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Barbers, 'izakaya,' dept stores, DIY shops to be off Tokyo's closure request list

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For crying out loud, even now they can’t even bring themselves to shut the izakaya?

Japan really is screwed.

63 ( +65 / -2 )

Lockdown? What lockdown? Business as usual for most. Those people are thinking their masks will protect them and if not, oh well. Work has to go on as usual or else it's no paycheck. Bills have to be paid. Oh and forget about using PTO. A girl I know used up her PTO earlier this year due to the flu. She went to work even though she felt unwell. That's not unusual. That's the norm for any Japanese.

26 ( +28 / -2 )

Izakaya, however, will only be allowed to open until around 8 p.m

So we're just going to have more noon-time drunks floating around. None of this makes ANY SENSE AT ALL.

29 ( +30 / -1 )

The Japanese government doesn't want to close down restaurants and Isakaya as they don't want to compensate or help them. Trust me give it a few months and most will go out of business without help.

Their focus as usual is the large corporations run by their friends.

34 ( +34 / -0 )

For crying out loud, even now they can’t even bring themselves to shut the izakaya?

Japan really is screwed.

Agreed. To have declared an SOE and not have decided how it's going to be implemented exactly is ridiculous.

Guys and gals dont wait for the gvt' to decide what to do for you. We all know what we need to do to stay safe.

21 ( +21 / -0 )

Pure comedy.

21 ( +23 / -2 )

So, restaurants are closed but places to consume alcohol are open. ........ ummmmm.....okay?

23 ( +23 / -0 )

Well, I suppose the government thinks it's better for people to drink at the izakaya rather than at home so there won't be any slapping or drunken rants going on. I don't know the rationale for having them open, just guessing based on a couple of articles I read here and elsewhere. It seems like common sense that bars should most definitely be on the non-essential list.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

The country deserves whatever happens to it.

19 ( +24 / -5 )

I was watching the news last night and the report was very straightforward! Abe said that he doesn't want to pay all of these izakaiyas, because then he would have to pay the suppliers, and the workers etc. So basically, its all about money. They are putting the economy ahead of the people. Good luck Tokyo, and Japan, we are going to need it!

22 ( +22 / -0 )

Not taking it seriously

10 ( +10 / -0 )

The 300,000 yen support is only for households that earn 2,500,000 yen or less a year anyway, according to a Japanese friend of mine. When he sends me the link( he showed me last night) I'll post it here.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

to prevent an explosive surge in infections.

oh, is that the new goal? I thought we want to STOP the virus from spreading altogether! One team, one goal, eh!?!?

Japan is going to be the last country (yet again) left fighting this thing while the rest of the world has got their sh*t together. Watch the best passport in the world go down the drains. Anyone who lives here won’t be going anywhere for a long time!

Look at Botswana going into strict lockdown after they went from 6 cases to 13....

look at japan still debating the fate of their drinking establishments. I would be livid if I had school aged kids, schools remain shut a month on yet we allow the bars to continue spreading the virus?

Very mature, Abe, very mature.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Wonderful. anyone who is out on the piest and comes home dead drunk or drunk dead whatever, should be made to cough up and forfeit their entire bank account savings and have it donated to the poor who can't afford to drink with a cutie in a snackbar

3 ( +5 / -2 )

This beggars belief.

we are screwed.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Let's face it, there is no government in Japan. Like so much here, the government is an apparency, a facade. All they do is draw large paychecks and screw the economy. The non-handling of the pandemic is pathetic. There is no sanitiser in the shops and you can't find a mask for love or money! Keeping izakaya open in Tokyo means a social "distancing" of 6mm!

What are we paying taxes for?

25 ( +26 / -1 )

Clearly we can't rely on the government to make sensible choices. It's up to individuals and businesses. I've noticed a few small businesses in my area taking their own initiative to do the right thing. Like coffee shops and restaurants that are open for business, but only for take out or delivery. I'll do what I can to support business like that through these times. On the other hand, local restaurants/izakaya's that choose to operate as normal will loose my business. Not just now, but forever.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Just give bar workers, sex workers, barbers etc. standard welfare (shakai fukushi) and tell them to close for a month. Priority number one must be to flatten the curve.

In regular times, understand that while some of these places may operate as cash businesses and are not reporting every single yen through the door, at least the people are working and not relying on welfare.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Shut. Everything. Down. You. Fools.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Buffoons! The lot of them.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Izakaya, however, will only be allowed to open until around 8 p.m., according to the source.

Because the virus only infects people after 8 p.m.........

