Since completing the text of this book and readying it for publication, much of the world — including Japan — has gone into lockdown or otherwise been seriously affected by the terrifying COVID-19 coronavirus.

One of its countless consequences is the postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, which were scheduled to take place between July and September this year, as mentioned in Part V. They have now been postponed until 2021.

As in many other countries, Japan's social life, public health and economy are being seriously disrupted by this pandemic, and its end is not yet in sight.

We can only hope that a cure will be found before long so that life can go back to normal.