Spring has arrived and the cherry blossoms have started to bloom. If only the 新型コロナウイルス (shingata koronauirusu, novel coronavirus) could be as fleeting.

Instead of the usual revelry, authorities are encouraging a 自粛ムード (jishuku mūdo, air of self-restraint) when it comes to this year’s 花見 (hanami, blossom viewing) parties: “飲食を伴う宴会を控えて頂きますようお願いいたします” (“Inshoku o tomonau enkai o hikaete-itadakimasu yō onegai-itashimasu,” “We humbly request that you refrain from parties accompanied by eating and drinking”), was the 要請 (yōsei, request) that came from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, though a few people indulged anyway.

The 自粛 suggestion hasn’t just been for 花見 alone. 大規模なイベントだけではなく、 小規模なイベントの開催もどんどん難しくなっています (Daikibona ibento dake de wa naku, shōkibona ibento no kaisai mo don-don muzukashiku natte-imasu, It has become more difficult to hold not just large-scale events but also small-scale events). That means sports events, graduations and even smaller home parties have to be either 中止 (chūshi, canceled) or 延期 (enki, postponed).