Yeah, that makes total sense. (Heavy sarcasm intended)

13 ( +13 / -0 )

Izakaya? Seriously?

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Strange that i just read an article by Time in it's business section by Ian Bremmer, titled :

"What Japan can teach the world about the Pandemic".

And then to come on here moments later and read this.

Most of the modern democracies I know about would think the "lightness" of these measures to be problematic, esp in comparison to the actions taken in their own countries.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

All of you belittling the government for allowing Izakaya to be open must have missed the part where they have to close at 8:00 p.m.

You see, this is the Japanese coronavirus, which doesn’t become contagious until 8:01 p.m. I would have thought that all posters on JT know how special Japan and the Japanese are.

(Yes, complete sarcasm.)

5 ( +9 / -4 )

Ken Holcomb: Damn you! You beat me to it!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Look at Botswana going into strict lockdown after they went from 6 cases to 13....

Not defending Japan or anything but I'm sure if Botswana was an economic power like Japan it would probably be doing the same as Japan.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Is anyone in the right state of mind still going to an "IZAKAYA", soon will close voluntarily.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

FFS

4 ( +5 / -1 )

They can’t close izakayas because nomikais are part of culture and they dont want go stop something so sacred. They say close at 8, but I bet if you go at 7:30, most izakaya will let you stay until 12, they will just not allow new people in.

Japan have absolutely no hope of any meaningful social distancing, combined with restrictive access to testing means Japan is well on its way to claim #1 spot for the disease in 2-3 months.

I wonder how long it will take for the comment section here to be purged. After all, we are only allowed to praise the Japanese government and its glorious leaders. Stricter dissent suppression is likely coming soon.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Many countries around the world have strict distancing measures that are reducing the amount of new cases rapidly. Why can’t Japan adopt these measures instead of just making up ‘they Japanese way’ and dithering around with teams of so-called, ‘experts’.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Just keep yourself safe and let the drunkards get infected.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Ha ha ha... Gotta have those izakayas open! And make sure to get a stylish haircut while you're getting diseased by something that can kill ya.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

The 8PM closing time rule for Izakaya illustrates the weakness of consensus based decision making in Japanese government (which is not unique to Japan, but particularly pronounced here).

The logical thing would be to shut them down completely, but somebody objected to that since it would destroy izakaya businesses. So they reached a compromise that split the difference - they can open but only until 8PM.

The end result is a worst-of-both-worlds rule - its useless in terms of both protecting public health since these places need to shut down immediately, and in terms of propping up izakaya since they probably can't remain profitable while closing that early.

But the purpose of the rule wasn't to actually achieve any real-life changes, but rather to ensure that the people involved in the decision making process got what they wanted.

Sometimes this process works well, but in response to a pandemic its a recipe for disaster.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

In other news, COVID-19 promises to only infect people in Izakayas after 8:00pm, and will also refrain from contact with humans in barbers and department stores.

Utter madness. Nishimura, Abe et al. are absolutely inept.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Look I love IZAKAYA more than the next guy, but allowing them to remain open now.....I just cant find the words for this nonsense!

8 ( +8 / -0 )

What will happen if Tokyo starts to resemble New York? Do the trains still keep running on normal timetable so people can keep going to DIY, Department stores, barber shops and Izakayas whilst the hospitals become overloaded and worse?

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Literally all other viruses: Hey, new guy! Yeah, COVID! Wanna come out with us tonight? We're going izakaya hopping!

Covid: Naw, sorry guys. I can't be out later than 8pm.

Flu A: Awww, sorry dude. That seriously sucks.

Hep: But, hey, no worries! How about this weekend? We're thinking of hitting up some public spots, you know, infecting. Fun, no?

.

.

.

Covid: Yeah. Um, no... can't. Not allowed out on weekends either.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Izakaya's open... Wasn't it at a hospital's trainees nomikai that most got infected the other day? Two were drunk and were kissing, another one was giving food to another one using their barehands, and a different person was washing the trainees feet.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Behold!! Marvel at the glorious incompetence!!

6 ( +6 / -0 )

On what planet are they living? Barbers???? WTF

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Prefectural governors have been calling for state compensation for businesses that may be asked to halt operations, but the Abe administration has so far taken a negative stance toward that.

