When I heard the news that there was going to be another 緊急事態 (kinkyū jitai, state of emergency), I got a serious case of 既視感 (kishikan), which is also commonly referred to as デジャブ (dejabu, deja vu).

The first 緊急事態宣言 (kinkyū jitai sengen, state of emergency declaration) was announced last year in April. At first it covered seven prefectures, but was soon extended nationwide for close to two months.

Although it had no legally binding powers, コロナの感染拡大を抑えるのに多少は効果的だった (korona no kansen kakudai o osaeru no ni tashō wa kōkateki datta, it was effective to some extent in being able to contain the spread of COVID-19). Now, in the middle of a 第3波 (dai san-pa, third wave) of the virus, the governors of Tokyo and three neighboring prefectures want to re-establish this method of containment.