Restaurant operator Skylark to end 24-hour operations by April

Very wise. No point in paying people to staff an empty restaurant.

Good. I do not see the point to open 24 hours, except maybe for the entertainment nightlife districts.

Labor shortage is always the selling point but most of places do not make money in the middle of the night.

Its starting.

No more bumming at Gusto in the late hours.

When the world's population starts to decline after 2050 this contraction in business activity will happen everywhere.

When the world's population starts to decline after 2050 this contraction in business activity will happen everywhere.

according to some, it may start even sooner, although japan is just the canary in the colemine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYZPTaV-RcQ

sorry canary in the coal mine.

All night diners in the cities I've lived in will always have a special place in my heart.

Good for Skylark. Weve had many wonderful meals there, however I prefer Saizeria. There simply is not enough demand for late night dining. I dont understand how some are portraying this as a "bad economic sign" for Japan. Its simply a smart business move.

These places put themselves in this position and it shouldn't be a surprise that people are not staying out as late as they used to in the past.

This is also do to a lack in wages rising as people have less extra money for entertainment and corporations dont pay for the nights out on the town like they once did.

Here is another effect of Abenomics, like it or not!

well said Yubaru

XamoToday 11:57 am JST

All night diners in the cities I've lived in will always have a special place in my heart.

I join you there, those places always had something special for me, maybe because they can provide an anonymous, restful and peaceful meal after a tough night, or a place to chat, eat light stuff with ones friends until dawn.

Is it nostalgia as I don't go there much anymore ...

"This is also do to a lack in wages rising as people have less extra money for entertainment and corporations dont pay for the nights out on the town like they once did.

Here is another effect of Abenomics, like it or not!"

Yeah right, but they have the money to go to Hawaii, but they don't have the money to buy a meal at Skylarks at 3:30 am?

this is fine and normal in a falling population

I dont understand how some are portraying this as a "bad economic sign" for Japan. Its simply a smart business move.

The article clearly stated the reasons for the reduced hours were:

Skylark joins major convenience store operators in cutting back operating hours to address a labor crunch amid Japan's graying population. The restaurant, retail, construction and logistics sectors are among those facing serious labor shortages.

and as you stated: simply a smart business move. and your right;

the article stated the following:

to focus its personnel resources more on lunch and dinner time services.

The times where most people eat out and hence were most the money can be made.

but they understand those concepts. It is too hard for them

A couple of years ago on this site there was a similar story about how a lot of Sukiya restaurants were closing shop precisely because of the labour shortage. It wasn't that there wasn't demand. It was just that the stores couldn't find staff so they closed down. There was another article here a few months back saying that the convenience stores like skylark were scaling back their operations. This is not only in the food and convenience store industry, but also alot of other blue collar jobs are feeling the squeeze. Drivers in particular are in extreme shortage. construction is another one. I worked in both those industries and the shortage is pretty severe. So this is by no means an isolated problem.

All night diners in the cities I've lived in will always have a special place in my heart

Me too! Lots of fond memories are made in the wee hours of the morning. Yoshinoya in Harajuku (may be not 24 hrs) is a dependable late night cheap eats for me.

Fighto!Jan. 21  12:07 pm JST

Weve had many wonderful meals there, however I prefer Saizeria.

Gourmet!!!

I dont understand how some are portraying this as a "bad economic sign" for Japan.

But when someone pays a gazillion Yen for a piece of fruit or one crab, you say it's a sign that “the economy is ticking along nicely.”