The Japanese government has announced the 緊急事態宣言の解除 (kinkyū jitai sengen no kaijo, lifting of the state of emergency) across the country, which means many people can technically go back to work.

However, this 解除 (kaijo, lifting/cancellation) doesn't mean that people in Japan are ready to return to life as it was before.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe described where we are now as the “コロナ時代の新たな日常” ("korona jidai no aratana nichijō," "new daily life in the era of the coronavirus"). His words were not marked with the same jubilation of the 令和時代 (Reiwa Jidai, Reiwa Era), which began a year ago this month, and people seem uncertain as to what this 新たな日常 (aratana nichijō, lit., new everyday) — or "new normal" — will entail.