Japanese hoping to see calm spring incoming amid continued covid-19 pandemic

 

January 30, 2021

Japanese hoping to see calm spring incoming amid continued covid-19 pandemic 

Japan has entered its second year of painful fight to contain the new coronavirus pandemic. The number of covid-19 cases in Japan has been held at a relatively low level overall. 

Japan's government leaders have had difficulty in effectively keeping the pandemic from spreading further, because, unlike other major countries, Japan has no system to make its people observe preventive measures against extensive infectious illness under law. 

The government instead has asked the people to voluntarily follow a series of recommended measures to protect themselves from the covid-19 virus on various occasions. Their voluntary cooperation has much contributed to supporting Japan's campaign for containing the pandemic.

As of late January, the number of covid-19 cases confirmed in Japan came to about 387,000, far below 26.07 million in the United States, 10.7 million in India, and 3.8 million in Britain.

As reports about developments regarding the pandemic have occupied most of their daily life since early last year, Japanese people have become somewhat tired of continuing the voluntary cooperation. 

This is feared to loosen their resolve to end the pandemic, but most people are expected to keep trying to find a new daily style to improve themselves for a better future.

Around this time of the year, Japanese have fun while looking for early signs of the advent of spring out in the field and other places around themselves. 

On the very start of spring, we are here to see each other's face in a joyful atmosphere; Is this out of the season? no, how happy this party is!

(a personal translation)

This is a waka poem made by Otomo Yakamochi, a noted poet who was active in the Nara period in the eighth century, when he enjoyed his time with his friends while drinking. 

Yakamochi, who was a high-ranking Imperial court official, is known as the editor of Japan's oldest poem anthology Manyoshu. He compiled the anthology with about 4,500 pieces of poems made by people from various walks of life, including nobles and peasants.

In an attempt to keep away from the deadly virus, Japanese people are further asked to refrain from going out for nonessential purposes and wear face masks as much as possible during their daily life.  Their painful fight against the pandemic will continue in the months to come, but their solidary-oriented national character is expected to help them overcome the difficulty ahead.