Kabukicho, Gap between government and frontline - Spring 2020

Kabukicho, Gap between government and frontline - Spring 2020

At the end of March 2020, in the midst of the spread of the new corona infection, Governor Koike's statement that "many infections occur in bars, nightclubs, and other dining establishments where business entertainment is involved" caused a major stir. Although the administration's intention was to appeal to the people of Tokyo with a sense of urgency, there was a strong backlash from the frontline. This is because the Entertainment Business Control Law clearly distinguishes between entertainment businesses, such as cabarets and host clubs, and bars, which are prohibited from offering alcoholic beverages late at night, and have different business formats and hours of operation. However, the governor of Tokyo lumped them all together, and as a result, the label "nightlife district = source of infection" spread throughout society. The media repeatedly showed Kabukicho, and extreme words such as "ban" and "close down the whole town" were heard on social networking sites. Even se
rious establishments were under suspicion, and business owners and employees were angry and frustrated that they were being treated like perpetrators. At the time, a state of emergency was about to be declared, and there was a sense of urgency that one word from a politician could have a major impact on public opinion. The gap between the government's logic, which prioritized the prevention of infection, and the reality of the situation on the ground, where people's livelihoods could be at stake, was a sharp contrast, and it left a deep mark on the people of Kabukicho.