People in Tokyo and four other prefectures cautiously embraced a return to a sense of normalcy Tuesday, a day after the central government lifted the state of emergency, a move that is expected to see the reopening of schools, shopping malls, restaurants and other businesses.
But some voiced concern that the end of the state of emergency seven weeks after it was initially declared in early April could trigger another wave of infections, calling for measures to prevent the spread of the virus to remain in place.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday ended the state of emergency for Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama and Hokkaido, after it was lifted for the rest of the country earlier this month.