Abe, please use the money intended for the purchase of the 105 F35 fighter jets to this ongoing war against the virus. The F35 are not needed now.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Cameron

The 300,000 yen support is only for households that earn 2,500,000 yen or less a year anyway, according to a Japanese friend of mine

That is not true and not as simple as your friend states. It is far more complicated.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Barbers are dangerous. I heard the government opposed to Koike who wanted to include barbers but it was opposed by LDP since there are many Soka Gakkai members among barbers.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Regarding the barbers, I hope they will at least stop shaving their clients. I don't see hair cuts as a major problem, assuming they carefully wash and sterilize that "cape" they put over you and all their equipment... on second thought, shut down the barbers and hair dressers...

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Come on guys. You can't possibly ask barbers to close down for a couple of weeks. What are you crazy?!

4 ( +4 / -0 )

The government just gave the OK to have izakaya parties.

I'm sure some people and doctors are happy. haha

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Department stores, outdoor sports facilities and izakaya, or Japanese-style pubs, will also likely be excluded

Can't have our precious golf courses and driving ranges be shut down, can we? None of these oyajis are gonna have to raise their handicap due to this pandemic, no sir.

[Sarcasm, of course. I can't think of anything less essential than golf at this moment. But you'd better believe that these are going to be exempt. I'll be shocked otherwise.]

4 ( +5 / -1 )

So let me get this right - they are saying ‘izakayas, barbers, and home centers can remain open’, and also ‘we urge everyone not to go to izakayas, barbers, and home centers’.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Wow!

Never knew the virus is only active after 8pm.

Before 8pm the virus might still be sleeping

5 ( +5 / -0 )

I don't see how barber shops are essential (no one dies from a lack of hair cuts)...moreover it is a close-contact type of profession...I think it is even more probable to get infected there than in a restaurant (assuming the food/drinks are being handled with high hygiene standards)...

5 ( +5 / -0 )

'The government's policy is that the priority should be to ask residents to stay indoors rather than making closure requests to businesses.'

Please stay home, but also please report to work. It makes no sense.

It is and will selectively make some of us broke while in no way mitigating the spread and strain on the healthcare system.

We can't do this with half measures.

'Prefectural governors have been calling for state compensation for businesses that may be asked to halt operations, but the Abe administration has so far taken a negative stance toward that.'

That stance is going to have to change. The State is going to need to wake up and offer support across the board. The threat of Covid19 is not going to go away after a few weeks.

It will be at least until the end of the year that a vaccine will be ready.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Local Izakaya near me is only open for take-out 5pm-8pm which they are doing from a makeshift counter at their doorway. They did a menu mail drop this morning and they will deliver in our neighborhood. Good job guys, my kids love their karage!

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Simple and probably the only realistic solution is to lock up people's doors like they did in Wuhan.

I fear for how many people will die in Japan otherwise. Not enough hospital beds or ventilators to cope.

It is not such a big sacrifice to stay in your home for 2 months. Just do it! Please.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

There are a lot of izakaya and a lot of impacted workers and suppliers. They need to be able to work do how do we balance their need to work with this? They can’t work from home and it’s unlikely they are the focus of the cash payments from the government.

its not like you are any more likely to get corona at an izakaya then you are at the office or on the train.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Simple and probably the only realistic solution is to lock up people's doors like they did in Wuhan.

Great idea. Then even more people can die of starvation. There has to be a balance but clearly Izakayas do not meet that balance.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

What about dentists ?

If trains still packed enough, totally useless.

Anyway figures from Japanese government shows that new cases and deaths are asked to be more or less what they want.

No deaths here even though hordes of Chinese tourists were here until Februzry. No problem. Everythin'g going to be fine.

Japanese have Avigan, they are mostly type, no one is overweight, diabete is unknown because no sugar style dish and smokers hardly smoke.

Paradise is on Earth and I love Japan (especially my wife and family in law).

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Come on, people... We know full well viruses avoid izakaya and shopping malls because it would be regrettable if they do not, and the virus will cooperate in this case, surely! We also know that everyone will abide by the government's suggestions and stay home when off work, but still ride the packed trains to work, ensuring the virus cooperates there, too.

No, this is what I talked about before: Abe and Co are forcing these places to close of their own volition due to lack of customers and inability to pay staff, etc., and therefore not meeting eligibility to receive assistance. Why else do you think Abe is so insistent the places stay open?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

The Japanese government doesn't want to close down restaurants and Isakaya as they don't want to compensate or help them. Trust me give it a few months and most will go out of business without help.

Agree with you 100%. The restaurants and Isakaya are literally told to fend for themselves and are left high and dry by the government.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Possibly the time of 8 p.m. for closures of 'Izakayas' was decided on to stop people from doing the traditional Izakaya equivalence of 'bar hopping' and suppressing the spread of Covid 19 by keeping patrons at the one establishment? No way near 100% effective, and I still think lockdown is the only way to go.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I'm so confused.

