Japanese urged to remain silent in shops to avoid spreading Covid-19

Audio 01:13

Tokyoites in the streets of the Kabukicho district on January 8, 2021. AFP - BEHROUZ MEHRI

Text by: RFI Follow

4 min

In Japan, the third wave of the epidemic is slow to ebb.

Most businesses are therefore still required to close at 8 p.m.

This is the case with bars and restaurants, in particular.

And, during the day, to avoid turning into a hotbed of infection, they innovate with a somewhat special precautionary measure: they ask their customers to be silent.

Motus and mouth sewn in public, therefore.

At the table but not only: the rule also applies in more and more stores.

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With our correspondent in Tokyo

,

Bruno Duval

Many restaurants in Tokyo are tiny and poorly ventilated because they are located in the basement and therefore have no windows.

This is the case with this downtown snack bar.

Five colleagues take their lunch break there ... without a word.

Here, we can just hear the donuts frying in boiling oil, the rice that the cook rinses to remove the starch.

And customers who crave soba: buckwheat noodles. 

Silence while eating, this is the rule set by the manager.

“ 

I was afraid that my clients would take this instruction badly but, no, in fact: they understand that it is not out of cheerfulness that I impose this on them but to protect them against this damn virus.

 "

We are now also asked to be silent in many shops, sports halls or cinemas.

What does not shock these Tokyoites ...

“ 

This silence imposed everywhere, it makes going out in town with girlfriends less funny, that's clear.

Afterwards, if it is effective in terms of health, we have no choice: we have to get used to it,

 ”said this woman.

" 

As long as this epidemic is not over, our duty to all is to continue to take good care of our health and then also the health of others

 ", confirms this resident of the capital.

Silence is also required - and there, for a year - in public transport.

This has made it possible to avoid clusters in the subways or trains while, despite the epidemic, they are still so crowded, few Japanese being allowed to telecommute.

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• Coronavirus