Japan's after-work drinking scene has been disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, forcing its often jam-packed 'izakaya' dining bars to reinvent themselves to survive.
TOKYO - Japan’s after-work drinking scene has been disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, forcing its often jam-packed “izakaya” dining bars to reinvent themselves to survive.
Even though lockdown measures to contain the virus were lifted in late May, izakayas are facing an existential crisis as more people work from home and social-distancing rules force most eating and drinking outlets to halve their seating. “If drinking out isn’t considered welcome, izakayas will go under. There’s a pretty good chance Japan’s izakaya culture will die down,” says Yaosaka, who warns that small izakayas like his aren’t profitable if the already-tiny establishments cut counter seats by half.
The gloom could put a dent in consumption for months if not years, and prolong Japan’s already deepening recession. Takeshi Niinami, a government adviser and head of Japanese beverage maker Suntory Holdings, warns that more than 20% of bars and restaurants could fail because of the pandemic. Watami will open new wagyu beef restaurants targeting families and launch a fried chicken delivery service.
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