With more countries and cities asking their residents to stay home, people across the globe are getting creative with how they spend their time indoors, as well as how they care for and stay connected with their loved ones. The same is being done in Japan, where the state of emergency has just been extended to the entire nation, as opposed to just seven prefectures previously, in view of the current COVID-19 situation.
Even local celebrities are finding new ways to connect with their fans. Popular Japanese comedian Naomi Watanabe started eating dinner "together" with her followers recently through her YouTube live broadcasts so even those staying by themselves don’t have to feel alone. Kimura Takuya demonstrated how he washes his hands to encourage everyone to do the same. Read on to learn more about the creative ways Japanese people are spending their time indoors.
Doing a version of Uchi de Odorou
Hoshino Gen’s Uchi de Odorou
Hoshino Gen, the singer behind chart-toppers Sun and Koi, wrote a song during his time at home and released it on both his YouTube channel and Instagram account. Imploring everyone to dance and sing at home, this song speaks of how music bonds everyone, and that we’ll be able to meet again (physically) someday. He also shared the sheet music for this song, encouraging others to post their rendition of it.
Within just a few days, several artists have posted their versions of their "collaboration" with Hoshino, including GLAY’s Hisashi and singer-actress Takahata Mitsuki. For more of these, head over to Hoshino’s Instagram, where he has story highlights featuring various mixes, illustrations, dances and more.
Drawing an amabie
Artist Murakami Takashi’s version of the amabie
The Japanese have looked to and revived an old Japanese legend through social media. Amabie, an illustration of a half fish, half human yokai (Japanese supernatural being, monster or spirit) who is said to have made prophecies about upcoming harvests and diseases was first recorded on an engraving from the Edo era. People were told to draw a picture of the amabie and show it to everyone in the event of an epidemic, and this is exactly what the Japanese are doing. Check out the different versions of amabie on Twitter and Instagram, or try creating a version of your own.