Nov 12 (NHK) - Results of a private survey show that pubs and restaurants in Japan are going bankrupt at a record pace because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Tokyo Shoko Research says 730 pubs and restaurants filed for bankruptcy with debts of over 10 million yen, or about 95,000 dollars, between January and October this year.
There were more restaurant bankruptcies in 2011, the year a massive earthquake triggered a tsunami and a nuclear accident, with 800 cases. But the survey company says the rate of increase this year is even higher.
Ramen noodle shops, Japanese cuisine restaurants and other specialized establishments that failed totaled 177, up 6.6 percent from the same period last year.
Cafeteria-type and Western-style restaurants totaled 169, and pubs 150.
Osaka Prefecture had the most bankruptcies at 132, followed by Tokyo with 116 and Aichi Prefecture with 73.
Company researchers say sales have not recovered as expected, and the effects of public support appear to be waning. They warn that more establishments could fail toward the year-end.