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northNew Year’s Day is the biggest holiday on Japan’s calendar, but this year’s holidays have been subdued following record highs in new coronavirus cases across the country and calls from the government to stay home.
Japan’s Emperor Naruhito appealed to the public to work together during the pandemic in a videotaped New Year’s Day address to the nation released on Friday.
“I sincerely hope that everyone can move forward during this difficult time by supporting and helping each other,” he said in the speech, which was released in lieu of an annual public appearance by the imperial family during the New Year holidays. The event was canceled this year due to the pandemic.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga also issued a written statement, promising that he would “protect people’s lives” and vowing to work on “countermeasures against the virus and economic recovery.”
“The Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held this summer,” he added, saying that preparations for the delayed events were underway.
Approximately 3,480 people have died in Japan of around 235,700 cases during the pandemic.
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