Thread by @tkatsumi06j

🇯🇵Japan’s Special Advisor to the Cabinet @YoichiTakahashi shows utter disregard to more than 10,000 deaths suffered, comparing the statistics with major countries saying, “Japan’s only a ‘RIPPLE’. To call off #Tokyo2020 for this lol” causing uproar asking the Cabinet to fire him.

A hashtag #高橋洋一内閣官房参与の更迭を求めます calling for his replacement is trending now in Japan with over 30,000 tweets in less than a day. Opposition parties are likely to raise this incident in the parliament to question if the Cabinet shares the same perception.

WHO Western Pacific reports that as of 7 May 2021, 🇯🇵Japan has recorded 4,871 cases in the last 24 hours, 620,994 cumulative confirmed cases, and 10,589 deaths. The number of new cases and deaths are dwarfed only by 🇵🇭The Philippines, ranking SECOND WORST in the region.

https://twitter.com/WHOWPRO/status/1390541727212077061

In less than 14 days, the number of new cases and deaths continue to increase in an alarming rate, still ranking the nation second among 24 countries in the region. Positivity rate is also on the rise with increases in variants which now comprises 60%+ of all confirmed cases.

https://twitter.com/tkatsumi06j/status/1391408428178821125

Today, the number of new cases reached 6,487 cases with Tokyo recording over 1,000 cases, the highest since the #NationalEmergency was declared for the 3rd time on April 25. The number of patients with severe cases reached 1,131 exceeding the thousands threshold 2 days in a row.

Given these 24-member regional statistics and confirmed facts, one would wonder how an established special advisor to the Cabinet can treat the current ‘RIPPLE’ as a laughable trend by comparing only to a few major Western countries with varying demographics and vaccine access.

It is in the interest of the public and the Government of Japan to replace this ill-informed individual from the position of Special Advisor to the Cabinet who has influence over policies of the government during a crisis. Thus, I call for #高橋洋一内閣官房参与の更迭を求めます

It appears the trend is still growing, calling for the replacement of @YoichiTakahashi , now standing at over 85,000 tweets just minutes ago.

https://twitter.com/hayachineusuyu1/status/1391584160863621127

On the following day, @nhk_news effectively 'killed' the story by presenting the views expressed by the Chief Cabinet Secretary saying he would refrain from commenting on individual cases, thereby preventing further discussion in the National Diet.
www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/2021…