JAPAN’S NIGHTLIFE SECTOR SEEKS ‘REALISTIC’ PANDEMIC STEPS

The head of a group of nightlife entertainment businesses urged the government late on Monday to be more realistic in helping their industry weather the coronavirus pandemic, as Japan grapples with a rising number of infections with many clusters traced back to their sector, Kyodo news agency reported on July 21, 2020. 

"Neither the central government nor the Tokyo metropolitan government are making efforts to come up with a fundamental solution (as in virus counter-measures)," Kaori Koga, representative director of the Nightlife Business Association, told a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan. 

Referring to the negative perception on their businesses during the outbreak of the virus, Koga said, "Nothing will change if you only criticize us as the villains here," and she urged the governments to see the realities of their industry. 

Tokyo's daily infection cases have sharply increased, with recent tallies in triple digits, since the capital lifted business suspension requests last month.  Many clusters of COVID-19 infection cases have been found to be related to nightlife entertainment districts, mostly concentrated in Shinjuku's Kabukicho district, home to host clubs and hostess bars. These establishments have drawn public and political ire for being what is perceived as a hotbed for infections, as they seem to fit all the conditions set out by the government -- confined and crowded places, and close contact with people. In Japan's hostess bars, women entertain male customers over drinks and flirtatiously chat with them, while in host clubs, men do the same for their female customers.