus there..i asked DC yesterday about it, and you answered abit more in this video..i've heard, as you said, its abit over exaggerated..i just hope they dont start banning flights into Japan soon or anything too drastic..im supposed to be there in July :P thanks for the vid
For sure. I watched the news tonight on NHK and it is the only story....they were showing the massive lineups at pharmacies to buy masks this morning!
from one teacher to another - are they paying you for the week or do you have to use time off? Or do you have to go to school even tho there are no kids?
I'm off and getting paid (as far as I know). We were told to stay away from public transportation and crowded places. We don't have to go to work for fear of exposing us to the flu....since we all take the train to get there!
My company is also closing all classrooms where the public schools are closed as well. Our part-time teachers, naturally, aren't paid. So it's a double-whammie for them with Golden Week and the closings. Our full-timers either have to go clean the classrooms or take paid-holidays.
Saw a few last september around Tokyo when I was there...was funny one day, a Japanese couple quickly popped on a mask each when I sat down in their cable car in Hakone. My wife & I laughed at them. But now I could understand, since its gaigin you'd be most concerned about if you were Japanese.
What's up with YouTube tonight? Every video is playing fast and everyone sounds like they inhaled helium. Is this happening to anyone else? The same thing happened on Gimmeabreakman's new video.
Maybe YouTube has the flu.
Anyway, looks like now's the time to be in the surgical mask business in Japan.
Now would also be a great time to shoot some kind of weird indie film type thing showing all the people walking through the city with surgical masks, in slow mo, with weird music playing.
Honestly when I first heard this past Saturday that the flu had shown up in Kobe, I immediately thought "That's where BusanKevin lives." The media in America blew the flu up too. I remember reading something a few weeks ago saying that the vaccination for the flu actually killed more people than the flu did.
Hey, I got an idea! Why don't you wear a poncho, sombrero and thick mustache and walk around Tokyo (or Kobe) singing some Mexican folk song with a guitar while sneezing uncontrollably??? ; D
If I did that in Manhattan, I'd be an instant YouTube hit (and prolly get arrested and quarantined...)
BTW, how are all the Tonkatsu restaurants coping with this Pork Flu in Japan??? lol.
We got hit here in New York City! The first death case linked to the flu. The seventh one to die in the US since the outbreak. But you know what? I still see no masks. ANYWHERE!!! lol.
The media has been blowing it out of proportion over here as well, but I KNOW how it is in Japan because I grew up there. I know how they sensationalize everything. And the Japanese very easily panic often.
Hmm that looks like the crossing where TUJ is.
retsurayu 2 years ago
I'm going to Kobe this summer for one year to go to highschool. First of all, I haven't got my visa yet, they're processing it right now with immigration, I've been deathly afraid of being denied entrance into Japan or my High school being closed down. What are the chances of the this at this time or around august?
hanaryukoku 2 years ago
I think you have no worries. The swine flu panic is over here in Japan. It's business as usual for school all around Japan. You'll have no worries.
Good luck with the move here!
BusanKevin 2 years ago
hahaha. I guess that there isnt so much of a difference with Korea and Japan when coming to "germ-phobia". Everyone had a mask when SARS hit korea. And now theres the new N1H1.
BLITZENOVA 2 years ago
Wonder if the sales of gum, lifesavers and breath mints went down since the recent increase of these masks...
nikonninja 2 years ago
h1n1 flu as of 2 days ago has the swine flu in va
appler95 2 years ago
I was at L.A. LAX two weeks ago and EVERYONE from Japanese airline wore a mask. It wasn't so for other countries. That was very strange and interesting to watch because I don't see any people in L.A. walking around with their mask on. And L.A. isn't too far from Mexico.
rkddlftkak 2 years ago
Haha thats sick , indeed very strange to see all ppl there walking around with a mask , anyway japan looks like fun :)
LillBG 2 years ago
You should use a marker and draw a smiley face on the mask, or, big shark teeth.
JoeCubicle 2 years ago
haha....now that's a great idea. I actually have to wear one at work all this week and that's exactly what I'm going to do! Mind you...I think the students will giggle every time they look at me!
BusanKevin 2 years ago
thanks for the news update kevin!!
RuanMcC2 2 years ago
Thanks for watching :)
BusanKevin 2 years ago
I live near where the first cases of swine flu were confirmed in the U.S.
80+ people have been confirmed to have it near where I live.
Yet.. I have seen no one wear a mask. lol
Audiomuse 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
someone from my school got swine flu. we got a few cases in toronto now :(
yorkbc 2 years ago
That sucks. Hope that person and everyone else will be alright!
