No lockdown needed? Japan stores are shutting down voluntarily
Japan’s restaurant, bar and chain stores are taking matters into their own hands by voluntarily shuttering hundreds of stores to help curb the coronavirus spread.
No need to hoard food, there are enough supplies, say Japan experts
There is no need for the public to panic buy and hoard food even if the government declares a state of emergency as a result of novel coronavirus, retail industry and other experts said. Japan has an ample food stocks, and purchasing such supplies will ...
Tokyo food stores to open over weekend as theme parks and cinemas close
Supermarkets and convenience stores decided Thursday to stay open as usual in the coming days, after a request by Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike’s for residents in the capital not to leave home over the weekend. On the other hand, some operators of entertainment facilities such ...
February factory output and retail sales seen in decline in Japan as virus damage deepens
Japan's factory output likely slowed in February and retail sales dropped for a fifth straight month, a Reuters poll showed on Friday, as the coronavirus outbreak took an increasing toll on businesses and consumers. Japan has officially recorded 2,113 cases of the virus and 57 ...
Nike says China is coming back as online growth cushions virus blow
Nike Inc. executives said Tuesday that shoppers in key Asian markets are beginning to return to stores as the company reported a rare drop in Chinese quarterly revenues cushioned by stronger e-commerce sales. "Traffic is back," Nike Chief Executive John Donahoe said of the dynamic ...
Coronavirus pandemic boosted Japan convenience store sales in February
Sales at convenience stores across Japan rose 2.6 percent in February from a year earlier as prepared food and anti-infection products such as masks drew strong demand amid the outbreak of the new coronavirus, an industry group said. Same-store sales of seven major convenience store ...
Operator of Muji stores fined for dodging ¥7.5 billion in tax
The operator of the Muji-brand goods store chain failed to pay ¥7.5 billion ($69 million) in income tax in the three years through February 2017, sources close to the matter said Wednesday. The Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau has judged that Ryohin Keikaku Co. transferred income ...
Minimum ¥1 fee for plastic bags to kick in weeks before Tokyo Olympics
Beginning in July, retailers across Japan will be required to charge for plastic shopping bags, at a time when marine plastic waste is becoming a serious problem worldwide. The move is aimed at increasing public awareness of the need to reduce plastic waste. The government ...
Coronavirus took toll on Japan's auto and retail sales in February
Automakers and department store operators reported sharp sales declines in February as the spread of the new coronavirus dented consumer sentiment and drove away foreign tourists. The weak data came as analysts warned of a second consecutive quarter of contraction in January to March, with ...
Japan's retail and entertainment sectors feel pain from spread of COVID-19
Retail, leisure and dining businesses are taking a hit as more people in Japan avoid crowded areas and opt to stay home due to the spread of COVID-19, with economists predicting a fall of over ¥2 trillion ($18 billion) in household consumption. Japanese-style izakaya pubs ...
Japan's government to demand halt to online face mask auctions
The industry ministry will ask online auction companies to voluntarily stop listing face masks from their websites, amid supply shortages caused by the spread of COVID-19 infections, it was learned Thursday. Face masks have been in short supply mostly in urban areas, in part because ...
Mercari plans Tokyo store to tempt more into its online marketplace
Online flea market operator Mercari Inc. said Thursday that it would try its hand at brick and mortar operations in hope of reaching tens of millions of untapped users in the Japanese market, allowing them to sell their used goods on the spot and ...
