Apr 21, 2021
Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura faced a backlash from experts, local businesses and even his own advisers on Tuesday after he said that, once the central government fulfills his request to declare a state of emergency in the prefecture, business closure requests need to be issued to a wider breadth of private and public establishments than in previous emergencies.
Critics say that calling for the closure of department stores and theme parks where few cluster infections of the coronavirus have been reported, if any is unscientific and merely symbolic, and would exact an unnecessary burden upon an already struggling economy.
Osaka governor faces backlash over expansive virus closure requests japantimes.co.jp - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from japantimes.co.jp Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
A poster at a supermarket in Tokyo operated by Summit Inc. says it will close during the first three days of the new year. This photo was taken on Dec. 3. (Yoshikatsu Nakajima)
This New Year’s sales season is going to look a lot different from normal under the COVID-19 pandemic, with many supermarkets closing and far fewer lucky bags lining department store shelves.
Summit Inc., which operates food supermarkets in the greater Tokyo metropolitan area, will close 113 stores almost all its outlets between Jan. 1 and Jan. 3. It is the first time in 33 years it will close its stores during the period.