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© (Thomson Reuters 2021.
In Tokyo, some drink on despite gov't request for bars to close at 8 p.m.
By Irene Wang and Daniel Leussink TOKYO©2025 GPlusMedia Inc.
106 Comments
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JeffLee
Two words: take out
Pukey2
Or learn to cook.
thepersoniamnow
It isn’t a necessity to go drinking. You can buy stuff from a supermarket etc and then go home and eat it.
But theres also people there and your item has been touched by many people before you.
If your having a drink with someone you would be seeing anyways to talk to, you’re now doing it without a mask, sometimes in close quarters.
It’s also easy to see why someone who has a 1% chance of being hospitalized by covid tries to still live their lives.
Everyone has their own priorities and risk management style so at least its not that you get arrested or anything like that.
Sport events, Schools, Temple Holidays and everyday train and bus rush hour is on! Supermarkets and Shotengais are packed. Theres no government action to support people actually staggering hours or commutes.
Jax
Nobody tells me what I can and cannot do.
Except my wife, that is. Me、being a 恐妻家。
Aly Rustom
In Tokyo, some drink on despite gov't request for bars to close at 8 p.m.
Well of course. That's what happens when the SOE doesn't really mean anything. The gov just urges- nothing more. The schools and other businesses remain open, so its easy to see why the bars will flout the gov's urge.
nostromo
It would also seem you have no sense of responsibility toward your customers....
InspectorGadget
Japan really needs to look at Constitutional reform.
Even in the time of a global pandemic, they cannot force people/businesses to do the right thing (quarantine, close shops, curfews test etc). The old societal norms of following rules and working with the 'group' are slowly giving way to individualism. Asking people to do things is no longer effective.
Toshihiro
Oh I doubt that, I've experienced a nomikai that lasted exactly two hours and was comically punctual like it was a flash mob. I'm not gonna judge those who love to drink and use alcohol as a social lubricant but you know the risks at this present time.
SJ
While their leaders violate their own request, why should do ordinary Japanese obey?
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/12/16/national/suga-coronavirus-party/
dagon
Kazumasa gets it. Drop the mic.
But for the government it will take millions of yen in bureaucratic meetings and subcontracts to Dentsu to come up with a response that will neither contain the virus nor help the majority of people working in the economy.
So drink up! Is a proper response from a public having to deal with this.
Fighto!
Selfish jerks.
Buy a 6-pack of beers for the night and take out food. Its not rocket science.
Garthgoyle
...who couldn't care any less about the current wave of infections.
Or he could try some good old fashioned and healthier (not cup ramen) home cooking. This is a great opportunity to at least improve a bit in those bad habits.
Meiyouwenti
Why do some bars and eateries keep open defying the ban? Because the government’s subsidies are too small. Give them sufficient compensation and they’ll close at 8 pm,
foreignbrotherhoodarmy
They act as if they expected otherwise.
yoshisan88
Some people just too lazy and selfish to change their behaviors.
obladi
It's about money. Just say it. We are staying open to make money.
Garthgoyle
Pathetic lazy people. This guy reminds me of those dates who are a lot of fun with alcohol in their blood but extremely boring when sober. Why not just bringing some booze to the office then, if alcohol is that much needed?
Alan Harrison
I think that the peole listed in this article are a disgrace to Japan.
dan
Mr.Suga does NOT lead by example on this issue..Steak dinner with mates while requesting the ippanjin to stay home..hypocrite!
Chico3
I'm sure we all can relate with one story or another. But to be on topic, there are other alternatives to dining and drinking after 8 pm. No rocket science here. What's more important; having that bevy or your life?
Dman
How hard is it to buy your own food and drinks and consume it at home?
Redbear
"Well of course. That's what happens when the SOE doesn't really mean anything."
But as the article stated:
".... compliance has been high - most of Shimbashi's karaoke bars and izakaya taverns were closed on Friday night"
The vast majority of Japanese are complying with the rules. I wonder why the writer is focusing on a small minority that is not following the rules.
AG
It is clear by now that japanese government’s priority should be strongly encouraging, or even forcing as many other countries are doing, remote working.
If people need to leave their houses, they will be eating meals with other people, as most cannot eat in their offices with takeout.
Until it is mandatory to have a good portion of employees in remote working... nothing will ever change.
dagon
Sounds like the subsidies are working as intended . Those who have the necessary capital to operate an establishment are the ones receiving the funds, while the rest get nothing.
divinda
As other mentioned, 8pm is a ridiculous line in the sand which means nothing.
Just today, lower on the Japan Today website, is a full length promotional "article" for a restaurant/bar in Shinjuku offering their place as a "telework space with all-you-ca-drink wine".
But... but... its OK to have people ride in on the train to fill a restaurant and drink all day (and maybe do some work), as long as you leave by 8pm.