BusanKevin 2 years ago
Comment removed
yorkbc 2 years ago
Interesting vid. I'm in Tokyo at the moment with a throat infection (missing out on a camping trip.. bah) but don't think it's piggy flu :)
Maybe is making me think a bit more about stuff like washing hands after riding trains and so on though.
And what's with public toilets often not having soap or dryers in Japan? strangeness.
bluesheeft 2 years ago
Yep....it pays to bring a small bottle of hand sanitizer when traveling here I suppose!
BusanKevin 2 years ago
I think that was like, 10 people there, and that one guy off to the right wasn't wearing a mask. 90% indeed ;P
pyrix 2 years ago
so i'm in china right now. i had a cold when i went to do my medical check for my work visa and they freaked out. i was locked in a crusty office for 5 hours while the hazmat guys came and talked to me and everyone else in my group was locked in a different room. they were so worried about the stupid swine flu it couldn't possibly have been anything else =p it was freaking nuts.
unshedtears99 2 years ago
Holy crap! that sounds like a scene from a horror movie! Hope everything's ok now!
BusanKevin 2 years ago
yeah all good now. it just way freaked me out when it was going on. can't say i'm a big fan of chinese hospitals at the moment lol
unshedtears99 2 years ago
Damn, that was a spiffy mask!
pievendor2000 2 years ago
Thanks ;P
BusanKevin 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Search "Happy Rob Buy" by google ,and you will find amazing.
yyf147258 2 years ago
ok thats creepy i would hate that seems every where is getting something this year like swine flu and that
TheGazettE1 2 years ago
Medical masks are "in" this season :]
MajorAddiction 2 years ago
they are indeed...and I want to be "in"!
BusanKevin 2 years ago
This youtube video is priceless! haha (= Very nice. I hope you continue to make more cause your topics are really interesting
Chick6517 2 years ago
Scary!!! Thanks for sharing this mask experience!!!!!
bestiaccia 2 years ago
If there's a case of the flu in Tokyo, my school is going to close down for a few weeks! I go to jyouchi.
LaMinxette 2 years ago
I just heard that there was a case reported in Tokyo...a high school girl!
BusanKevin 2 years ago
I'm glad I haven't gotten the flu in a few years :) When I was in school, I used to get it every year in the spring. Boo to institutionalized viruses!
ManaStar 2 years ago
A free week of vacation
coughserum 2 years ago
i really do think H1N1 is kinda of getting a lil exaggerated, though i guess japan did JUST get it. the media coverage here is kind of dying down
HoshiChips56 2 years ago
south korea does that too
wearing masks for both reasons
YuMiistar 2 years ago
They are overreacting a bit.
hakiem1 2 years ago
Did you know that H1N1 is just the name for the common flu?
Apparently the changed the name from Swine Flu because people started thinking you can get it from eating pork. (haha)
Also there are many scientific studies showing that those masks are useless in most cases and don't stop the spread of H1N1 at all.
I gues people might just wear them to be courteous.
6663000 2 years ago
Yea the big H1N1 scare was here in Canada about 2 weeks ago. It seems like people have sort of forgot about it by now. I was never worried, the media was just over exadurating whole thing. I think there were about 50 cases just in Nova Scotia. But even so people here didn't seem to care too much and I think only 1 school closed because a bunch of their students had it.
6663000 2 years ago
i wore a mask at the airport, arriving in the states. unfortunately it just made me look like a crazy asian lady. they kept telling me to take it off so they could identify me!
shotamerican 2 years ago
hehe....
Only in Japan can you wear a mask into a bank and everyone is ok with it!
BusanKevin 2 years ago
scary stuff but the Japanese people are very cautious about these things. But very diligent about handling it. Are you afraid of catching it? Do you just go get vaccinated if you get it? Is there a medicine for it in the first place?
ltlocus 2 years ago
I'm not worried about catching it. If I was working I probably would. Once something like that gets into a school...it spread like wild fire! Closing schools was a smart move.
BusanKevin 2 years ago
Golden week 2
Jessen81 2 years ago
I suppose so!
BusanKevin 2 years ago
dont worry about that flu
its all it is, a flu
iridescent24 2 years ago
nice look.
and why are the people
so afraid of dying
lol.
YWA32 2 years ago
wow...I haven't really seen anyone wearing masks here in California. People here don't seem too freaked out.
I'm going to Japan next week, I hope this whole virus thing won't interfere with my trip...I'm kinda worried now:(
kushinbou 2 years ago
Hopefully it won't cause you any problems. I've heard of some delays with planes arriving at Narita and Kansai though. They are checking people more carefully....with infrared cameras....to make sure they don't have a fever.
BusanKevin 2 years ago
This will be my first time flying alone...hopefully it won't be a bad experience...*crosses fingers*
Thanks a lot:)
kushinbou 2 years ago
I don't think people are panicking.
