During the state of emergency declared in spring, designated businesses in Tokyo were asked to close by 8 p.m. When the second wave of infections emerged in August and September, establishments serving alcohol and other businesses were asked to shut their doors by 10 p.m. Now with the third wave of infections comes a third request to close earlier than usual.
As these establishments scramble to cope with official requests to operate for shorter hours to help combat the spread of the novel coronavirus, they are attempting to get through these times by transforming into venues that customers feel they can visit with peace of mind.
-- Paying for tests
Yumi Ito, the owner of a members-only nightclub in the Ginza district of Tokyo, is leaving no stone unturned to ensure her establishment does not become a source of coronavirus infections.
"All my customers hold a prominent position in their respective organizations," said Ito, 61. "I must make sure my bar does not become a place where the virus spreads."
Ito closed her club for about two months from early spring. In June, just before reopening her business, she made all of her about 30 employees, including hostesses, who entertain customers, and male staffers, have a checkup at a medical facility in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Her staff all tested negative for the coronavirus, though the cost for Ito was about 300,000 yen.
"It was a necessary expense," Ito said, "because it helps customers feel more reassured when they come to my club,"
Ito is among the growing number of operators in the hospitality industry across Japan taking their own steps -- in addition to temperature checks and ventilating their premises -- to prevent staff and customers from catching and spreading the virus.
After Ito's club reopened, staffers and customers had their temperature taken and surfaces were thoroughly sanitized. Acrylic partitions were installed between tables. Ito managed to get through the request for shortened operating hours this summer. Customer numbers were finally starting to recover when the third request to close earlier was issued.
Ito now closes her club at 10 p.m., in line with the official request. Normally, her club would still have many customers at that hour. Shutting early stings especially sharply at this time of year when year-end parties would normally be in full swing.
"I'm sure our customers will come back if we make their safety our top priority," Ito said. She plans to make all her employees undergo further health checks.
-- Online patrons
Ginza Shakoinryou Kyokai, an association of restaurants and bars in Ginza, had about 1,100 member establishments in March. The pandemic has battered many of these establishments, with the association now having about 1,000 members.
G.S.K. urges its members to ensure employees undergo regular coronavirus testing, and senior officials go around these establishments to encourage the owners to implement comprehensive infection prevention measures.
Association head Yuichi Hoshi manages six bars that have a combined 25 employees and all get tested every month.
"Getting the whole district working together to prevent infections will help Ginza stay vibrant," said Hoshi, 63.
In Osaka, where businesses have been requested to close by 9 p.m., some owners have switched to online operations.
At her small bar in the city's Minami entertainment district in Chuo Ward, owner Marie Iguchi held a glass in one hand while talking with a customer via video on her smartphone. A one-hour, one-on-one session costs 2,500 yen and is by reservation only.
Although the income the 29-year-old Iguchi earns through this online service pales in comparison to what her bar brings in when it is open, she remains upbeat.
"I've got do what I can to keep my business afloat," she said.
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