Seriously?
Michael Machida
It is only a REQUEST to close and a REQUEST to not drink at bars after 8;00pm.
carpslidy
I wish more places would open up,
Those who do should be applauded
Pene Dalton
The sooner they rename it the “National 8pm Recommended Curfew” the better.
I must be in the 1% who isn’t henpecked. 99% is a grand claim. Mind you, I suppose 20 years into the marriage and 3 kids later, it must be coming? I’ll have to tell my other mates who are in healthy marriages that we are in the minority apparently.
Moderator
Back on topic please.
fish10
Just approve the damn vaccine and we can be over this in a few months and not worry about what bars are staying open late or who and why are drinking there.
spinningplates
There will always be people who for whatever reason will go against common sense, be oblivious to the greater good, not understand their actions or break curfews (even strictly enforced ones).
But this continuing situation is not on them. Responsibility lies squarely with a Government devoid of leadership, lack of descisive and timely action, and no plan for compensation for the public.
Stronger action sooner would have done less economic damage. The only positive (and well done to the Government on plans to distribute for all, for free) is there is a vaccine coming and studies are showing the vaccines to have success.
kohakuebisu
Instead of going to bars, these people should read Sora News and learn about all the "awesome" and "mouth-watering" food they could buy at Japanese convenience stores.
A financial trader still drinking is par for the course, but someone with an event company must be on the receiving end of Covid-19. If it were me, I'd want it over with ASAP.
AustPaul
This is what happens when you can only ‘urge’. People were asked to do the right thing here initially, unfortunately it’s the minority who didn’t. That’s when you need to rely on legislation and enforcement. Times like these we need to think less for ourselves and more for our community/country.
kohakuebisu
It sounds like the guy is getting the taxpayer money for closing but is still opening.
Susukino
This must be the ever famous Touch You Know Me (立ち飲み) establishment.
cleo
Because it’s that small minority who are spreading the virus with their stupidity and selfishness.
therougou
Yes, but with the state of emergency they can have police out there to strengthen the request, and also name and shame restaurants that don't comply. And anyone that has lived in Japan knows saving face comes before everything.
starpunk
Tokyo is doing a better job than the whole USA. In my hometown bars are open until 10 pm. One got cited for breaking the curfew at 10:15 pm, and there was no distancing and nobody wore masks. Even worse, many of the beer bottles had living insects in them, so that's a major health violation by itself.
And the city of Los Angeles alone has over a million sick.
therougou
They have said they want a 70% cut in commuters, but it's easier said then done. So that is probably why they target the restaurants directly. There are also a lot of people that don't work at all, but go out and drink regularly. For example, the moms/housewives that wear their masks all day long, but then go out to mask-less bars at night. My former neighbor lives with her elderly mom, husband and 2 kids, but continues to go out and drink all the time.
noriahojanen
The policy seems unreasonable as the short of business hours is more likely to form bigger crowds in the floor. Besides, data about the current wave in Japan shows that a large majority of infection cases took place at home. Public places including bars or restaurants, if properly measured, may be able to provide safe asylum.
Full open with enough spaces, clean air and no drink; or full shutdown for now (with financial support; take-away menu option), that would be a workable solution.
Gaijinshogun
The Japanese State of Nothing is having the intended effect then. No enforcement, no compensation for any other business other than restaurants and bars, no real help or push to get businesses to work online and schools continue in full classrooms.
In any case, the proof is in the pudding. If the number of daily cases explode beyond 10,000 and keep rising, then it's back to the meeting room for the king of sit-ups.
Do the hustle
Of course there were still many people out drinking. Tokyoites are well known for their selfishness.
Toasted Heretic
And not all bars and eateries are being compensated, either.
Lazarus Knows
Outrageous.
ooly
"There are many times we need to talk business over drinks. That kind of communication is necessary to do business," said 48-year-old Motoki Mori
Or you could just learn how to say what you really want to say without depending on half a dozen chu-hi or Hoppy. Why does communication in this land have to be so complicated??!
Ricky Kaminski13
The message obviously is simply not getting through, half hearted efforts all around ( chuutohampa is a national art form) , muddled and muddied chains of command and the strategy of leaving it to the diligence of Japanese people may be looking less than air tight. Is what it is I guess. Anyone actually surprised ? Good luck Tokyo, Glad to be out in the sticks.
Kanta
@crapchat
Your acquaintance is in for a rude awakening, then. The subsidies are being paid based on prior months earnings, and the 60,000 yen is the upper limit for the highest earners.
WilliB
The local snack bar near my house is open til 3am as usual. The mamasan says she operates in her own time zone, so the 8pm rule does not apply to her.
