On February 2, 2021, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga extended the state of emergency over the COVID-19 pandemic in struggling regions by one month to March 7. Among the 11 of Japan's 47 prefectures currently covered by the state of emergency, Tokyo and neighboring Kanagawa, Chiba, and Saitama prefectures will remain under the declaration, as well as Aichi, Gifu, Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, and Fukuoka prefectures, Suga said at a meeting of the government's COVID-19 task force. Meanwhile, Tochigi Prefecture, located to the capital's north, will be removed from the emergency list as COVID-19 cases have eased in the area.

In the video, locals interviewed by the stringer will talk about their views on the epidemic, what changes have been made in their lives, whether they support government measures and what they think of the COVID-19 vaccine.