The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun
Tokyo restaurants fear collapse
Central Tokyo eateries were divided on the first day of the metropolitan government’s reissuing of requests for restaurants and bars to close by 10 p.m. due to a rise in coronavirus infections.
While some businesses had closed early on Aug. 3, others continued serving customers late into the night.
Izakaya Hariya in Sumida Ward, Tokyo, had a sign indicating that it was closing at 10 p.m. instead of 11:30 p.m. The eatery resumed business in June after the government fully lifted the state of emergency on May 25.
Owner Miyuki Shoji, 51, who said the number of customers had been picking up recently, has decided to comply with the metropolitan government’s request.
“If this situation continues, I fear people may feel that they should completely avoid going to izakaya eateries,” Shoji said.
“I can still enjoy coming here if it closes at 10 p.m., but the flow of customers differs among izakaya. I doubt it’s appropriate to make all of them close at 10 p.m,” said a 57-yearold diner at the izakaya.
Such businesses as restaurants, bars and karaoke clubs in Tokyo are being asked to shorten their hours and close at 10 p.m. through Aug. 31. It is estimated that about 40,000 establishments are affected by the request.
The metropolitan government is providing ¥200,000 in cash to each business that complies, and businesses also have to display stickers indicating that they are complying with the metropolitan government’s guidelines to prevent infections.
Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike has asked both businesses and customers to cooperate on the measures to prevent infections spreading further.
More than a few nightlife businesses in the Akasaka area of Minato Ward, Tokyo, were open after 10 p.m. on Aug. 3, but many had closed.
“More than 70% of sales in this bar are earned from customers who come after 10 p.m. The shortening of business hours is no different from telling me, ‘Please go bankrupt,’” said the manager of a bar in the area.
To supplement a decline in sales, the bar has also opened during lunchtime since June. Despite the effort, monthly sales are about ¥2 million, about half what they were before the pandemic.
“Even if I receive the cash payout for cooperation, it’s only worth the salary of one part-time worker. To protect this bar and its employees, I have no choice but to stay open [beyond 10 p.m.],” the bar manager said.