The Osaka prefectural government on Friday disclosed the names of six pachinko parlors that have defied a request to close following the central government's declaration of a state of emergency.
This is the first time nationwide that business operators have been named for not complying with such a request.
The six pachinko parlors include Marusho Kaikan and Darumaya, both in Osaka. According to an industry group, there were more than 700 pachinko parlors in the prefecture as of 2018. The prefectural government had asked more than 30 pachinko parlors and other businesses to suspend operations, but the six pachinko parlors named did not respond to the request by noon Friday.
Article 45 of the revised law on special measures against new strains of influenza stipulates that prefectural governors can make such requests or give instructions for business suspensions, and that the names of defiant businesses will be made public.
By Thursday, the prefectural government's call center had received a total of 1,283 phone calls from people reporting cases like pachinko parlors remaining open despite being subject to the closure request, and certain outlets being in operation until late at night.
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