July 23, 2020 Rochelle Kopp quoted in Washington Post on Japan’s re-entry ban

Managing Principal Rochelle Kopp is quoted in this Washington Post article about Japan’s COVID-19 related ban on re-entry by non-Japanese residents. She commented that even though the government has announced that it would gradually lift the restrictions, “The damage has already been done. This has gone on for a very long time, and that’s sent a very negative message to foreign businesses and residents — that we are just an afterthought.” She also noted that the ban has “damaged [Japan’s brand] with those people who should have been its strongest supporters, People who have invested in learning the Japanese language, built their lives in Japan, who are contributing to Japanese society. Those are people who as a government it isn’t wise to alienate.”