To me it looks like thoughtful precausions to lower risks of spreading germs.
What is bad about playing safe?
ughat 2 years ago
Yes indeed that way it dies out more quickly but it just seems so odd for me
ID2Japan 2 years ago
I hope it will go away quickly and no one will be seriously sick.
BusanKevin 2 years ago
True. I totally agree with you. But on the other hand, we Japanese tend to overreact to this. Is this only in Japan? It's even funny to me that I see most people wearing medical mask on the street now. And it's good to get a paid holiday!! Am I too over-optimistic?:p
runnyrunny999 2 years ago
I agree that it's good to take precautions. Closing schools is a smart decision. But, the media is making things seems scarier than they really are.
I am quite happy to take an unexpected vacation :)
BusanKevin 2 years ago
playing things safe is a good thing. I agree that it was a great move to close school, but the media and many people are acting as if it is more dangerous than it really is. Even the governor of Osaka Prefecture is telling people to calm down and that they are overreacting.
But, I certainly do feel safe here. I know Japan has a very good medical system to deal with everything :)
BusanKevin 2 years ago
Yeah media maybe over reacting. However I am a little worried because when a virus meets with another virus it can merge to a new more dangerous virus.
I haven't heard what the Governer said but would be supprized if he meant to discourage the use of masks.
I think weraing mask is an interesting part of the Japanese culture worth filming but it is a responsible and wise attitude toward the society though it may look strange and over reactive.
ughat 2 years ago
I haven't heard anyone discouraging the use of masks. I was basically pointing it out as a "cultural difference." I've actually been wearing one at work for the last week. I find it uncomfortable, but wasn't going to argue the point. It's better than not wearing one.
The virus has already started to clear up in other parts of the world. The Canadian government has just lifted it's travel advisory to Mexico. I think things will be back to normal in a few weeks.
BusanKevin 2 years ago
That's crazy, eh? I asked my manager if I get holidays because of the flu, can I get paid during holiday? She said "NO". :(
thatjapanesegirl 2 years ago
Best precaution ever if you ask me :P
HaxorLee 2 years ago
Wearing a mask? Best precaution? Not really. Best precaution is to make sure you never touch your fingers to any part of your face, and wash your hands a lot. Like every time you touch something. Avoiding people is also better.
uglyengineer 2 years ago
Yeah but you can do all those except the last part which is really hard, unless you are taking a couple of months leave from your job till the flu goes away :P
Wearing a Mask in an Overcrowded Train in Japan or any Crowded place is also a very good precatuion. Not puting your fingers in your mouth is a good idea, but covering your mouth with a mask is even better.
HaxorLee 2 years ago
Yep....washing your hands constantly and sneezing into your sleeve, not your hands is what they recommend in Canada. I agree with you about wearing a mask on a crowded train. there are always people coughing and sneezing and it is such a confined area.
BusanKevin 2 years ago
wow i didnt think there would be an outbreak as far as japan hehe i live on the border and people arnt that paranoid
demonvamp33 2 years ago
You gotta get the masks that don't fog up your glasses. I've seen them on the tv... They make you look like Kamen Rider too apparently.
Also everyone has turned their be a dick to gaijin meter to 11.
TakarazukaTim 2 years ago
Have people been acting weird around you this week? Did you forget to wear you pants to work again??? hehe ;P
BusanKevin 2 years ago
No. But yesterday a woman Namba recoiled in fear at the thought of coming within 10 feet of me. I was filled with so much rage I didn't know what to do...
I didn't have pants on, nor had I showered, and I'm pretty sure there was fecal matter plastered to my chin but regardless...
That second line was fake. The first however wasn't.
TakarazukaTim 2 years ago
Damn!
Just for good measure, you should get one of those WWII gas masks and wear around town. Really go the extra kilometer!! LOL!
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
Now that's a great idea!
BusanKevin 2 years ago
Good report. Fingers crossed for Kansai.
patjack67 2 years ago
Cheers! Hopefully no one will get seriously sick here.
BusanKevin 2 years ago
thank you for making this video. I'm glad someone is trying to make waves about how absurd the media takes this problem to be. People get the flu and die of the flu every year.
Radrey 2 years ago
Yeah....even the governor of Osaka Prefecture is telling people to "chill out" and not panic so much!
BusanKevin 2 years ago
i have been wondering about the situation of the virus there..i asked DC yesterday about it, and you answered abit more in this video..i've heard, as you said, its abit over exaggerated..i just hope they dont start banning flights into Japan soon or anything too drastic..im supposed to be there in July :P thanks for the vid
TokyoBrando 2 years ago
I doubt they'd do that. The cases that began in Kobe were actually domestic....the folks who got it didn't go abroad.
