(no subject)

[timelets]

Japan’s after-work drinking scene has been disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, forcing its often jam-packed “izakaya” dining bars to reinvent themselves to survive.

For decades, izakayas--a mainstay of Japanese working culture and late-night drinking--have thrived by offering cheap drinks to thirsty office workers in cozy settings.

Even though lockdown measures to contain the virus were lifted in late May, izakayas are facing an existential crisis as more people work from home and social-distancing rules force most eating and drinking outlets to halve their seating.

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13488526

It's hard to imagine a Japanese salaryman without drinking with his officemates after work. The virus is going to have a major impact on their productivity because corporate information exchange in Japan depends heavily on people talking-while-drinking after hours.