Japan's after-work drinking scene has been disrupted by the novel coronavirus pandemic, forcing its often jam-packed izakaya dining bars to reinvent themselves to survive.
For decades, izakaya — a mainstay of late-night drinking and the nation’s working culture — have thrived by offering cheap drinks to thirsty office workers in cozy settings.
Even though lockdown measures to contain the virus were lifted in late May, izakaya 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.