BusanKevin 2 years ago
i wore a mask while I watch this in case the flu virus transfered via youtube
RoninDave 2 years ago 2
Good thing you were careful! The news said tonight that the swine flu can be transmitted over the internet!!! hehe
BusanKevin 2 years ago
careful! the latest news is that if you even think of the SFU you will get it!
RoninDave 2 years ago
hmmmm...transmitted through thought....damn...this is a tricky one indeed!
BusanKevin 2 years ago
Yeah, this flu scare is really out of proportion... It's like you said, you'd think ebola or something was flying in the streets.
zeroteku 2 years ago
For sure. I watched the news tonight on NHK and it is the only story....they were showing the massive lineups at pharmacies to buy masks this morning!
BusanKevin 2 years ago
YES! what a great intro song booyah! ahha thanks for using it man, i'm honored. cheers. -DC
betamaxdc 2 years ago
I'll be using more in the future! Thanks for letting me use them. Some nice music there my man :)
BusanKevin 2 years ago
from one teacher to another - are they paying you for the week or do you have to use time off? Or do you have to go to school even tho there are no kids?
myargonauts 2 years ago
I'm off and getting paid (as far as I know). We were told to stay away from public transportation and crowded places. We don't have to go to work for fear of exposing us to the flu....since we all take the train to get there!
BusanKevin 2 years ago
My company is also closing all classrooms where the public schools are closed as well. Our part-time teachers, naturally, aren't paid. So it's a double-whammie for them with Golden Week and the closings. Our full-timers either have to go clean the classrooms or take paid-holidays.
reynoldsair 2 years ago
Yeah...sucks that a lot of people, both foreign and Japanese are losing a lot of money.
Hope things end soon.
BusanKevin 2 years ago
Cool, man. Have a good week. Make some vids!
DavePerry2012 2 years ago
I will for sure.Just filmed another "story" vid. I'lll have it up tomorrow sometime!
BusanKevin 2 years ago
Saw a few last september around Tokyo when I was there...was funny one day, a Japanese couple quickly popped on a mask each when I sat down in their cable car in Hakone. My wife & I laughed at them. But now I could understand, since its gaigin you'd be most concerned about if you were Japanese.
MicknFumi 2 years ago
That is funny! Fastest way to get sick in Japan....sit beside a foreigner! hehe ;P
BusanKevin 2 years ago
What's up with YouTube tonight? Every video is playing fast and everyone sounds like they inhaled helium. Is this happening to anyone else? The same thing happened on Gimmeabreakman's new video.
Maybe YouTube has the flu.
Anyway, looks like now's the time to be in the surgical mask business in Japan.
Now would also be a great time to shoot some kind of weird indie film type thing showing all the people walking through the city with surgical masks, in slow mo, with weird music playing.
DavePerry2012 2 years ago
Strange...over here....on my end, You Tube seems to be working fine!
BusanKevin 2 years ago
Yea, it was my Flash player. Kind of bizarre but I think a system restart made it normal again. You sounded cute, though. :-)
DavePerry2012 2 years ago
Honestly when I first heard this past Saturday that the flu had shown up in Kobe, I immediately thought "That's where BusanKevin lives." The media in America blew the flu up too. I remember reading something a few weeks ago saying that the vaccination for the flu actually killed more people than the flu did.
leno416 2 years ago
Forgot to add that the whole vaccination thing happened back in the 70's.
leno416 2 years ago
yeah....it's all over the news. They are making it seem very ominous!!!
BusanKevin 2 years ago
Cooties! Eek!
And I just plunked down 1100 dollars yesterday to go to my brother's wedding in June. Hooray.
ElevenColors 2 years ago
If you want cooties...we got'em...by the boat lead!
BusanKevin 2 years ago
god, wait till it "hits" tokyo! LOL!!!!
atomicboyx 2 years ago
yeah....hopefully it won't! All the universities in the Kansai region are closed as well!!
BusanKevin 2 years ago
Hey, I got an idea! Why don't you wear a poncho, sombrero and thick mustache and walk around Tokyo (or Kobe) singing some Mexican folk song with a guitar while sneezing uncontrollably??? ; D
If I did that in Manhattan, I'd be an instant YouTube hit (and prolly get arrested and quarantined...)
BTW, how are all the Tonkatsu restaurants coping with this Pork Flu in Japan??? lol.
TiramisuHappy 2 years ago
We got hit here in New York City! The first death case linked to the flu. The seventh one to die in the US since the outbreak. But you know what? I still see no masks. ANYWHERE!!! lol.
The media has been blowing it out of proportion over here as well, but I KNOW how it is in Japan because I grew up there. I know how they sensationalize everything. And the Japanese very easily panic often.
TiramisuHappy 2 years ago