The fourth state of emergency! Akihabara on July 12, 2021

2021年4月25日に発令され2021年5月31日に終わった3度目の緊急事態宣言であったが、それもつかの間、2021年7月12日より4度目の緊急事態宣言が発令された。
This announcement comes just before the long weekend next week, so what is the situation like in Akihabara?
We will report on the situation on July 12, 2021, the day the declaration was issued.

Akihabara under the fourth state of emergency

Are the crowds…more than before?

Akihabara Station Electric Town Exit.
It's probably not the same here as usual.

There were only a few people on Chuo Street.
It even seems a little much for a Monday.
Perhaps the increased activity was due to the sunny day after a period of rain.

Junk Street also seemed bustling for a weekday.
I wonder if people who shifted their holiday breaks this month are coming to visit?

Restaurants continue to operate on reduced hours

With the declaration of the fourth state of emergency, restaurants will continue to operate on shortened hours.
Sambo, a beef bowl restaurant on Junk Street, is also open from 11:30 to 17:30.

Tenant signs in buildings that house many restaurants, such as "HULIC & New AKIHABARA" and "BiTO AKIBA," are overloaded with information, with signs announcing shortened hours and closures.

Karaoke Big Echo Akihabara Showadoriguchi Ekimae Branch is closed.
I haven't been to karaoke even once since the coronavirus outbreak...

Restaurants in the station building "Atre Akihabara 2" on the Showa-dori side of JR Akihabara Station will also be shortening their hours or closing.

Atre Akihabara 1, the station building on the Electric Town side of JR Akihabara Station, will shorten its opening hours to 20:00 p.m.

Stores that were closed during the previous declaration are now open

Hey, the game center on Chuo Street, was closed during the last state of emergency, but is open this time.

The AKIBA Cultures Zone store, which was closed last time, was also open.

During the last state of emergencyMost stores at Atre Akihabara 1 were closed, but they were open, albeit on a reduced schedule.
Restaurants were also bustling at lunchtime.

The third state of emergency was declared during the Shinymas collaboration, and the latest state of emergency was declared during the Millionaires' Mas collaboration, making it the second state of emergency to be declared during a collaboration between Atre Akihabara and an iM@S-related event...

Most of the restaurants in Akihabara UDX are also open.
Even during the state of emergency, it seems there will be no problem finding lunch in Akihabara.

The maximum temperature is 31 degrees, it's completely summer

On this day, July 12, 2021, the highest temperature in Tokyo was 31.6°C, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Two days earlier, on the 10th, the temperature had reached 33.4°C, and it was now fully summer.
In the intense sunlight, there were few people relaxing at Rensei Park.

Mist has begun to be sprayed on the skywalk at Akihabara UDX.
Am I the only one who feels that summer has arrived when I see this?
Maybe it's about to become a seasonal word?

Mist was also sprayed at Kanda Myojin Shrine.

Akari from Kanda Myojin is on vacation. pic.twitter.com/hfKsAsQvFb

— Akihabara Base Camp (@akihabara_bc) July 12, 2021

By the way, Akari-chan, the sacred horse of Kanda Myojin Shrine, has been on vacation since late June.
He will be back around September.

Several Akihabara stores are undergoing renovations or relocations

The first floor of "AKIHABARA Gamers Main Store" is currently undergoing renovations.
The wall covering the entrance is a bit shocking, but the store is still open and renovations are scheduled to be completed on July 21st.
The magazines and comics that were sold on the first floor are now on sale on the second floor.

The One up. Akihabara Cultures Zone store, which sold soft vinyl figures, has moved. A new store will soon open in the Tamajin Building near Iwamotocho Station. pic.twitter.com/ATMvAtVmAF

— Akihabara Base Camp (@akihabara_bc) July 12, 2021

One up. AKIBA Cultures Zone store, which was located on the third floor of AKIBA Cultures Zone, has moved to Tamajin Building, just across the Kanda River.

GoGo Curry Akihabara 1st store will be closed until July 19th due to renovations. pic.twitter.com/MXUW46bLJW

— Akihabara Base Camp (@akihabara_bc) July 12, 2021

GoGo Curry Akihabara 1st store, located near the Showa-dori exit of Akihabara Station, is currently closed for renovations.

The fourth state of emergency declaration shows signs of becoming accustomed to it

This is the fourth state of emergency declaration, and perhaps people have become accustomed to it, with fewer stores closed.
Especially last yearWhen the first state of emergency was declaredLast year, the entire Akihabara Radio Kaikan and Nikuno Mansei closed, and all game centers were closed, which had a huge impact, but this time there were no major changes.
It appears that many stores have continued to operate with shortened hours, as if they have seamlessly transitioned from the priority measures for preventing the spread of infection that were in place after the third declaration to the fourth declaration.
However, the state of emergency declaration will make it difficult to hold events, which will be a blow to Akihabara as it approaches the long weekend and summer vacation season.
I hope that the coronavirus will end as soon as possible.