![](https://img.japankuru.com/prg_img/thumbnail1/img2020061118272506846500.jpg)
With the Japanese state of emergency at an end, people are returning to normal life, but the coronavirus outbreak still drags on. These stuffed animals are here to remind us all to stay apart!
The COVID-19 outbreak isn't over, but daily new case numbers are in the double digits, Japan's state of emergency is lifted, and people all over the country are slowly easing back into normal routes. While we all get used to living life in a country recovering from pandemic, however, it looks like the people of Japan need a little help remembering to practice social distancing and stay safe.
Image Source: PR Times
The general consensus is that social distancing is still important as we go back to shopping, eating at restaurants, and all the other fun things we do outside our houses. So most places have been trying to gently remind visitors using simple signs and posters, placed 2 meters (6 ft) apart on the floor or hanging over counters. Clearly, not cute enough for Japan.
Image Source: Izu Shaboten Zoo
Other places have taken on a different strategy, like Forest Animal Restaurant Gibbontei, inside the Izu Shaboten Zoo. Some restaurants have placed fewer chairs at tables, spreading them out so people can eat together but still maintain an extended bubble of personal space. At Gibbontei, they're encouraging the social distancing using… capybaras. Enormous, fluffy, fuzzy, stuffed capybaras.
Image Source: Izu Shaboten Zoo
Thanks to the prodigious size of the capybaras, much larger than their beloved real-life counterparts, it looks like the method is somewhat effective. They create a real physical barrier.
Image Source: Mainichi Shibun
Japanese bank Resona has taken on a similar approach for their banks' lobbies and waiting areas. While normal levels of health and safety might allow for people to sit three-to-a-bench, these are not normal days. But we can all be thankful that Resona decided that instead of boring signs, they would use stuffed toys of their bank mascot to keep people a safe distance apart. Yes, in Japan, banks have adorable mascots.
仕事で色々な銀行に行くのですが、りそな銀行の先客にほっこり☺️
行員さんに許可を取って、他のお客さんの居ない時に撮らせて頂きました📸#密着防止#コロナ対策 pic.twitter.com/wGKyEpNcUh— こうか (@yoxtuka) April 10, 2020
It wasn't even just one bank branch. Twitter user Kouka (@yoxtuka) posted this picture of a Resona bank they'd visited for work, where the lobby had chairs filled with mini-versions of the same mascot toys. In the comments people wrote not only about how they appreciated the effort the bank was making, but also about how cute the little cats were… and how they really wanted some to take home.
Image Source: Joetsu Town Journal
As such a purely adorable, fun way to enforce practical policies, the trend is clearly catching on across Japan. Other banks (like JA Bank above) and facilities of all kinds are using the method to keep people apart, in the best possible way, and it's hard to complain when the policy is both smart and kawaii!
Hopefully we'll all be safe to once again sit and speak normally someday soon, but in the meantime, let us know if you see any other charming ways that Japan is dealing with COVID-19 on the Japankuru twitter, instagram, and facebook.
Details
NAME:COVID-19
PROFILE
Half a lifetime ago I came to Japan for a semester abroad... and I never left. I guess I really like the place! I'd love to hear your Tokyo recommendations via the @Japankuru instagram or twitter (X).
COMMENT
FEATURED MEDIA
VIEW MORESee Kyoto Clearly With Your New Glasses #japankuru #kyoto #jins #교토여행 #진즈 #京都 #교토수족관 #가모가와 #kamogawa #kyotoaquarium
A Very Special Trip on the Ferry Sunflower #japankuru #ferrysunflower #hokkaidotrip #japanexperience #japantrip #girlstrip #oarai #tomakomai #北海道 #北海道旅行 #茨城 #홋가이도 #일본선박여행 #토마코마이 #이바라키 #북해도 #페리여행 #여행에미치다 #여자끼리 #日本渡輪 #sunflower號 #坐船旅行 #日本女子旅 #日本體驗
Japanese Makeup Shopping • A Trip to Kamakura & Enoshima With Canmake’s Cool-Toned Summer Makeup #pr #canmake #enoshima #enoden #에노시마 #캔메이크 #japanesemakeup #japanesecosmetics
⚔️The Robot Restaurant is gone, but the Samurai Restaurant is here to take its place. Check it out, and don't forget your coupon! 🍣신주쿠의 명소 로봇 레스토랑이 사무라이 레스토랑으로 부활! 절찬 쿠폰 발급중 💃18歲以上才能入場的歌舞秀,和你想的不一樣!拿好優惠券去看看~ #tokyo #shinjuku #samurairestaurant #robotrestaurant #tokyotrip #도쿄여행 #신주쿠 #사무라이레스토랑 #이색체험 #할인이벤트 #歌舞伎町 #東京景點 #武士餐廳 #日本表演 #日本文化體驗 #japankuru #japantrip #japantravel #japanlovers #japan_of_insta
Japanese appliance & electronics shopping with our KOJIMA x BicCamera coupon! 用JAPANKURU的KOJIMA x BicCamera優惠券買這些正好❤️ 코지마 x 빅 카메라 쿠폰으로 일본 가전 제품 쇼핑하기 #pr #japankuru #japanshopping #kojima #biccamera #japaneseskincare #yaman #dji #osmopocket3 #skincaredevice #日本購物 #美容儀 #相機 #雅萌 #日本家電 #일본여행 #면세 #여행꿀팁 #일본쇼핑리스트 #쿠폰 #일본쇼핑 #일본브랜드 #할인 #코지마 #빅카메라 #japankurucoupon
Odaiba's DiverCity Tokyo Plaza is home to the famous real-size 20m-tall Unicorn Gundam, and the popular shopping center has even more Gundam on the inside! Check out the Gundam Base Tokyo on the 7th floor for shelves upon shelves of Gunpla, and the Gundam Base Tokyo Annex on the 2nd floor for cool anime merchandise. Both shops have tons of limited-edition items! #pr #odaiba #tokyo #tokyotrip #japantrip #japantravel #PR #divercity #divercitytokyoplaza #tokyoshopping #gundam #unicorngundam #gundambasetokyo #anime #otaku #gunpla #japankuru #오다이바 #다이바시티도쿄 #오다이바건담 #건담 #일본건담 #건프라 #건담베이스도쿄