00:00:00 John Daub: Welcome to Tokyo Station. That in front of us is the countdown clock to the games of the 2020-2021 Olympics. As you can see on this clock, it clearly reads 97 days until the Olympics are to start—4 hours, 21 minutes, and 41 seconds. Bing! And there has been a lot of talk in the news about whether or not these Olympics are even going to be held.

00:00:30 John Daub: How you doing everybody? This is a rainy day, kind of a cruddy day to be outside. However, I had to go to the post office to deliver some packages and I've been reading the news just like all of you. I've noticed that there's almost no passion for the Tokyo Olympics at all. Nobody's really excited about this and that kind of makes me really sad. But how could you be excited because we're in the middle of a pandemic?

00:00:55 John Daub: And just yesterday, a politician, Nikai-san—who is the second leading politician in Japan right after the Prime Minister—made the comments that if possible, the games should be cancelled. I'm paraphrasing here. If the games were to be known as the games that spread the virus and infections, then how could we live with that? This is from the guy underneath the Prime Minister. This has caused so much doubt now. Having the games has now become in question once again, even though they had explicitly said that they're going to be holding the games no matter what—without foreign spectators, without spectators from overseas, without maybe even spectators in the stands.

00:01:36 John Daub: They were going to do everything that's possible to make sure that the Olympics are safe. But if the second leading politician here for the ruling party is making that kind of comment and Tokyo's government does not have a united front on this, my opinion starts to change too on whether or not we should hold this. I'm starting to feel like, one, there's 97 days until the Olympics, right? I feel that nobody cares or nobody even realizes that it's happening. You look around the city of Tokyo, people are just trying to stay alive, I guess you could say.

00:02:16 John Daub: The infections are increasing rapidly. The UK variant has created an explosion of infections in the city of Osaka, which is more now than Tokyo—a place that was rather much under control is now out of control. And Tokyo is quite worried here that it could follow soon, in a fourth wave that's going to be much worse than the previous three, which means that this wave could be either on the downside or still going on when the Olympics take place.

00:02:45 John Daub: So I really want to ask you, since many of you would have been the overseas fans, what are your feelings on the games now? Have they changed as a result of the leading politician coming out and saying they should be cancelled? Do they change because there's no excitement whatsoever? There's no events being held? There's no PR really taking place to bring in excitement to what's about to happen? It doesn't feel like this is the Olympic city. It feels like the Olympics were finished last year. It really does feel like there's nothing coming this summer. And it should be so much more exciting.

00:02:23 John Daub: What we're getting here, Jennifer French writes in here, cancel them. Cassie G, I think it should be cancelled. Rizal writes in here, no excitement and no atmosphere. No land in the world. They are ruining my chance of moving to Japan at least. That feels the way also it is not safe. I think that they should cancel them, writes in Mr. Sidney Verne. Lee Richards, I was looking forward to the BMX and the karate. Felix, pretty much in the grey zone. No excitement at all and so sad, writes in Marina. Larry writes in, Olympics should never be held again. Larry goes to the extreme. I don't know about that, Larry.

00:04:09 John Daub: Japan is to blame for the fail. I think there's a lot of factors sort of pointing in that direction, aren't there? At this juncture, the game should be cancelled and just take place in Tokyo in 2024. Takai writes in, activated complex at least in first world countries. Another health crisis that will disproportionately fall in the global south. That's something that I'm also worried about. I'm also worried about the future. We're not getting vaccines enough in this country.

00:04:45 John Daub: Logic dictates that they should have been cancelled months ago, writes in Nosh Abroad. Let the games continue, writes in Jonathan. Pointless now, writes in Ranjit. I think it should be cancelled very soon. Moxter, they should hold them when it's for sure safe. Joy writes in here, I don't want them to cancel but it's like depressing. I'm like in exact same mode as Joy right now. It would be nice if Tokyo could hold the next one, writes in Kristy. Jun writes in here, postpone? Brenda, I honestly keep forgetting they're coming up. I know, right?

00:05:21 John Daub: Broken Slipper, I think of all places that could handle the burden of the Olympics, it's Japan. And I would agree with you there. But Dingle has a really good point here. It's too late to pull out, honestly. It will not be safe for us, for the athletes, writes in Samsoner2. Andy Temple, cancel for everybody's safety. Ozymandias, I think they should merge Winter Olympics with the Summer events and have them simultaneously.

00:05:59 John Daub: As you see here, there's 97 days and really it's like, I don't know if they could cancel it, let's be honest. It's going to cost a fortune if they have nothing going on, right? And so far the IOC, this is where things get really, really dicey. And this is where my disappointment and where my disillusionment comes in. I'm somebody who's a massive proponent of the Olympics. Even with the pandemic last year, I said, we've got to hold these things. It's just something that brings people hope and brings people together. And by next summer, things will be a lot better. I was somebody who has been for a very long time a big proponent of it.