Nobody I have met could yet explain to me why this virus suddenly get dangerous at 8pm anyway. We are living in clownworld.
Goodlucktoyou
Stay home. If you go out, wash your hands and social distance. Be free. The people who stay home are safe. People who actually study the lockdown mentality can be free. Just stay home if you are sick, old or have health conditions. So simple.
Kanta
@cracaphat
My sincere apologies for messing up your username in my reply above. That was not intentional.
Sven Asai
That’s not OK in these days, regarding the pandemic dangers. But it’s also very clear, that you can’t forbid them drinking after 8pm while forcing or encouraging them to work from 9 to 5. Allow all or forbid all, that’s the decision that has to be done consequently.
Slayer
This is the exact reason the virus will get much worse before it gets better. The Government has no clue what they're doing, when Suga finally steps up it will be too late.
otherworldly
You cannot train robots, you must re-program them.
Derek Grebe
Tobe's bar was nominally closed, although two regulars were still being served.
And Tobe was doubtless claiming his government subsidy, despite not closing his business. Fraud. Wonder how much the Yak's slice of the 60K is?
Thomas Tank
Bars??? I went to the local super sento bathhouse last night and it was packed! Restaurants there were all open even when I left at around 10:00pm.
El Rata
Why does everyone act surprised? It was obvious that the "friendly request" by the government wasn't going to be taken seriously by the general population.
Everyone is tired of this nonsense and having to change how they live their lives for a virus with a 99%+ recovery rate.
Jsapc
No, you don't. You can talk business on the phone, on Line, on Zoom, by e-mail, on instagram DMs... Nodoby needs to "talk business over drinks", especially when there's a pandemic going on.
El Rata
I do, the best deals are closed over a few ales.
iradickle
Well Im not to keen on having to recover from something in the first place.
El Rata
Keen or not, you will get sick of something and recover a few times during the course of your life, so why the irrational fear over this particular virus?
Aly Rustom
Because all it takes is a few bad apples to ruin the whole batch and spread the disease
Jsapc
Needing to get people drunk to close deals does not exactly shine a favorable light on your skills as a businessman.
Yeah, until you don't recover. Because you're dead. You should ask Ken Shimura or Yuichiro Hata what they thinks about "irrational fear" of this virus. Or 400k americans. Or about 2 million people worldwide.
Mocheake
Yeah, sure, a bond with their money. Let one of them catch the coronavirus and then you have to close down and do a cleaning, etc and I bet you'd change your tune quickly.
William77
The break of the J-government from many people here in Japan doesn’t surprise me at all,I still see everyday many people maskless or wearing them incorrectly,these are the same type of persons that would care little of the others and go drink and eat like the pandemic is just a collective imagination.
This situation reminds me Aso words at the beginning of the pandemic when he stated that Japan's low virus infections and deaths reflect high 'cultural standards.
Empty words full of pride and without approaching the pandemic in a logical way.
Monty
@Vreth
Going to a bar is probably the only enjoyment of their day. What kind of sense does it make to cut that out when they just spent 10-12 hours in a cramped office surrounded by people, plus the packed train to and from work.
Finally someone appears who REALLY understand the japanese mentality and knows how life in Japan is working!
Good post Vreth!
HOstess_in_tokyo
Some of the places closing early hurts some workers that get paid on an hourly rate. Some of those workers depend on those hours every night to be able to keep making ends meet. Not all work can be done remotely. That subsidy does not take into consideration the circumstances for each business.
Raw Beer
Just stay healthy and you can live a normal life, no need for any vaccine. Covid19 is not as deadly as some make it out to be.
Monty
@Sven Asai
you can’t forbid them drinking after 8pm while forcing or encouraging them to work from 9 to 5.
Also a very good point!
And not only from 9 to 5...you know that the Japanese mostly work from 9 to 22.
Vinke
Aly Rustom
In Tokyo, some drink on despite gov't request for bars to close at 8 p.m.
Yup. There's absolutely no leading by example here, either. Nobody on tv wears a mask or keeps their distance - that's exactly what's happening on the streets now as well.
More and more people are either ditching their masks or wearing it under their nose, and 'social distance' is pretty much a mere memory of the past. Stores are not limiting their customer numbers at all, and only a fraction of people are using the hand disinfectant sprays at the entrances.
Lazarus Knows
Why did you go? You should be staying away from places like the sento. I haven't been to my local sento in months. It's been hard, because I love it there, but it's important to put safety first.
It's the vaccine that allows people to be healthy and live a normal life. Covid-19 is deadly enough that everyone should do whatever they can to avoid catching it.
Pukey2
Some men just don't want to go home to their families
virusrex
That runs contrary to the recommendations of the health care experts, and they have the data and studies to support their position, recommending for people to become spreading vectors just because you believe it to be fine is not something a responsible adult should do.
smithinjapan
therougou: "and also name and shame restaurants that don't comply."
