Japanese pub aims to clean up with disinfectant spray machine
A man is sprayed with hypochlorous acid water as a measure to prevent an infection with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the entrance of Kichiri Shinjuku, a Japanese style pub known as an 'izakaya', in Tokyo, Japan May 19, 2020. REUTERS/Issei Kato
As Japan's restaurants and bars slowly open up from a coronavirus lockdown, many are looking to reassure the public that dining out is safe again and one Japanese-style izakaya pub thinks it has found the perfect solution.
The pub in Tokyo's normally bustling Shinjuku district has installed a machine that sprays customers with hypochlorous acid water as they enter.
A man is sprayed with hypochlorous acid water as a measure to prevent an infection with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while a live footage is shown on a screen explaining how to use the machine by a pub staff, at the entrance of Kichiri Shinjuku, a Japanese style pub known as an 'izakaya', in Tokyo, Japan May 19, 2020. REUTERS/Issei Kato
Customers are first greeted by a hostess on a monitor, of course, who instructs them to disinfect their hands and check their temperature with a thermometer provided.
They then step into a machine that looks like an airport security scanner, or a car-wash for humans, to get sprayed with a fine mist of the chlorine-based disinfectant for 30 seconds.
Customers then pick up a map that guides them to their seat where they order with smartphones.
Customers toast beers across plastic transparent board on a table installed as a measure to prevent an infection with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at Kichiri Shinjuku, a Japanese style pub known as an 'izakaya', in Tokyo, Japan May 19, 2020. REUTERS/Issei Kato
Throughout the process they have not come into contact with a single person.
"We wanted to develop a system that is in accordance with the new lifestyle and something that is a high model that could prevent infection," said the president of the Kichiri&Co group that owns the pub.
"It’s still an experiment, but once we develop the system, we want to share the know-how at each of our restaurants."
A man is sprayed with hypochlorous acid water as a measure to prevent an infection with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the entrance of Kichiri Shinjuku, a Japanese style pub known as an 'izakaya', in Tokyo, Japan May 19, 2020. REUTERS/Issei Kato
A clear acrylic screen is set up between each diner to further minimise the risk of infection, and it seems to work.
"I feel safe," said one woman customer who didn't want to be identified.
"But being in there for 30 seconds was a bit long. I was like, when will this be over.”
Customers enjoy dinner across plastic transparent board on a table installed as a measure to prevent an infection with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at Kichiri Shinjuku, a Japanese style pub known as an 'izakaya', in Tokyo, Japan May 19, 2020. REUTERS/Issei Kato
Kichiri has also installed a spraying booth, which cost more than 700,000 yen (US$6,493), at a pub in Osaka city, where the government is expected to lift a coronavirus emergency on Thursday. It remains in place in Tokyo.
(Reporting by Jack Tarrant; additional reporting by Issei Kato; Editing by Robert Birsel)
Customers toast beers across plastic transparent board on a table installed as a measure to prevent an infection with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at Kichiri Shinjuku, a Japanese style pub known as an 'izakaya', in Tokyo, Japan May 19, 2020. REUTERS/Issei KatoMeasures to prevent the infection with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are displayed at the entrance of Kichiri Shinjuku, a Japanese style pub known as an 'izakaya', in Tokyo, Japan May 19, 2020. Picture taken May 19, 2020. REUTERS/Issei KatoA customer is sprayed with hypochlorous acid water as a measure to prevent an infection with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the entrance of Kichiri Shinjuku, a Japanese style pub known as an 'izakaya', in Tokyo, Japan May 19, 2020. Picture taken May 19, 2020. REUTERS/Issei KatoTransparent boards made with plastic are seen on tables as a measure to prevent an infection with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at Kichiri Shinjuku, a Japanese style pub known as an 'izakaya', in Tokyo, Japan May 19, 2020. Picture taken May 19, 2020. REUTERS/Issei KatoA man is sprayed with hypochlorous acid water as a measure to prevent an infection with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the entrance of Kichiri Shinjuku, a Japanese style pub known as an 'izakaya', in Tokyo, Japan May 19, 2020. REUTERS/Issei KatoA man is sprayed with hypochlorous acid water as a measure to prevent an infection with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the entrance of Kichiri Shinjuku, a Japanese style pub known as an 'izakaya', in Tokyo, Japan May 19, 2020. REUTERS/Issei Kato
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