Japan Restaurant Challenges: People's Lives and Hopes?

 https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20201126/p2a/00m/0na/005000c

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TOKYO -- In response to the surge once again of coronavirus cases in the Japanese capital, Gov. Yuriko Koike  on Nov. 25 issued another request to eateries here to shorten their business hours.

While some restaurant proprietors lamented that they were being forced to make sacrifices again, or that they could no longer tolerate such measures, others racked their brains over whether or not they should follow the governor's request.

On the evening of Nov. 25 at the restaurant Shimbashi Yukun Sakagura, staff were disinfecting acrylic shields and tables.

The 76-year-old proprietor, Yoko Matsunaga, said of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's request, "If we don't follow it, we will be given looks of disapproval. Considering the public sentiment, I have no choice but to abide."

Ideas and Commentary:

All governments globally are in a dilemma; how to control the virus situation without causing harm to the economy, or how to keep businesses open and the hope of those who work in places that the government wants to see take more caution such as the closing of restaurants early and other places.

Most likely most business know and understand the present situation but that doesn't make it easier to implement the needed demands such as in Tokyo. 

As Matsunaga states if we don't follow the suggestions of what the Tokyo government wants it might look negatively on our business.

Its a catch 22 situation. If they follow the suggestions exactly how much in revenue or sales will they lose. If they don't what are the consequences exactly?

Article:

However, that does not mean Matsunaga does not feel discontent. Because she has taken careful virus prevention precautions, she wonders, "Why is it always restaurants that are made the subject of these restrictions?" As for the 10 p.m. closing time requested of eating and drinking establishments, she questions how much effect that really has. "Are authorities just trying to give off the image that they're taking effective measures?" she asks.

The 62-year-old male manager of a "standing" bar nearby said, "If small establishments like us can get 20,000 yen (for every day that we follow the restrictions), we're happy to comply." The number of customers has dropped down to one-third the number of pre-pandemic days. "Our regulars are all working remotely and don't go to their offices. I don't think Shimbashi will ever return to the way it was," he said.

Ideas and Commentary:

Matsunaga makes a valid point. Maybe the idea that many of the restaurants in the Tokyo area are small establishments with very close seating and little real ventilation or air flow. And as such a small restaurant with a seating capacity of just 10 or 15 in a small room or building doesn't leave a lot of possibilities to be safe.

And yes, its possible, every globally, governments and agencies might be doing things to show they are working on preventing the virus situation as much as possible. 

And it would of course be good, if at all possible, if the Tokyo government can subsidize every restaurant or business that complies with prevent measures so that they won't go out of business. But again is is possible?

Yes, this is probably, at least in the short term the "new normal" of less customers until things can get back to a more "regular normal."

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Meanwhile, the male manager of a host club in Kabukicho, an entertainment district in Shinjuku Ward, revealed that he was still "mulling over" what to do.

Even if the club were to accept the 400,000-yen (approx. $3,800) financial support from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, since the hosts earn a lot on commission, the club's income will drop if business hours are cut back. December is usually a big month in which events related to Christmas bring in a lot of business. "I'll make a decision based on trends in the industry," the manager said.

Ideas and Commentary:

The amount that is being offered to help businesses survive the virus situation, while needed, is probably not going to be enough if the virus situation last much longer.

And then there is the idea customers and consumer sentiment. Even if businesses do all the right things it still comes down to how to consumers feel. Are they going to all go back to their normal routines just because a business says it has done all the right things to prevent the virus in their business. 

And of course the virus situation, for some or many businesses has created the need for innovation in the marketplace.

There are no more and more restaurants that offer takeout when they didn't before and offer delivery services when they didn't before, either with their own delivery service or using a new company created during the virus situation that focuses on delivery for restaurants the need a delivery company service.

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Major chain stores are also being forced to make decisions.

Skylark Holdings Co., which is a giant operator of family restaurants such as Gusto, based in the Tokyo suburban city of Musashino, is planning on following the request for shortened business hours at their restaurants in the capital.

Ever since the coronavirus spread across the country, the company has tried to overhaul its corporate plans with the assumption that daytime demand for things that can be enjoyed at home would increase. It already got rid of late-night service in July as a general rule, and a PR representative for the company said that they didn't expect much confusion with the implementation of shorter business hours.

Kushikatsu Tanaka, based in Tokyo's Shinagawa Ward, meanwhile, did not cut back on its business hours at its directly managed branches when the metropolitan government requested that restaurants and other similar establishments shorten their hours in August. There have been confirmed COVID-19 cases among their employees, but the company has emphasized that it has taken very thorough precautions. A company representative said, "Since the number of infected people has been rising, we're not surprised with the (Tokyo Metropolitan Government's) request for shorter business hours. We will be deliberating how to respond."

Ideas and Commentary:

Most likely most business, by now, have implemented many strategies to prevent or contain the virus situation. The ideas of shorter business hours most likely, is not a strategy that some businesses like but comply with. 

If the Tokyo government or the Yokohama government or whomever, have the ability to compensate businesses for the shortened hours then it shouldn't be a problem. But of course it is never really enough to cover all of the losses. 

And at the same time, consumers maybe have decided to limit their outings ether for safety reasons and or some maybe are working in remote locations and as such don't frequent their usual late night eating or drinking places.

It has also been reported that cobinis in the major business areas of Tokyo, where there are large number of office workers, are not doing so good because many are or have been working remotely instead of going to the office. 

Have nice day and be safe!