THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
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Businesses across Japan reopen slowly after holiday week

Businesses across Japan reopen slowly after holiday week

In the continuing state of emergency amid the new coronavirus pandemic, commuters wearing face masks were back on Thursday, the first day after the Golden Week holidays. Many of them passed through major train stations in the 13 prefectures that are on special alert regarding infection-prevention measures.

Department stores and movie theaters gingerly resumed operations Thursday in areas where the spread of the new coronavirus was not serious, thoroughly ensuring preventive measures against infection.

Many commuters in business attire were seen near JR Tokyo Station at around 8 a.m. on Thursday.

“I have a feeling that there are more people than before the holiday week. I guess they are slowly starting to move toward reopening the economy,” said a 29-year-old company employee in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo.

Meanwhile, the Miyagi prefectural government lifted all requests for the suspension of business operations because there have been no new infections since April 29.

A tea shop in a shopping district in central Sendai opened Thursday for the first time in 13 days. The shop, which used to encourage shoppers to taste the shop’s tea, has decided to limit tea tasting to only those who request it. The employees frequently sterilized their hands with alcohol.

“I hope people will feel soothed by drinking tea,” said a 24-year-old employee of the shop.

About 10 movie fans visited the Cine Wind theater in Chuo Ward, Niigata, to watch a film scheduled to start at 10 a.m. on Thursday.

“I’ve been waiting for this day. I was sad that I couldn’t go out, but I hope the film will cheer me up,” said a 78-year-old movie buff from Niigata.

The movie theater is allowing audience members to use only 20 of its 64 seats and asking them to leave seats unoccupied on all sides.

The movie theater will also check patrons’ temperatures before letting them in from Friday.

In Kagawa Prefecture, restaurants serving local specialty Sanuki udon reopened after having been closed during the Golden week holidays due to widespread self-restraint over going out.

Sakaeda, a Sanuki udon restaurant in Bancho, Takamatsu City, was crowded with customers just after it opened at 7:30 a.m. The restaurant resounded with the sound of noodle-slurping. The employees were wearing masks, and an entrance door was kept open for ventilation.

A 69-year-old regular customer said with a smile: “Eating udon in the morning was a part of my life. So, I couldn’t wait to come back here. The old familiar flavor has me completely satisfied.”

Nagasaki Hamaya, a department store in Nagasaki City, whose nonfood sections had been closed since April 25, also reopened.

The store requested that customers limit themselves to 5 people at a time using a 19-person-capacity elevator.

On the escalators, customers were asked to space themselves out at intervals of three steps. A company official said, “With all employees working together as one team to take thorough measures against infection, we hope to restore our daily life.”

In Kagoshima City, Maruya Gardens, a commercial facility in the center of the city, has reopened with posters urging people to wear masks.

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