Japanese rock legend Hyde rips into those not practicing social distancing and hitting up pubs during pandemic

L'Arc〜en〜Ciel and VAMPS vocalist and musician Hyde is a legend in Japanese rock music, having sold 40 million albums worldwide with L'Arc〜en〜Ciel and even sold out Madison Square Garden.

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Hyde(@hydeofficial)がシェアした投稿 - 2019年 7月月22日午前8時01分PDT

This time the rock star isn't being lauded for his music, however, but rather a recent condemnation he made of people ignoring the suggested social distancing protocol to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic (avoiding closed and crowded spaces as well as close contact). Hyde recently took to Twitter to express his frustrations about how those not following protocol are increasing risks to others:

"I was appalled to see footage of people saying 'I'll be ok', or 'well, it's too late now anyway' and crowded pubs. No matter how you look at it, that's not a necessary reason to leave your house, and at the very least the pub owners should spread out the seats as a countermeasure. If these people are going to infect the ones who are precious to us then that cannot be excused by ignorance. Their sins are heavy."

「自分は大丈夫」とか「今更遅い」と言う人や
居酒屋が混み合ってる映像見て愕然とした。
どうみても仕方なくの外出じゃないし、
店側も最低限席を空けるなどの感染対策をするべきだと思う。
この人達が僕らの大切な人を感染させるなら無知では済まされない。彼らの罪は重い。
— Hyde (@HydeOfficial_) March 30, 2020

Hyde's Tweet is resonating with a lot of other frustrated people around Japan, especially as media continues to show many people taking necessary excursions in crowded areas and not following safety precautions.

"If those with influence can say such things, lives can definitely be saved. Thank you very much."

"This is exactly right. It's too late to regret your actions after losing someone you loved."

There are people who think it's OK to go out like this because the wording is "self-restraint" and not "prohibited"...

By - grape Japan editorial staff.