What about us?: Japan store owners irked by compensation discrimination
February 11, 2021 (Mainichi Japan)
Trance President Akikazu Yamamura stares at product shelves in front of a deserted store in Hachioji, Tokyo, on Jan. 25, 2021. (Mainichi/Yongho Lee)
TOKYO -- With the spread of the novel coronavirus, apparel and souvenir stores in Japan have been suffering a great deal. Since the declaration of the state of emergency in parts of Japan in January, many stores have been operating under shortened hours, but only food service operators can receive the 60,000 yen (about $574) per day "cooperation money."
As the number of customers dwindles, there are calls to "eliminate the payment gap" with dining businesses. "It's like being told to keep diving without breathing," lamented Akikazu Yamamura, 56, president of Trance, which operates clothing stores and other businesses in Tokyo, Saitama and other prefectures.