The extension of the state of emergency has raised concerns at restaurants and tourist destinations that have already been significantly affected.
The yakiniku chain is ...
The store in Akasaka, Tokyo, which is a yakiniku chain "Gyu-Kaku" operated by the restaurant giant Colowide, was originally open until midnight, and most of the sales were at night, so the business hours were changed in the afternoon in response to a request accompanying a state of emergency. The shortening by 8 o'clock has hit the management hard.
While the effects of the new coronavirus are protracted, this store will be open during the day, such as extending business hours by eliminating breaks between lunch and night, and starting new take-out sales. I have strengthened it.
However, as the number of people commuting to offices around Akasaka decreased due to the state of emergency declared last month, daytime sales also fell, and if the declaration is extended by one month this time, it will inevitably have a further impact. I am concerned.
Yuhei Yasuda of Rains International, who runs the chain, said, "The situation has been severe so far, and if the declaration is extended, the business side will become even more difficult, but I would like to respond to requests to prevent the spread of infection. I want to work on new things during the business hours. "
The karaoke chain is ...
Since the emergency declaration was issued last month, sales of "Karaoke Manekineko", which has more than 500 stores nationwide, have decreased by about 60% compared to the same period last year.
Most stores in this chain are open 24 hours a day, and sales after 6:00 pm, which set prices higher than during the day, accounted for a large proportion, but since the declaration, 8:00 pm in target areas such as Tokyo It has been hit hard because it is closed.
The company is increasing the number of small private rooms for customers who use karaoke with one or two people in order to secure sales, and a room where the computer screen can be displayed on the monitor so that it can also be used as an office for remote work. We are also launching new measures such as setting up.
In addition, we are strengthening infection prevention measures such as installing ventilation openings in each room and setting up a hand-washing area at the entrance of the store, but the company accepts that the extension of the declaration will continue to make the situation even more difficult.
Hitomi Baba of the General Affairs Department of Karaoke Manekineko said, "It will be difficult if the declaration is extended because the situation is very severe. We have to endure to survive for customers who are looking forward to karaoke." I'm talking.
Liquor wholesale companies
A liquor wholesaler that has been in Shinjuku, Tokyo for over 100 years, usually delivers liquor to about 3,000 locations, including restaurants and hotels in and around Tokyo.
However, on the 2nd, many trucks were still waiting at the base, and the trucks that finally left for Ginza were sparsely loaded with sake and shochu.
According to President Minoru Sasaki, sales in April and May last year dropped sharply from 20% to 30% in the same month of the previous year, and although they recovered to 80% in October, they were 5 in December. On the other hand, last month it was only about 30%, which means that management continues to deteriorate.
On the 12th of last month, the government shortened the business hours of its business partners' restaurants, so sales of last month or this month decreased by more than 50% compared to the same month of last year, up to 400,000 yen for small and medium-sized enterprises. It has been revealed that a lump sum payment of up to 200,000 yen will be paid to business owners.
However, President Sasaki said that the liquor wholesale business as a whole is far short of a lump sum of hundreds of thousands of yen, and that further support is needed in a form that suits the scale of the business.
Minoru Sasaki, president of "Sasaki Hotel," said, "I have the pride that it plays an important role in delivering and circulating things like capillaries all over Japan, so it's hard but I have to endure it. I think this is my last chance. If we don't end up with an extension of, the company itself, or the industry as a whole, could disappear. "
Kanagawa Hakone souvenir shop
In Hakone Town, one of the leading tourist destinations in Kanagawa Prefecture, the number of tourists has decreased and many stores are temporarily closed. From the person who runs the store, "It is business-wise that this state with few customers continues on weekdays. Is even tougher. "
The shopping street in front of Hakone Yumoto Station, which is known as the gateway to Hakone, has been in a low-crowded situation since the state of emergency was declared last month, and tourists were sparse on the afternoon of the 2nd.
In the shopping district, many restaurants and souvenir shops have been temporarily closed since the state of emergency was declared, while others have low sales but continue to operate.
Of these, the man who is the manager of the souvenir shop said, "I think there is no choice but to extend the declaration. We are opening the shop for customers who come even a little, even if it is in the red. There are few customers on weekdays. Therefore, it is even more difficult for the store to continue in this state. "
In addition, a male bun shop clerk said, "The impact of extending the declaration is quite big, but I think it's time to put up with it. I'm still in business because I don't want to show the lonely Hakone, but the customer Since the number is small, we are reducing the production of buns and doing minimal sales. "
Even though it's the season for Kyoto Kyotango crab ...
Accommodations in Kyotango City, in the northern part of Kyoto Prefecture, are raising concerns that guests may not be expected during the crab season at the time of scraping, which may have a serious impact on management.
Kyotango City in the northern part of Kyoto Prefecture is visited by many customers from Keihanshin and Tokyo every year during the season to taste the winter taste crab of the Sea of Japan.
At "Plaza Hotel and Restaurant" in the city, which has received such customers, reservations for December last year and last month, which were almost filled with the suspension of "Go To Travel," were canceled by about 40%.
If the state of emergency is extended, the number of cancellations will increase, raising concerns that it could have a serious impact on future management.
Tomoko Tanaka of Okami said, "Crab fishing will end on the 20th of next month, so if it is extended for a month, the management of a seaside inn where crabs are all profitable will be ruined." Was there.
For the time being, the hotel has begun selling a set of crab shabu-shabu online so that guests can enjoy seasonal crabs at home in order to supplement their profits as much as possible.
Mr. Tanaka said, "I am doing my best to do what I can do now. I hope that my family will enjoy the taste of the product while taking measures against corona. I have no choice but to come when the infection is over. I'm very happy. "
Gifu Takayama Many stores are closed
In Takayama City, one of the leading tourist destinations in Gifu Prefecture, people who run stores for tourists have heard uncertainties and calls for support.
In the old townscape in the center of Takayama city, which retains the atmosphere of the Edo period, many shops are closed due to the declaration of an emergency, and tourists walking along the street are hardly seen and it is quiet.
Yuka Moriichi, a store manager who sells miscellaneous goods to tourists, said, "The extension is strict, but there is no choice but to prevent the spread of infection. I am opening the store hoping that I will have even a little income rather than zero income. Each person has no choice but to work hard to prevent infection so that the declaration can be lifted as soon as possible. "
In addition, Masaaki Hashimoto, the store manager who sells hand-baked rice crackers, said, "The flow of people has stopped since mid-December due to the suspension of Go To Travel and the declaration of emergency, and it is difficult to keep the store alive if it stops for another month. However, in the tourism industry, business is established by having people come. If administrative measures are taken to stop the flow of people, I would like you to support not only the restaurants but also the tourism industry as a whole. " It was.
In Utsunomiya to be released
Various voices were heard in the downtown area of central Utsunomiya about the government's decision to lift the state of emergency in Tochigi Prefecture.
A woman in her 70s who teaches in a lesson class for middle-aged and older people said, "I was absent from the classroom, but if I and my students stayed at home for a month, they would get sick, so the declaration was canceled. I'm happy. "
A man in his 40s working at an izakaya said, "I'm relieved to cancel the declaration, but I'm worried that the number of customers will not return immediately. I hope sales will return soon."
A 19-year-old vocational school man said, "I was lonely because I couldn't play with my friends, but I'm afraid that I'll be infected with the virus and pass it on to my family, so I'd like to stay home without going out."
In addition, a man in his 60s said, "I hear that the beds in medical institutions are not yet fully vacant and there are many seriously ill people, so I think it is still early to release. I will continue to spend my time at the stay home." I was talking.