Although it is the first time the festival has been held in two years, the number of new cases of COVID-19 in Miyagi Prefecture was 103 yesterday. This is the first time since April 10th that the number has exceeded 100, four months ago, and the infection continues to spread. This unusual festival was held with consideration given to preventing infection. In previous years, 300 Tanabata decorations are lined up in the central shopping district, but this time, the number was drastically reduced to 70. The decorations themselves are so large that they reach just above the ground, and tourists have traditionally walked around by passing through them, but this time they were limited to a height of over two meters. Furthermore, the festival's organizing committee has called for people from outside the prefecture to refrain from visiting the festival.
It is true that the number of people on the shopping street is much lower than before the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is unclear whether the appeal has had any effect. Two stations for temperature checks and hand sanitization have been set up, and security guards were patrolling the area with signs urging people to "wear masks" and "no eating while walking."
Blog writer: A journal of the disaster area coverage by Sendai-based journalist Tadaki Matsudate (former NHK social affairs reporter). The journal, covering the six months from March 11, 2011 to the end of September, was published as a book by Sasaki Publishing in Sendai.
The blog contains interviews and personal notes from October 2011 onwards.
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