The Tokyo metropolitan government plans to crack down on restaurants and bars that have been ignoring a strong request to shorten business hours that was issued in line with the declaration of a state of emergency.
The government has already notified such businesses, and orders to conform will be issued as early as Thursday for those who are found to be still ignoring the request after receiving the notification.
The revised law on special measures to cope with new strains of influenza, which took effect in February, makes it possible for the metropolitan government to issue orders to establishments that are not adhering to requests for shorter business hours or other matters.
The move is based on Article 45, which specifies measures that can be taken under the state of emergency. It allows for municipal governments to impose fines for businesses that do not conform.
According to the Cabinet Secretariat, no municipality has yet to issue an order based on the law, and Tokyo is likely to become the country's first local government to do so.
Following the declaration of the state of emergency on Jan. 7, the metropolitan government strongly requested that restaurants, karaoke parlors and other establishments shorten their business hours by closing by 8 p.m., based on Article 24 of the special measures law.
However, a total of 113 establishments were found to be disregarding the request, and between late February and early March, the Tokyo government sent them written notices in adherence to Article 45 of the law. Those who still ignored the request were then notified that they will have a chance to explain their actions in a hearing some time after March 5.
According to Tokyo government sources and others, Tokyo will issue orders to conform to a number of businesses, including major restaurant chain outlets, which, following the hearing, it considers to be operating after 8 p.m. without good reason.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