Actually, all the places I heard them name openly thanked them for the free advertising; the next day they all had longer line ups, especially the pachinko parlours.
Obake
My husband is exactly the same! On the other hand: if he couldn't go out and drinking anymore I would have to deal with him being home every evening......NOOO!!
cleo
You must live in a different Japan to me and watch different Japanese telly.
Almost everyone I see on the street - very few exceptions, usually people on bikes or walking dogs, and not all of them - are wearing masks, and literally everyone in the shops and other public spaces. (I didn't use to wear a mask when riding my bike, but with the parky weather we've been having lately it's warmer to wear a mask, regardless of Covid).
The TV presenters are normally not wearing masks, but they're usually either alone in the studio, or separated from each other by perspex screens, or sitting/standing apart, or talking to other body on a screen. Granted I don't watch the hit-people-over-the-head-wth-a-rubber-mallet-for-laughs type of programme, so I don't know what they are doing.
I was watching my favourite gardening programme the other day and the two presenters were rubbing shoulders, bending maskless over a plant pot discussing the merits of different potting composts. I wondered what on earth was going on until I saw a message on the screen saying it was a repeat from two years ago. Ah those were the days.
And those who can state categorically from personal experience that it is as deadly as some make it out to be, are no longer able to.
Slayer
foreignbrotherhoodarmy
It’s a load of baloney, and if the numbers of happy carefree people in bars and Izakayas I see every Friday and Saturday night (when I’m out too), are anything to go by then it seems people are finally getting it: if you’re old, already suffering from a respiratory disease, or in any other high risk category then stay home. Otherwise, carry on as normal and enjoy yourself as I and all of my friends are.
Thomas Tank
Work. That's why.
smartacus
I bet a lot of those exclusive members-only bars/clubs are Ginza have stayed open, too. The ones with the 100,000-yen bottles of whiskey where politicians and billionaires hang out.
Seth M
Thankfully Japanese people aren't herded by their government as people everywhere else are!
CommonSense
@fighto!
How is that selfish? If you want to stay home out of fear, stay home. If you want to go eat or drink, then do it.
Is it selfish because we should be responsible for everyone’s health? We should only be responsible for our own health! If you want me to be responsible for your health, I will put you on a treadmill, make you drink green smoothies, take vitamins and minerals to boost your immune system naturally. Meditate/Pray, stop living in fear.
so, do you want me to be responsible for your health now?
Monozuki
Ah, Shimbashi, yes I had been going out Shimbashi for drinks almost everyday until 2010. Now I'm an old guy having difficulty with walking. Yes, I'm now having canned-chuhai with a few nibbles at home. It's good to prevent covid-19 infection. :‑)
Alan Harrison
There are many times we need to talk business over drinks. That kind of communication is necessary to do business,"......
If these people cannot conduct business without a drink, I think that something must be wrong with this business (or possibly these people).
All over the world, millions of people conduct business without needing an alcoholic drink.
If you are teetotal, then perhaps it's best to avoid this business.
kaimycahl
*"There are many times we need to talk business over drinks. That kind of communication is necessary to do business," said 48-year-old Motoki Mori, the owner of an event production company who was headed to a bar with his business partner. "I don't think you can put a cut-off time on that." *Now i understand why Japanese men always use the excuse I was drunk, any kind of effort to them is business as usual!
Peter Neil
This is why Covid-19 is going to be around for years.
If you think we're going "back to normal" any time this year, you're going to be disappointed.
People are still going to be doing the same mask, social distance routine this time next year. Plan on it and adapt.
TARA TAN KITAOKA
There are always selfish people in the world.
coskuri
You are responsible for not jeopardizing other people's health. Whenever you cause a traffic accident, you are responsible for the consequences. It's the same.
You did not choose the rules. So what ? Japan has chosen driving on the left side, you can't decide you prefer driving on the right side. You can't decide you don't do the health rules either.
Designer 02
I suggest these people go volunteer in an ICU for. While, it may adjust their positioning
Aly Rustom
agree Vinke.
shogun36
Well. You can't baby, morons. They have to learn the hard way. You'd think adults would be able to figure this out on their own. Guess not.
Zaphod
Guilty as charged. The local snack mama agrees with me. The idea that this virus suddenly becomes dangerous at 8p is ludicious.
It is just more of clueless govt activism, on the premise that doing "something" no matter how pointless is better than doing nothing.
Zaphod
Peter Neil
No, this is what viruses do. What the J government does or does not has no affect on it. The virus will become endemic and less harmful as time passes, as happened with every virus before and will happen with every virus after.
Wolfpack
Good point. Still waiting on Big Brothers “science” on that.