As Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike likes to remind us, we should be spending our summer trying to get on top of COVID-19 infections.
As a result, residents of the capital are scrambling to salvage what they can from a vacation period in which attempts at traveling, visiting relatives or catching up with friends all risk becoming targets of scrutiny and criticism.
In times of such uncertainty, what can be done? According to photographs posted on social media, people have indulged in a wide range of luxurious goods at home in an attempt to console themselves. For instance, some are buying regional delicacies online (sea urchin, oysters and crab top the list) and are getting them delivered right to their front door. Others have invested in personal camping equipment, heading to the nearest park with gourmet dishes from a department store stashed in a cooler box.