00:06:35 John Daub: And when I saw the politician and learning that the government is not even on the same page, I do not think that this is going to go well. I kind of think that this is something that's... [inaudible]. How you doing, everybody? Sorry about that. We got cut off a little bit. Sometimes when I read the comments, the screen will close depending on the way I use my fingers. So, what I was saying here, thanks for the feedback on that. We're back here.

00:07:10 John Daub: I just want to get away from people for a second and sit down here. What I'm saying is if there's not a united front on the political side for this to happen, I just see this being a total disaster. Already, it seems like without people here, it's just going to be a televised event. And if this was a game... It's just the business side of it and the political side of it is such a disaster right now. We're starting to see the cracks in the Olympics, I believe. This is just my opinion here.

00:07:39 John Daub: But wouldn't it make sense to just hold this next year in 2022 when we're much more in the clear? Everybody has been vaccinated in this country. And we put the Winter and the Summer Olympic Games together again. Wouldn't it make sense just to push Paris, who's probably not building a lot because of the pandemic, and Los Angeles back another four years? What's the difference? Not like a lot of countries and cities are super excited about holding the Olympics anymore. The costs are ridiculous. Nothing's really being built because of the pandemic, right?

00:08:24 John Daub: But it seems like the IOC cannot do that. And I don't know why they didn't just make this decision in 2020 and said, we're going to wait two years, make a decision, and then we'll announce it. They just said, this is it. You don't have a second chance. And I don't know what the ultimatum is for. I don't know why there's no flexibility in this. Because obviously, Tokyo is in a fourth wave. And it's going to get worse before it gets better.

00:08:54 John Daub: And Hashimoto-san, make no mistake, the games are still going to go on. I'm like 95% sure because Hashimoto-san, who's in charge of the Tokyo Olympics, backtracked on some of those comments by Nikai-san and said that Olympic Games—I don't know what world he's on, but the Olympic Games are going on as planned without overseas tourists. And again, it might be too late to cancel. But to see the cracks here in Japan is worrying.

00:09:19 John Daub: And the thing is, Kono-san, who is in charge of the vaccine rollout here in Japan, has said that he's doing everything he can to get the vaccine out there. And I believe that he really is. But there's 40,000 people a day being vaccinated. I don't know anybody who's been vaccinated. They've had the vaccine since the middle of February. And they've been taking their time. I don't see a sense of urgency at all of getting vaccines. You'd think that Japan would have accumulated or been able to reserve or get a hold of those vaccines a lot earlier.

00:09:56 John Daub: But were they waiting for Japanese companies to get that vaccine, to make the vaccine? I don't know what exactly the politics is behind it. But if you're having the Olympics here and the people of Tokyo are not being vaccinated and you're getting... I think the chart that I saw yesterday in the newspaper said that in 10 years, Japan will be fully vaccinated at this rate. That's crazy. So I don't feel comfortable with any Olympics or any events or any opening of this country unless Japan takes a priority of getting this vaccine and getting it to everybody at the same pace as the U.S. is doing, which is 3 million a day.

00:10:33 John Daub: You'd think that Japan, with all of its resources, would be able to do that. And that's something that just worries me. I'm sure everything's going to be okay and they're going to ramp it up. But I think being a little bit critical and pushing a little bit is something that they need right now at this juncture. Because I don't feel it. I don't feel an urgency to be vaccinated. I don't feel an urgency to get ready for the Olympics for the people here.

00:11:03 John Daub: You know, the thing is, I just don't know what the problem is because there's no transparency in why this is so slow. Nobody comes out and makes an announcement. And that's part of the problem. Everybody that I talk to, Japanese friends, Japanese people, they're Japanese citizens, are very worried about this Olympics. They're wondering when the vaccine is going to be available, if it's going to be available. They're worried about this fourth wave. They read the news. They see the news every day. It's always about this. It's always about the numbers going up, the new variants that have come in because of lax policies allowing business people to travel and allowing them without a vaccine.

00:11:51 John Daub: It's always about being strict with the quarantine measures, which is how the UK variant got here. I mean, we can there's a lot of blame to go around, but there's just no transparency in what's next. How do we... when is this going to take place? How are we going to be able to have a future here when tourism is not going to return unless people are vaccinated? And if it's taking 10 years, that means tourism starts back in 2030.

00:12:18 John Daub: Okay, people. This is what I'm trying to say. If at this current rate of vaccinations, you will be able to come back to Japan in 2030. I'm going to have a lot more gray hair. And I did dye it a little bit. I might not have any hair, which is fine. But I want a sense of urgency. Do you feel the urgency in my voice? That's what people should be freaking out here a little bit. But there's no freaking out. And that's worrying.

