I warm to the cool heads being shown by the people of Shanghai

Yokohama became a sister city to Shanghai in 1973, and 14 years later, the Japanese port established an office in the Chinese metropolis to promote exchanges.

In 2005, I studied Chinese language in Beijing and in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, while in February last year I was appointed my company's chief representative in Shanghai.

I had never spent Spring Festival in China, so I was aiming to stay in the city during the holiday this year to enjoy a relatively slower pace of life and have a relaxing time.

But the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak disrupted my plans. Since Lunar New Year's Eve, I've been staying at home and only go out to shop for groceries. As I read magazines and books about Shanghai, I imagine myself strolling the city's streets.

At first, it was hard to stay at home, but I gradually got used to it and started to exercise in the morning, at noon and in the evening to keep fit.

This is the longest time I have ever spent indoors, and I empathize with people in Shanghai and cannot help but admire the public's perseverance in facing this outbreak.

I experienced the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in 2011, so I know the impact of a disaster is not limited to the event itself, but is often followed by possible disruption to water, electricity and gas supplies, and general turmoil.

In Shanghai, I had such concerns at first, but everything has been fine so far, with utility services operating normally, along with public transportation and deliveries.

There was some initial panic buying at supermarkets, but in general, people in Shanghai have remained calm and have not rushed to stock up on supplies. Masks have been distributed to the public.

Since Jan 24, I have received alerts and messages in English and Japanese from the city authorities regarding the disease. These have kept me informed and made me feel safe.

Looking out of the window, I can see that there are few people and vehicles on the streets.

In the evenings, the lights beaming from the apartment buildings remind me that this city is home to millions. People have avoided going out to prevent the virus spreading, and the government and companies have been working hard to keep daily life ticking over. By keeping a cool head, Shanghai is cautiously and thoughtfully meeting the challenge posed by the virus.

Many friends in the city have sent me their best wishes, and asked if they can take me by car to the shops or to other places. Their kind thoughts have warmed me. As a foreigner, I am grateful for the welcome and care shown to me by this city and its people.

On Feb 3, I started working from home, reporting the situation regarding the outbreak to company headquarters in Yokohama every day.

My friends and family in Japan were worried about me when they learned of the virus. Some friends sent me protective supplies and others urged me to return to Japan.

I have told them that I feel Shanghai is just as safe as Japan, and that perhaps the situation in my home country has become more serious.

In the battle against the virus, I don't think we should differentiate between people on grounds of their nationality. The outbreak is a problem being faced by many countries and can only be solved when people work together.

Yokohama has given 10,000 face masks to the Shanghai Charity Foundation, and I helped with the communication work on this donation. The masks arrived on Feb 13.

As a sister city to Shanghai, people in Yokohama want to play their part and overcome the difficulties together. I believe that when they are united, people can win the battle. It's just a matter of time.

Jiayou (stay strong) Shanghai! Jiayou China!

Tomoko Kawashima spoke with Xing Yi.