July came. I was already adjusted to new daily routine, both at office and at home. The office was always quiet and looked empty, with only one third of us were on a shift. Some people only turn up at office half a day in a month, due to the company's instruction to use up this year's paid holiday. We were supposed to be bracing up for busy winter period. Because the company expected that once the business return in winter, we would be too busy and no one couldn afford to take any day off.
We started to cancel business scheduled in autumn. Anxiety begun spread among us, as the business was estimated to pick up from autumn onward.
Our CEO was constantly in touch with employees, trying to convey his principle to keep the employment. However, rumour continued to spread about possible closure of some of the branch offices. All we could do was wait and see if the corona infection will cease, or at least remain at low level after the lockdown in almost all over the world.
Europe seemed doing fairly good after the lockdown, with many tourists started to enjoy their early holiday within the EU bloc. India also made excellent progress after the strict lockdown. People begun to move, businesses slowly resumed.
Looking back, I was still underestimated corona virus. As people in Europe started their early holiday, I was hoping that local businesses will go back to normal, with people visiting shops and restaurant under new normal. I hoped the situation will continue to improve. However the words “second wave” lurking at the back of my mind.
On the way home at a train station in Tokyo, I found Bamboos decorated with paper slips and paper garlands. It was Tanabata season.
Tanabata is one of the summer festival in Japan. Legend has it that the two deities- a weaver princess Orihime and a cowherd Hikoboshi, separated by the Milky Way, will meet once a year on 7th July. It is originated from Chinese legend, and is quite popular festival here. Children enjoy decorating bamboo with paper slips with their wishes written on them.
More on the festival : “Tanabata” (Star Festival) | Nippon.com
I took a closer look on the bamboo. Looks like local primary school took part in the decoration. Children were making wish for the speedy recovery from Covid situation and the return of a peace in all over the world. I could not agree more.
It was impressing to see how the school have managed to decorate the bamboo, with their school might be closed during the state of emergency. I was glad to see the young people’s wishes for the return of peaceful world.
The coming of July tells the beginning of summer. At shops and supermarkets, large shelves were somehow dedicated to lemon vodka fizz.
Lemon vodka fizz (Lemon Sour in Japanese ) are popular cocktail enjoyed throughout the year either at Izakaya (Japanese pub) or at home. They are made of lemon juice, vodka or sho-chu liquor and soda, extremely refreshing when served with ice.
Somehow that summer of 2020, beverage companies were widely promoting variety of this canned fizzy drink. Shelves of supermarkets were filled with variety of canned lemon vodka fizz. Makers like Kirin is selling lemon vodka fizz throughout year. However, even the makers known for their beer, like Sapporo, or imported food stores KALDI have entered the fierce competition. Here are some that I enjoyed in 2020. I loved the one by Sapporo, with rich taste of juicy lemon.
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