It's been a little over a month since I first wrote about the situation with the epidemic in Japan. Today, even though things are much more serious with the numbers being ten times up (always according to the official count as given by NHK network there are 10,807 cases and 238 dead, always excluding the cruise ship) the situation remains under control and can't be compared to what is happening in central and western Europe and the US. In other words, the outburst about which we are being generously warned by doomsayers, some within Japan, still hasn't come; I don't say it wont come but that it hasn't come yet and this keeps both the economy and people's morale in a relatively good state.
Of course tourism has almost stopped, most shops are closed and, especially after April 7 when the prime minister declared a state of emergency for Tokyo and other six prefectures (now having been extended to the whole country) there are more and more changes in stores and companies as regards transportation (with rolling shifts so as to minimize rush hours), way of working (with efforts towards tele-working) and business days and hours. Still, because by law neither the national nor the local governments can forbid people from moving around, any results basically come from Japanese people's willingness to obey the rules.
Do they? I can only speak about Tokyo but even that is a huge place so even if 99% does and 1% doesn't we still have almost 1,5 million (for Tokyo proper and almost 3,5 for the broader metropolitan area) of people who go out in groups, go for dinner in small restaurants or for drinks in small bars or visit parks with their families. Seeing the numbers though, I'd say there is compliance and there are results; considering the international situation only the fact that we are buying time without counting unemployed and dead in the thousands is, I believe, a breath of air.
The picture is from an Asakusa restaurant which remains, like many others, open. The sign reassures patrons that all protective measures are being taken so they won't be in danger if they decide to drop in for a bowl of tendon i.e. tempura on rice.
(For a bigger version of this picture both in color and black and white, check my "Japan Arekore" set on Flickr).
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