FOR IMMEDIATE RELASE
Office of the Prime Minister
Re: Pandemic Preparedness Report
Japan is prepared to handle a widespread pandemic of any kind. Our health care system is among the best in the world, and we have nearly 10,000 hospitals and clinics. The overall health of citizens is good, and Japanese live longer than citizens of any other nation.
We are blessed to be naturally isolated from other nations, so it would be more difficult for a disease to spread to our shores. If necessary, it would be possible to close all water and air ports in the country. The Maritime Self-Defense Force, specifically created to protect shipping lanes and the water boundaries of Japan, would have to trouble preventing vessels from reaching our shores if the ports are closed.
Japan will not hesitate to seek help during a crisis from our strongest ally, the United States. Japan is the fourth largest trading partner of the United States, and it is in the best interest of both nations to sustain this valuable partnership. The United States currently has 35,000 military personnel stationed in our country, and is obligated by the Japan-America Security Alliance to defend Japan in return for the use of its military bases. Scientists from both nations will not be hindered by national identities in striving toward a common goal – ultimately, a vaccine – in continuing to sustain a mutually beneficial relationship between our two great nations.
The military has developed a four-step action plan to identify, combat and control a pandemic. For the specifics of which, I will refer you to that report. The military and scientific community are in a position to cooperate meaningfully and effectively should a pandemic occur. The Japanese government will heed the advice of out scientists, and direct the military to act on their recommendations, be it in the form of curfews, quarantines or travel restrictions.
The resolve of the Japanese people is strong. We have been tested as a nation before with a pandemic, and we have weathered all challenges. In 2009, our country was beset upon by H1N1, a particularly deadly form of influenza resulting from the combination of avian, swine, and human strains of the virus. Our citizens showed a remarkable willingness to change their daily routines and lifestyles to prevent the pandemic from worsening. Millions of Japanese opted to wear surgical masks when in public, and the pandemic subsided. Though two hundred Japanese were killed by the disease, all hospitals remained operational and no one region was especially vulnerable.
Our government is prepared to handle a global pandemic, and has a complex, structured plan to overcome and challenge that we are faced with. Our people have demonstrated strength and solidarity throughout our gloried history, and I have my full confidence that we will not only survive, but succeed valiantly in the face of crisis.
Your humble prime minister,
Akira Kurosawa
Office of the Prime Minister
Re: Pandemic Preparedness Report
Japan is prepared to handle a widespread pandemic of any kind. Our health care system is among the best in the world, and we have nearly 10,000 hospitals and clinics. The overall health of citizens is good, and Japanese live longer than citizens of any other nation.
We are blessed to be naturally isolated from other nations, so it would be more difficult for a disease to spread to our shores. If necessary, it would be possible to close all water and air ports in the country. The Maritime Self-Defense Force, specifically created to protect shipping lanes and the water boundaries of Japan, would have to trouble preventing vessels from reaching our shores if the ports are closed.
Japan will not hesitate to seek help during a crisis from our strongest ally, the United States. Japan is the fourth largest trading partner of the United States, and it is in the best interest of both nations to sustain this valuable partnership. The United States currently has 35,000 military personnel stationed in our country, and is obligated by the Japan-America Security Alliance to defend Japan in return for the use of its military bases. Scientists from both nations will not be hindered by national identities in striving toward a common goal – ultimately, a vaccine – in continuing to sustain a mutually beneficial relationship between our two great nations.
The military has developed a four-step action plan to identify, combat and control a pandemic. For the specifics of which, I will refer you to that report. The military and scientific community are in a position to cooperate meaningfully and effectively should a pandemic occur. The Japanese government will heed the advice of out scientists, and direct the military to act on their recommendations, be it in the form of curfews, quarantines or travel restrictions.
The resolve of the Japanese people is strong. We have been tested as a nation before with a pandemic, and we have weathered all challenges. In 2009, our country was beset upon by H1N1, a particularly deadly form of influenza resulting from the combination of avian, swine, and human strains of the virus. Our citizens showed a remarkable willingness to change their daily routines and lifestyles to prevent the pandemic from worsening. Millions of Japanese opted to wear surgical masks when in public, and the pandemic subsided. Though two hundred Japanese were killed by the disease, all hospitals remained operational and no one region was especially vulnerable.
Our government is prepared to handle a global pandemic, and has a complex, structured plan to overcome and challenge that we are faced with. Our people have demonstrated strength and solidarity throughout our gloried history, and I have my full confidence that we will not only survive, but succeed valiantly in the face of crisis.
Your humble prime minister,
Akira Kurosawa
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