Tokyo Restaurants:

 https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210410/p2g/00m/0bu/027000c

Article:

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Owners of restaurants and bars in Tokyo, as well as the prefectures of Kyoto and Okinawa, on Friday expressed worries after they were added by the government to the list of areas subject to stricter anti-virus measures.

Amid a sharp rebound in infections, the governors of Tokyo and the two prefectures were granted the authority to order establishments serving food and alcohol in targeted areas to close by 8 p.m. and impose a fine of up to 200,000 yen ($1,800) for noncompliance.

"Atmosphere usually starts to warm up around 8 p.m. but we have to close the door by then," said a 26-year-old manager of a Japanese-style "izakaya" pub near the capital's bustling JR Ikebukuro Station.

Ideas:

Many restaurants and other places make most of their profits in the late night hours. So if they have to close at 8 PM that means they might be losing 4 or 5 hours of business, which might be the peak hours for customers.

While safety is very important, and needed. Maybe the Japanese government feels there is no other solution but to force businesses to close.

But some might say, why only these kinds of places, when other places are very busy during the day, such as at lunch time. 

Or even department stores and such places during the day.

Articles:

"Damage will be big, even if it is just one hour difference," he said before the new steps that take effect on Monday and last through May 11 for Tokyo.

Closing hours of such establishments in Tokyo were just extended by one hour with the lifting of the second state of emergency at midnight on March 21.

A 32-year-old manager of another izakaya pub criticized the central and local governments' handling of the pandemic, saying it seems they are just reacting to situations without a clear vision.

"I want (the governments) to take drastic measures," he said.

Ideas:

It might not seem fair, but perhaps restaurants such as Izakaya pubs are small type places where there is not enough space for the needed social distancing. 

But that could be said for many normal restaurants I have been to in the Yokohama eki, station, area, the Landmark tower area, and the Motomachi area and so on.

Those places are always very busy during the normal lunch time periods.

Not to mention Sogo in the Yokohama station area. If you have ever been to Sogo, or any other major Japanese department, depato, then you know how crowded the department stores can get or even the station area (s) in and around the subway/train stations.

Article:

Meanwhile, Yuko Miso, who runs a bar in Tokyo's upscale Ginza district, expressed understanding toward the Japanese and Tokyo metropolitan governments' virus policies.

"Until we put infections under control, we have to cooperate with the request to shorten business hours," she said.

However, the 48-year-old also added, "We need to prepare for it beforehand. I hope they will disclose their plans as early as possible."

Ideas:

The Japanese government and businesses should work together to find the best possible solutions to reduce the number of virus cases.

For example, in South Korea, and many countries, masks have to be worn at all times in restaurants, stores, coffee shops and other places.

Also, citizens have to show a QR code, which is in their smartphone and register it into a small tablet machine and or have their temperature taken at the entrance of the supermarket to show what their temperature is to be safe.

Businesses and the government should come up with solutions are that practical and both can agree on.

Article:

Similar opinions were heard at restaurants and bars in Kyoto.

"We were pinning our hope on the Golden Week holidays (from late April)," said Yoshiko Murata, a 77-year-old female manager of an izakaya in Kyoto.

In Okinawa, April to May is a traditional season for people to pay respect to their ancestors.

"I think it will be scaled down," said Sachie Sonan, a 65-year-old resident who runs a sweet shop in Naha.

Ideas:

Scaled down celebrations and such are the norm and and should be expected until the country becomes more vaccinated.

But the problem now is even with the vaccinations there are new virus strains that are spreading globally, and so caution and safety, even when vaccinated is still what will be needed.

With the Olympics coming up and all the international guests arriving it will be even more important to remain safe and hopefully there won't be a large outbreak during the Olympics

Have a nice day and be safe!