Stay Home Week started in Tokyo

From the end of April to the beginning of May, we have a period called “Golden Week” which includes some national holidays. Usually this is a time when many people working or studying in big cities like Tokyo go back to their hometown or go on a trip somewhere else. But things are different this year because of COVID-19. Last Thursday, the governor of Tokyo said that the 12-day period from April 25 to May 6 should be “Stay Home Week to Save Lives” and asked for cooperation from companies and inhabitants. The website of Tokyo Metropolitan Government presents some requests including reduction of number of times to go shopping (preferably once every three days), refraining from going on trips, teleworking, etc.

Even in Hamamatsu, the atmosphere has been changing. The city requested restaurants, bars, amusement facilities, etc. to close from April 25 to May 6, promising subsidies. When I went to downtown this morning, I found many restaurants with a notice of closure put outside. In addition, I saw a banner with a slogan to fight against the coronavirus.

When I was in front of Hamamatsu Station a little over 10:00, I saw almost no one there. I learned later that the passenger load factor of each Shinkansen line was 0 - 10% today. Incredible!

The shopping mall MayOne in the station building is closed from April 18 to May 6. Only the food market including Seijo Ishii and the drug store Kyorindo in the basement are open (10:00 - 20:00, 8:00 - 20:00 respectively). I went to the food market and then to the basement of Entetsu Department Store that is also closed until May 6 except for the basement. At the entrance, there was a request for wearing a mask. Unlike some other countries, it is not obligatory in Japan, so I was relieved to see it because I didn’t want to walk among people who didn’t wear a mask.

In the department store, I just wanted to buy this miso from Niigata Prefecture, a major production area of rice. According to the label, it is made from locally grown soybeans and rice.

During this corona-period, I have heard heartwarming news of Tsubame City in Niigata Prefecture. They are sending 5 kg of rice from local farmers and a handmade cloth mask to every student from Tsubame City who studies outside Niigata Prefecture and will not come back to the city during this holiday season to prevent infection spread of the coronavirus. Such support will be great encouragement for young students who long for home in this unstable situation.