Business May 22, 2020
Japan to ban resale of sanitizers above purchase price amid coronavirus crisis
From Tuesday, the revised ordinance will prevent bulk buying of such goods for resale and increase their availability for medical institutions.
Business / Economy May 9, 2020
Hard sell: Japan’s retail sector may need to reinvent itself in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic
by Alex Martin
A sea change in shopping habits amid the new coronavirus outbreak could impact marketing and distribution across the country for years to come.
World May 7, 2020
Britons getting through lockdown with sewing, tequila and kimchi
British consumers have spent their six weeks of coronavirus lockdown sewing, drinking cocktails, carrying out home beauty treatments and eating large quantities of kimchi. That’s according to a report from John Lewis Partnership PLC on the nation’s shopping behavior since March 23, when Prime Minister ...
National May 1, 2020
Masks suddenly easy to find in Japan in pandemic, except in drugstores
The sudden proliferation of shops offering masks has led to questions raised about how they were able to procure them with shortages still widespread.
National Apr 24, 2020
Osaka mayor sets Twitter abuzz with claim that women dawdle at shops
The mayor of Osaka has come under fire for suggesting men should be the ones doing the grocery shopping during the pandemic because women are indecisive and "take a long time." Under the national state of emergency for the coronavirus, residents in some areas have ...
National Apr 23, 2020
Koike asks Tokyo residents to limit grocery shopping to every three days
Koike also stressed the need to partner with supermarket industry bodies to plan ways to reduce overcrowding.
National Apr 20, 2020
Crowds pack Japan’s shopping arcades despite pandemic emergency
Despite the official state of emergency declared over COVID-19, people are still flocking to shopping arcades in Tokyo and other big cities across the nation. Data released Sunday by NTT Docomo Inc. shows that crowd levels Saturday in major shopping districts, including Shinjuku in Tokyo ...
National / Science & Health Apr 19, 2020
Cheap masks from wholesalers selling for ¥100 at street stalls in Japan
While masks are in short supply at drugstores and other retailers amid the coronavirus pandemic, many can be found piled high at street stalls across the nation where they are being sold for around ¥100 each. That seems high compared with going prices before the ...
Business Apr 14, 2020
Retailers are struggling to continue operations a week after the government declared a state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak, with shop employees facing overwork due to labor shortages and stress associated with infection risks. The number of part-time workers began declining in March when ...
Business Apr 10, 2020
Virus pandemic pushes Japan’s shoppers to finally buy online
by Lisa Du
Now that the government is urging consumers and businesses to step up efforts to contain the coronavirus outbreak, shoppers may finally have no excuse but to embrace e-commerce and wean themselves from brick-and-mortar stores. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared a state of emergency for Tokyo ...
Business / Economy Mar 26, 2020
Tokyo shoppers rush out after governor’s call to stay in to curb virus
by Masumi Koizumi
Shelves were cleared of bottled water, meat, cup ramen and spaghetti.
Commentary / World Mar 24, 2020
The ethics of shopping in a pandemic
by Stephen L. Carter
We have to make choices about what to take, leave and ask others to get for us.