"Evening red light district" 19:45 on April 3
As the spread of the new coronavirus spreads, people are shouting out at night, and support groups for women working in the customs industry are seeing a sharp increase in consultations calling for poverty in their lives. A support group said, "I hope that society can better understand the serious plight of those who work in the customs industry and receive appropriate support."
Kaze Terrace, a support organization made up of lawyers and social workers, accepts consultations from women working in the customs industry via SNS and e-mail, but the number of consultations has surged with the spread of the new coronavirus infection. The number of consultations from February to February 2 was 321.
Most of the consultations received complained of poor living, such as "I can't pay my rent, living expenses, and medical expenses, with almost no salary for two weeks." It is difficult to deposit and I can hardly work. I am cornered because I have no other way to earn income. "
According to support groups, it is estimated that more than 300,000 women work at sex shops around the country, but these women have been forced to take time off work due to temporary school closures. Such as, employment-related subsidies are not eligible to be paid.
`` Kaze Terrace '' founder Shingo Sakazume said, `` The job of the customs industry was to include those who had fallen from the welfare net in the gray zone, but due to the spread of infection, the foundation of such a living was suddenly I want society to deepen our understanding of the serious plight that there are so many people that we can't make a living without 10,000 or 20,000 yen at hand and to receive appropriate support right away. "
Women working in cabaret clubs
The spread of the new coronavirus has seriously affected the lives of women working in the red-light district at night.
A 36-year-old woman working at a cabaret store in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
The woman registered at a cabaret store referral company and worked more than five days a week, dispatched to a store with few hostesses.
However, work began to decrease in late February when the infection spread, and last month's salary dropped to about one-third of the previous month.
The woman suffered from depression two years ago and was unable to work as expected, so her savings were low, and she paid almost 65,000 yen for rent last month, leaving her with almost no living expenses.
Furthermore, at the end of last month, since Governor Koike of Tokyo called for self-restraint for the time being to go out at night and go to `` restaurants with entertainment '', the work further decreased, and this month's work has been completely eliminated. is.
She says that when she was young, she left her home after being abused by her parents.
Women working at cabaret stores are not eligible for compensation for leave of absence, so women who are forced to take leave or lose their jobs can borrow up to 200,000 yen without interest at `` emergency small funds '' We are going to use this system to cover our immediate living expenses.
The woman said, "Some people have a certain situation and can work only in the night world, and suddenly" self-restraint "causes many people to get stuck in their lives. If you don't, you won't even be able to pay rent or phone bills. "
Shinjuku Kabukicho is Japan's largest entertainment district
Shinjuku Kabukicho, Japan's largest entertainment district, is beginning to lose its customers.
According to the Kabukicho Shopping District Promotion Association, the number of foreign tourists has gradually decreased since January, and since late last month, Governor Koike of Tokyo has called for self-restraint at night. In addition, the number of customers, such as office workers on the way home from work, has been significantly reduced.
In Kabukicho, there are many cabaret clubs and sex shops that are required to refrain from entering and leaving, but men at the “free information desk” that introduces customers to shops such as `` cabaret clubs that are closed from this month The number of stores has increased, and about one-third has closed. "
On the night of the 2nd, we could hardly see any barkers or scouts standing in the store.
Motokazu Sugiyama, Vice-President of Kabukicho Shopping District Promotion Association, said, "The impression that visitors to Kabukicho are 60 to 70% less than usual, and the town has become clearly lonely since last weekend. If you can, you can close the store drastically, but there are many stores that are originally weak, and if you close, you will not be able to resume business because the funds will not continue and you will not be able to resume business. I don't have the optimism that the storm will pass, and I'd like the government to respond after the convergence. "
Faced with management crisis
Amid growing movements to refrain from going out at night, some snacks in Tokyo are facing a business crisis due to a lack of customers.
Fumie Takada (73), who has a snack in Nakano-ku, Tokyo, has been working with his son, Goji (44), on the 2nd of the 29th anniversary of the store's opening.
However, sales have dropped sharply since mid-February with the spread of the new coronavirus, and sales last month were halved.
Inside the store, we are thoroughly disinfecting alcohol such as tables and karaoke microphones, wearing masks, and taking measures to keep customers away from customers. It has been said that customers were almost completely cut off after being called on to refrain from entering and leaving restaurants.
This has led to difficulties in paying rent for stores and rental of karaoke, and it has also become difficult to pay rent for apartments where Mr. Takada lives with her husband and Mr. Goji. .
Mr. Takada said, "I was able to pay the last month's rent, but from this month I feel like what I should do. If my family can eat and pay properly, I have continued to operate as if it were fine But this time, I haven't even left it. I've been doing my best for 28 years and I don't want to fold the store. But if I can't pay my rent, I can't help but defend. I said.
Mr. Goji said, `` It's not everyone's fault, we have to survive all together, but I think that everyone who is involved in the water business is keen to want to compensate for the loss. '' I was