Raleigh transplant describes life in Japan

A Raleigh man with family ties in the Triangle now makes his home in Japan.

WRAL News reached Chris Nusbaum with the help of Skype. We previously talked with him a couple months ago when he'd just returned back to Japan.

Nusbaum is an English teacher in Tokyo, but not currently working since schools remain closed because of the coronavirus.

Currently, Japan is under a State of Emergency, but is not on any type of lockdown or stay-at-home order.

Nusbaum says, government officials are only encouraging people to practice social distancing and wear masks. He says, some businesses are now offering only take out meals, near where he lives.

Similarly, he says, some people and businesses are taking mitigating steps to stay safe, while others are not, in some neighborhoods.

For his part, he says, he tries to focus on small projects to cope with the pandemic.

"If you focus on like a book, building a model, heck, even a TV show with an end, like something short, you finish something and you're able to continue ... I have a lot of hobbies that involve staying inside," Nusbaum said.

When he does go out, he wants to be able to communicate.

So, one of his hobbies, Nusbaum says, is practicing Japanese. He wants to be fluent in the language.

Japan's State of Emergency is set to expire around May 6th.

Currently, Japan is reporting more than 13,000 coronavirus cases and close to 400 deaths, but officials are saying the number of daily cases is declining.

Nusbaum says, he plans to go out only when necessary.

No word yet on when his and other Schools will reopen in Japan.