Link to Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/06/world/asia/japan-squid-statue.html
Debate has arisen after the fishing town Noto- roughly 180 miles northwest of Tokyo- spent nearly $230,000 in federal Covid-19 relief money on a 43-foot statue of a flying squid. In a town where squid is a delicacy, the statue was built to promote tourism after the pandemic subsides. The five-and-a-half-ton statue sits outside a squid-themed restaurant and tourist center.
Town official, Tetsuji Shimoyachi stated that he hoped the statue would be a “driving-force attraction in the post-Covid period.” However the building of the statue provoked questions and discussion amoung the towns 16,000 residents who wondered whether there weren’t better uses of its emergency releif funds.
On Twitter a user tweeted how the world would view the building of a giant squid “in a country where vaccines were not provided, P.C.R. testing isn’t increased and medical system has collapsed.” Mr. Shimoyachi acknowledged the residents concerns and responded by stated the of the %6.2 million in coronavirus relief that the town has received from the Japanese government, it has spent about $2.5 million on infection control measures and $1.3 million to promote local buisnesses and employment. He stated the left over money was used to purchase the squid and the town has recorder fewer than 30 coronavirus cases since the pandemic began.
In total, Japan has allocated $41 billion in emergency subsidies to address the pandemic as well as its economic impact on the nation. Mr Shumoyachi also stated that catches have significantly declined due to competition with Chinese and North Korean boats, as well as tourism which has also fallen and led the town to build the tourist center to attract visitors.
Japan has previously controled the coronavirus better than many countries around the globe, however a recent spikein cases in Tokyo and other cities. The new surge of cases have sparked a new round of economic restrictions and criticism of Japan’s slow vaccine rollout. Questions over whether the country should proceed with the Tokyo Olympics-scheduled to begin in July- have also been asked.
As countries around the world try to heal and move past the coronavirus pandemic, Covid-19 relief money has been a huge help to nations who need the opportunity to promote local buisnesses and employment as well address the pandemic. Noto’s recent spending on a squid statue will be noticed by countries around the globe as most nations use the money to help roll out vaccines and help individuals recover from the past brutal year.