Many people are supporting eateries facing hard times due to the coronavirus pandemic by making advanced online payments to eat at the restaurants after the virus has been contained. With IT companies acting as an intermediary, some are also turning to crowdfunding and the hometown taxation system to help support others. Those supporting businesses are spurred by the idea of wanting to save shops with which they feel a connection.
"I thought we wouldn't last much longer," sighed Akira Yoshioka, 57, who owns the cafe Cfarm & Joto Curry Entre Ikoma in Ikoma, Nara Prefecture.
Customers began dwindling at the end of January, when coronavirus cases were discovered in the prefecture. Takeout helped to soften the economic blow, but sales were still halved compared to last year. He began thinking in April about closing his doors, and an acquaintance told him about a project by the local government called "Saki meshi Ikoma" (Pay for foods in advance, Ikoma).
If users register on the smartphone app called Gochimeshi (Gift of a meal), created by the IT company Gigi Inc. based in Fukuoka Prefecture, they can purchase a voucher that allows them to eat at a restaurant up to six months later, after the virus has been more contained. The customer pays handling charges, meaning the restaurant pays nothing for the app service. And the restaurant receives the money a few days later from the site.
Ikoma received help from Gigi to create its own food service site, which was put online on April 20. As of May 7, there were 15 bars, cafes and restaurants registered on the site. The state of emergency being lengthened has meant hardships have only continued, but Yoshioka said, "When I think about when customers might be able to come and eat here, I feel like I can keep going."
Gochimeshi was founded last October as a service that friends could use to give meals as a gift. But in March, with the current pandemic, the service's name was changed to Sakimeshi (Pay for foods in advance), and the number of eateries registered surged from 200 to 1,600.
An izakaya pub in Osaka called Tetsutaro Umeda Nakazakicho is registered on the site and has had about 50 gift vouchers purchased.
"I wanted to save a place I like because I can't go there right now," said a woman, 39, who frequents the pub.
Ikoma is the first local government to work with Gigi, but many other local governments are now inquiring about their services.
"We hope we can help to provide a happy reunion for shops and customers after the situation has calmed," said Gigi Founder and CEO Ryosuke Imai, 48.
There are other ways people can pay shops in advance. In April, Preo Design, based in Kumamoto, created an app like Gochimeshi called Mirai no shokken (Food ticket of the future). In Kagawa Prefecture, a volunteer group is selling vouchers that will let people eat at an udon restaurant at a later date.
The hometown tax system is also being used to help people support local eateries through the website Satofuru. About 200 shops, including restaurants, travel and leisure companies, are listed on the site. Those who make a donation to a local government can receive a food gift voucher, among other gifts.
Furthermore, the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other organizations began a crowdfunding site in April, with about 150 shops in Osaka listed on the site. Those who donate can receive food vouchers. People can donate until May 15, and the shops are scheduled to receive the donations within this month.
"Many shops are stuck in a long, dark tunnel right now," said an official. "Each person's support is like a light in that tunnel."
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