Does the Japanese government want me to Stay At Home or Go Out to an Izakaya?

I'm sorry for the struggling Izakaya owners government doesn't want to give you money.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

So Izakaiya and hairdressers are essential services but schools and kindergartens are not?(?_?)

2 ( +2 / -0 )

What is more unnatural the virus or the virus of ignorance running this clown show? It would be funny if it weren’t so darn dangerous

0 ( +0 / -0 )

A few days ago the government in Hong Kong have decided to close more than 1,200 pubs and bars from today for 2 weeks after 19 locally transmitted convid-19 cases involved visits to bars or pubs.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

CameronToday  07:25 am JST

The 300,000 yen support is only for households that earn 2,500,000 yen or less a year anyway, according to a Japanese friend of mine. When he sends me the link( he showed me last night) I'll post it here.

This is partially correct. The govt has outlined thresholds for tax exemption status (the thresholds are based on how many members are in a household). If your salary falls BELOW that threshold, you will be eligible to receive the subsidy.

The other circumstance requires you to satisfy two criteria:

Between February - June, if any of your monthly earnings drops to 50% or less than that of January or prior month;

That new figure is under 2x that of the tax exemption threshold mentioned above.

All in all it's pretty long-winded as you would expect, and as far as I am aware the govt is still in the process of finalizing the application procedure (you either go to your city ward office, or a link to the Ministry of Health site).

Links (in Japanese only):

https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2020040600345&g=pol

https://venture-finance.jp/archives/28464

0 ( +0 / -0 )

There are no provisions in Japanese law for the establishment of a lockdown or martial law, so it really can't be enacted. But, yeah, the government making a list of "essential services" beyond emergency services and food providers only invites all businesses to find a way to get included in the list.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

cracaphat:

Clearly Koike wimped out in biting the bullet.

Koike's metropolitan plan had a list of about 50 types of business to close, including barbershops, beauty salons, Izakayas, department stores, home centers. The national government opposed the plan and asked Tokyo to cut the number to about 40. The reason for opposition was that no report of incident in those businesses and if Tokyo closes them, the people will travel to neighboring prefectures, spreading viruses.

The end result of negotiations was a compromise. The list is now about 45 types of businesses. Departments and Home Centers are to be closed except for food and daily necessities. Izakaya can be open but till 8pm, serving alcohols only till 7pm. And so on.

Tokyo plan is said to compensate those businesses which decide to close for their loss of revenues.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

What age groups are affected worst by Covid-19?

Whats the average age of Japanese politicians?

Just asking.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

As I’m reading the comments I realize that people just keep on complaining...blah blah blah!!! Nobody is an expert with the current situation. Every nation is doing all the necessary measures and approach to contain the virus. But what we do is keep on complaining!!! Wouldn’t it be better if we think and cooperate on how we can stop the virus from spreading???

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

@James Perry... spot on! You’ve simplified it perfectly. Some people still think they would get this 300,000yen easily but they won’t! As you mentioned the two important criteria’s of tax exempt status ( which basically means having a households salary below 2.1 million yen per year ) and a significant decrease in monthly salary when compared to January. So in reality maybe less than 1% of the population will become eligible by filling in all the requirements. This is just for show because the Japanese Government wanted to save face after the 2 mask per household farce. Japanese people had started to talk about the cash handouts given by other countries! So the Japanese Government announced about their cash handouts but made the criteria so high that majority of people who need it won’t be eligible for it!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

But what we do is keep on complaining!!! Wouldn’t it be better if we think and cooperate on how we can stop the virus from spreading???

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Izakayas? Where people sit closely packed together, weakening their respiratory systems even further with cigarette smoke? Then get on the last train home, picking gyoza out of their teeth and coughing?

Seriously, there is no point to this Emergency Declaration whatsoever.

I would really love to hear a government representative justify this from behind his Abe-issued granny mask.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Wouldn’t it be better if we think and cooperate on how we can stop the virus from spreading???

Cooperate (by staying at home) or complain? Which one? If only we could do both...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

So discussions between Tokyo and Abe J gov reveal J gov wanted to wait 2 weeks before making a decision about - asking businesses to close. FFS what a sorry sad state of an excuse for a gov

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@ maria

yes were complaining about the total tack of logic and common sense being used to try and tackle the virus spreading. If we were seeing practical measures being put into place maybe we wouldn’t be moaning so much and feel more positive about possible outcomes but when we read barbers and pubs are staying open well we weep for the future!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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