00:12:52 John Daub: I want Cheryl and I want Austin to be here with me right now. But you can't be, Cheryl. Austin. It's not fair. See, look, I'm social distancing from that hundred days right now because I'm just very skeptical. In the end, in the end, I will still cover in the end. I'm going to try my damnedest to get that vaccine. And so I'm safe for my family and I can cover the venues. I don't think I'm going to cover the events, but I want to be outside of the venues and be able to get an app to try to cover the atmosphere of this.

00:13:46 John Daub: I know everything's going to be okay. But I really believe that you need to have a sense of urgency and you need to have some people that are there. Let's get this done. Let's get this done. Why isn't it getting it done? You need to be questioning things. You need to be finding answers. And you need to have that transparency and tell people what's going on. Because we don't know. And this is the biggest problem. And this is why the Tokyo Games, people don't want them to be held here. This is why the citizens of Japan and the residents of Tokyo right now are overwhelmingly against having the games here.

00:14:21 John Daub: What's the point if we can't go into the stadium to watch it? What's the point if you can't travel from Osaka to Tokyo to watch the swimming events? What's the point if you can't have your parents and your friends travel with you to the Olympic Games to watch you compete? Why is it so important to hold the games in 2021 and not delay them until 2022 or just push all the Olympic Games back a year? Why can't that happen? Nobody explains to us these things. So we're left to just make assumptions, which is not good. And right now you go by feeling. And my feeling is, oh my gosh, that's what I'm feeling.

00:15:05 John Daub: John, welcome to Traveler. Appreciate that. So I want to read some of your opinions here. This is just going to be a short live stream. I just wanted to show you that clock. I want to show you that clock that says 97 days. That's significant. That means in less than three months, the games are going to start. In about three months. And we're in a wave. And it's worse than all the other waves.

00:15:26 John Daub: There was a reason why we should cancel this a year ago. And this is my point. OK, this is the logical thing. We are now in the middle of a wave that's worse, that looks worse than all of the waves combined. We're in what the U.S. was in like four months ago. That's coming here to Japan. And we're going to be holding the Olympics. But we canceled them in 2020 for a wave that was not so strong. And we're holding them when Japan is at its worst. That doesn't make sense. And this is what Nikai-san, second in charge, he was thinking about this, too. And it's an extremely good point that he brings up.

00:16:09 John Daub: There should be skepticism. It's a healthy skepticism. But at the same time, if you have skepticism and the political force behind this is fractured, then why hold this at all? It just doesn't bring a lot of confidence to people. And we shouldn't have that confidence, to be perfectly honest with you. I'm just saying from my own feelings. Ado writes in here, John, why don't you invite an Olympic committee member on your show to give transparency? That's a good idea. Why aren't they going on to the news media? Why isn't the other news outlets getting people from the Olympics to hold these kind of interviews for full transparency? Why does it come onto the shoulders of a YouTuber?

00:16:52 John Daub: I'd love to. Olympic committee, if you're watching the show, I completely would. I would love to have and hear from you. And I would give you a fair shake, because I am a proponent of the Olympic Games. I love them so much. It's a time where people come together at a time of competitiveness, where we stop what we're doing to watch that spirit, where countries can compete on a worldwide scale for something that's really historic and grand. There's so much to love about the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games. And I don't feel that this year.

00:17:29 John Daub: What is the holdup? What is the rationale for holding these games now and not delaying it until 2022 or pushing them all back to 2024, 2028, and 2032 if nobody really wants to hold the Olympics anyways anymore except for China and a couple other countries, right? Life must go on, not backwards, writes in Sue. That's true. It's very common behavior driven by sunken costs. John also, it's pretty Japanese not wanting to fail. But not admitting to no when you've lost as well is a really bad trait. You can get in deeper and deeper and deeper. And this is what happens. We call it losing face.

00:18:22 John Daub: There's a lot of honor and there's a lot of pride in Japan as well as in Korea and China and a lot of other countries but especially in Japan. So I can see we don't want these games to fail but it seems like they're destined to. It just seems like there's so much against it. You have to go... The nail that stands up gets driven down. Do you understand that? In a Japanese company or a Japanese situation, if there's somebody who is being different or driving against the current, they get hammered back down. You cannot walk against the current in a river. You get driven back.

00:19:09 John Daub: So Nikai-san is going against the river of opinion right now. Is he going to get driven back? What's going to happen? I don't know. But he injected just that small amount of doubt that puts cracks into the thought process of what we think these Olympics... whether or not they should take place. There's cracks now, okay? Doesn't mean it's broken. We're still going to hold them. But just my opinion has changed. I'm a positive guy. If they do hold them and nobody's here, how do we know they took place? NBC, okay? And I'm glad that NBC is here because then we'll know that the Olympic Games took place. If a tree falls in a forest and nobody saw it... Silence.

