Mar 28, 2020 (Japan Times) - 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 as movie theaters and amusement parks responded to Wednesday’s stay-at-home request by making decisions to close temporarily.
“We’re going to do business as usual because we’re supplying goods essential for daily life,†said an official at supermarket giant Aeon Co..
The three leading convenience store operators — Seven-Eleven Japan Co., Lawson Inc. and FamilyMart Co. — will continue regular operations except for some outlets.
Following Koike’s request, many people scrambled to supermarkets to hoard food, putting some products — including instant noodles, rice and frozen dishes — out of stock.
Rival Ito-Yokado Co., which has already introduced reduced business hours at some of its stores, will continue its services as well.
So will grocery store operator Life Corp., although the company will refrain from handing out sales flyers for 121 outlets in the Tokyo metropolitan area between Saturday and April 3 “to ease in-store congestion and maintain a stable supply of goods.â€
