Unlike many other countries, Japanese government is still suggesting to keep our guard up.
4th vaccine is recommended for everyone.
I think now concern is more over long Covid.
Many symptoms thought to be caused by Covid. E.g. respiratory disorder, taste disorder, fatigue, dullness and more.
The vaccine will reduce the risk a bit, not completely. And vaccination every five to six months will be required in future, for years.
We are still wearing masks, and sanitizers can be found everywhere. 🇯🇵
It’s been three years without clear declaration “Now we can forget about Covid and go on vacation without mask”, however compared to 2020 things got better.
Life goes on, really? who knows?
There are uncertainties and I’m lost, I need to go with the flow whether like it or not.
Among many other uncertainties, Covid is an avoidable if we pay attention and being patient.
Others, we have to stop, recover, adjust and adapt.
As omicron strain infection surging worldwide and here in Japan, I thought it might be canceled.
Fortunately no restriction issued so we went out as planned.
Before we wake up this morning, there was an alert message of Tsunami on mobile phones at midnight that woke us up. It was tsunami warning, related to Tonga‘s volcanic eruption on the 15th.
After check the news on TV, we tried to go back to sleep again, then another alert message received it continued for a few hours constantly.
It counted 600 messages that’s what we found out in the morning.
Caused by operation mistakes.
Seemed everyone tried to do the same, turning off the sound.
Alert makes sound even if in manner mode as it’s for emergency, so I needs another untick in a setting. While we were sleepy we somehow managed the how-to.
I found many how-to videos quickly uploaded at midnight to meet the demand. YouTube is super helpful.
Now omicron and economic activities.
Enjoy Sumo and golf matches, appreciate opera are part of economic activities.
If fans stop going to site, for example Sumo association soon faces difficulty surviving as a business organization like in 2020 and 2021. I wander how could they survive the past two years.
A Rare photo of trophy
Sumo was fun! Yokozuna Terunofuji won and he is 7 wins and 1 lose as of today. Yet 7 days remaining.
Work from home has widely been introduced since 2020.
I saw more people jogging than people heading to the station back then.
Today, it feels like 50% or more people are back to the regular work style. Trains are moderately crowded.
With the current situation, in Feb or could be at an earlier timing Tokyo and Kanagawa (where I live) both will be under restrictions by pre-emergency measures.
The number of infected people is increasing. A daily infection stats says 21,880 on the 14th Jan, it was 1,149 on the 4th Jan.
Hope the world will recover from COVID crisis and stabilize in 2022, and we will be able to remove our masks and fully enjoy December 24th in 2022 and onward.
These photos I took during the last few days.
I see the sky during daytime to rest my eyes.
A Clear blue sky
A drawing subject in December
Chobi staring at me riding on an indoor bike
2022 is around the corner. And I wish you who happened to read this blog a merry Christmas, thank you for reading.
I wear a mask because I am not 100% sure that I’m not infected with omicron.
I got vaccinated two times, moderna.
It caused really terrible side-reactions such as high fever for two days, shivering, dizziness, no appetite for a few days.
And my partner told me a story which he heard from his coworker in India. Once actually infected with Covid those symptoms continue two weeks, and may die at last if something go wrong.
I’m fully vaccinated and I always wear a mask in public place.
Compared to the side reactions I have experienced, wearing a mask is nothing.
A mask, easy, inexpensive and effective to protect myself my family and people I happen to encounter.
Omicron is being said 70% higher infection rate than any of previous Covid variants. What if another Covid variant that is also strong enough to breakthrough immunity and leads to sever symptoms.
It’s too late start wearing a mask after the first case detected, as most likely it’s already around me and I might have been infected.
So that I’m still wearing a mask, even I wear a mask to dump my garbage in the morning, or receive a delivery package or mail. Meeting and talking people means possible chance to give/receive Covid.
Yesterday was nice weather, warm and sunny. I visited an agent office to Tokyo.
It’s in a center of Tokyo. the land area “Akasaka, Minato ward” is probably one of highest prices these days.
It’s close to National Diet Building.
Young IT startups prefer to have an office around the area.
And the place also safer as well, since there are Imperial Property in the ward, and Imperial Palace in the next ward.
There is a police station in front of the property, I saw several police officers walking around.
豊川稲荷 Toyokawa Inari in the white circle.
And right next, there is Inari shrine Toyokawa Inari. Is it for imperial family or? I’m not sure.
Welcome sunshine
Among other tourists, I prayed, bowed, bought incense sticks and dedicated to the place.
Many Japanese won’t think about Gods and Buddha much in our daily life, but if we have a chance we’ll become serious and pray for mostly people we love and care, or pray for ourselves when we have concerns or troubles.
提灯 lanterns
As usual, when I smell incense I think of my dad, and my boyfriend who passed away 21 years ago.
Then bought some rice cracker with tigers pattern, tiger is the Chinese zodiac of coming year 2022, and for my mom’s birth year. She is strong as she was born in the year of tiger.
I walked back to Roppongi station from Akasaka ward, it took me 20-30 minutes. It was a nice walk.
Oh no, it’s already December???
Really looking forward to Osechi dishes for a new year!
Boiled apple 