Interviews with foreign nationals in Tokyo about the COVID-19 situation (May 2020)
Aired: May. 28, 2020
This segment features the voices of foreign residents in Tokyo amidst the spread of COVID-19 in the city. Interviews with people from China and Thailand on their feelings and concerns in living in Tokyo were held at Asian foods markets in Ikebukuro and Okubo, with one of our translators working remotely due to their own safety concerns. Program host Maxwell Powers also interviews friends over the internet, gathering the impressions of people from other Asian countries. This segment also features interviews with the director and staff of the AMDA International Medical Information Center regarding what kind of consultations they receive from foreign residents.
Viewers’ Voice
The interviews with people in Tokyo allowed the viewer to see what the current situation is in Japan. It was interesting to compare the practices of business owners and shoppers in Tokyo compared to those in Australia where I live. It was also clear that there are challenges for foreign residents in Japan, particularly in finding out information about what is happening. I appreciated the wide variety of people who were interviewed as this gave a good cross-section of what people on the street are thinking.
From Australia
It is refreshing to see people’s opinions on the coronavirus. I want to hear what members of the public think about coronavirus and how they are deciding to react and adapt to it. This segment did just that! I enjoy hearing the viewpoints of people from different countries and cultures. Some of the people appeared to be quite scared of the coronavirus, such as the interpreters who would only work virtually. Others appeared to feel safe to venture out into the street to go to a grocery store. The featured grocery store and its employees are dedicated to remaining open to serve the local population.
From the US
Having a chance to talk with people on the street and people who choose to work from home, or move from Tokyo due the effects of COVID-19 give a better perspective of how is the life of foreigners in Japan.
From the Dominican Republic
More Information
The AMDA International Medical Information Center provides multi-language assistance for foreign nationals living in Japan, such as language interpretation during consultation at the hospital. For more details on the Center’s activities and assistance, please visit their official website and Facebook page:
https://www.amdamedicalcenter.com
AMDA International Medical Information Center Facebook
From April 10, 2020, the Center has started providing multi-language telephone consultation service concerning the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Hotline 1
03-6233-9266
Consultation service is available for the following languages as below:
Mondays: English, Korean, Filipino
Tuesdays: English, Chinese, Thai
Wednesdays: English
Thursdays: English, Chinese, Spanish
Fridays: English, Portuguese
※Consultation in Vietnamese is available every 2nd & 4th Wednesday of the month.
Consultation times:
Weekdays: From 10:00 am to 04:00 pm
The Center has also set up a Facebook page to provide multi-language information related to coronavirus:
AMDA International Medical Information Center COVID-19 Multi-language Facebook Page
