Phoebe Amoroso:
The prime minister’s words did little to reassure these protesters, who continued taking to the streets, even during the opening ceremony.
These streets aren’t filled with cries of celebration, but shouts of protest. Many of these people say they have been demonstrating for months, and they say they’re angry that their concerns have fallen on deaf ears.
It’s the spread of the pandemic that protesters say is their biggest concern. The country has now recorded more than 15,000 deaths from COVID-19, and its health care system is under pressure. There is a shortage of medical staff and hospital beds for severely ill COVID-19 patients.
During the last wave of infections, some regions ran out of beds altogether. Amid a vaccine supply crunch, only 27 percent of the population is fully immunized.
Mari works as a nurse in Tokyo.
