New Year's Eve is the most important time of the year for family in any countries. This year, perhaps the most iconic crossing, Shibuya crossing was packed with people celebrating the beginning of another year of pandemic.
According to NHK's report, there were 4,520 people confirmed for COVID-19 on New Year's Eve, which marked the highest number of daily cases since the beginning of pandemic. Hospitals are under the dire situation, which holds 681 severe cases nation widely.
Following the health advices, the imperial Household Agency has announced the cancelation of the event. Emperor Naruhito appealed to the public to work together through the pandemic in a prerecorded video released on Friday.
"In the past year, we have been faced with various difficulties and challenges due to the spread of a new coronavirus, an unknown virus on a scale that most of us living in this age have never experienced before. Many people around the world and in Japan have lost their lives, and I can only imagine the grief of the families who have lost their loved ones."
