What a time to come, though! Ports closed, mutant viruses stalking the land, unemployment rocketing, Christmas cancelled, Brexit looming, nothing good on telly, a government whose corruption is rivalled only by its incompetence. Also, it's raining. I hope she has a lovely time, and I'll do what I can to smooth her path, but we may have to rely on the natural optimism of youth a lot.
Meanwhile, she brought - as an omiyage - a packet of official, government-issue masks, as sent to every household in Japan back in the spring.
I don't intend to use them. Rather, they're going into my Corona museum, which is right next to my Reiwa museum from last year - my favourite item from which features a capsule toy with Suga, the current Prime Minister, announcing the name of the brand new era:
