Many government and company employees headed back to their jobs Monday for the first day of work in 2021.
At Kanda Myojin shrine in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, people came to pray for business prosperity, although there were fewer visitors than in usual years.
The president of a construction firm in Chuo Ward, Tokyo, said he visits Kanda Myojin every year with his employees. "I wondered whether we should even come this year, but I decided to visit in a smaller group. I prayed for peace in our society," he said.
Due to the resurgence of the novel coronavirus, many firms and government ministries and agencies decided to livestream their New Year's commencement remarks given by officials, instead of holding in-person ceremonies.
On New Year's Eve, the number of new infections reached 4,520 nationwide and 1,337 in Tokyo, both the highest ever. Since then, about 3,000 infections have been confirmed daily across the nation.
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