00:20:08 John Daub: Politician, guest, I don't know. Tokyo Station, bring us travelers. Because of the pandemic, it's very hard for me to travel right now and the fact that I have a newborn baby. I think he's not a newborn anymore because he had his one-month birthday a couple of days ago. He posted a picture on Instagram. I don't know if you saw that. Appreciate it. All the kind comments that we received on there. But I just want you to understand in this point of time in history, this is my statement. This is how we feel. In April 2021. I don't even know what day it is.

00:20:45 John Daub: See that tour bus? Nobody's on it. Do you know why? I just think there should be some accountability. I think there should be some understanding. Yeah, click that like button if you like John ranting. It's not fun. Spike021, enjoy the treat of your choice. Thank you, Spike. I'll probably get Kanae some dinner. It's harder to cook. So I'll try... I'm going to get a treat of our liking. Thank you for that. Thank you, Sue. That's all that I really have.

00:21:30 John Daub: I know that this is a tough situation and a lot of you had plans to come to Japan. You still have plans. Many of you in October. I see the mails. And the reality is I don't know when Japan's going to open. But my feeling is this wave... This wave... They go up and they come down. Everything gets better. And I try to stay really positive. And I am positive that tourism will return. It's just not going to be the same for a while.

00:22:01 John Daub: And even if you can come in October, you're still going to have to take maybe a couple of days of quarantining, a PCR test. You're going to have to install an app on your phone. We can kind of already see the procedure. But again, we're not really sure what that procedure is. So it's hard for us to say for sure that's going to happen in October. But if tourism does not return, then Japan's economy is in a bad, bad situation. It's really hard. That's how I feel. And because of this fourth wave, it's very hard for me to go out and film outside of the city of Tokyo right now.

00:22:34 John Daub: I have some jobs that I have to go to so I can get and travel to other prefectures. But I'm trying personally not to. It's not a good time to be traveling in Japan. Betty C. Dinner fun. Thank you. Wow. We're going to be in Tokyo. Can I get a 5-star dinner? She should always get a 5-star dinner. Brandania, thank you. Brandania's in the house like that. I'm now walking across the street. And you can take a little bit of a look. I got to run now. A little bit of a look back at Tokyo Station. There's not a lot of people out. But it's a nice view.

00:23:24 John Daub: Rafael, John, you're a New Yorker. That's right. We like to voice our opinions and let everybody know. Even though nobody's listening. We're going to let everybody know. This is my favorite place in the world. I love Tokyo Station. Wow, a lot of wind today. And this view's going to be different in about three years, too. There's a big, big... Japan's tallest skyscraper will be right here in three years. So you're looking at history. Shake Shack, yeah! There's one at the Yurakucho International Forum, which is just behind this building. Good call. How'd you know that? Ranjit, something for one month from now. Oh, thank you, Ranjit! Uncle Ranjit's here. Yurakucho. Great.

00:24:23 John Daub: So there you have it. Again, just sharing some of my feelings on the direction of this. A couple of things. I just sent out the mailing packages. So, Bela, your mom's package is on the way after a month. Sorry about that. My wife was actually in labor. When we were doing the packages, she went into labor. We were just starting it. So... She's like, oof, I think this is the time. So it's been on hiatus for a month. I really apologize. But I just literally put them into the post office and sent them off. The postage rates were hiked up by... So it was like $4 more to send them to the US. Grrr! But they're on the way. Thank goodness.

00:25:07 John Daub: And to Ellis, to my friend Ellis, who's been a supporter for, gosh, since forever. This is coming your way, buddy. I just got this. This is a daruma. I just bought it in the post office. It's pretty nice, plushy. This is a housewarming gift for you, buddy. This is coming. I'll send this to you in your next package. So I appreciate that. He just moved into a new place. And I want there to be a daruma on his mantle.

00:25:49 John Daub: Thanks, everybody. I'll leave you with the last minute or so. Just taking a look around. Tokyo Station and watch the trains coming in. I was here just a couple of days ago showing you the Shinkansen. And next week, I will be going to Tohoku to finish up a video that Peter von Gomm and I started filming at the beginning of April. I got to get some drone shots and some B-roll. And then probably very soon, I'll be making my way down to Kansai. I'm just looking at the numbers and making sure that the infections are okay. I want to be able to do it in a safe way.

00:26:20 John Daub: But I have three stories down in the Kansai region that I'll be filming for the main channel. So the frequency of the episodes are starting to come more frequently now for the main channel. So I appreciate all the support and all the encouragement. Despite the really tough time that we're in, we still got to keep working. And we still got to keep roaring and getting things done. Despite the fact that we have some challenges and the Olympics are still going on ahead, you know, just we have to make the best of it. And stay safe. So from our family to yours, take care. And I'll see you in another livestream really soon. There's a midnight camping coming up. I know it's not exactly the best content that you all are thinking of, but it's a lot of fun just to hang out in Japan. See you next time, everybody.