Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga has requested that pachinko parlors self-impose closures in light of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
With the government increasingly pushing for businesses nationwide to shut down and impose quarantine conditions, Suga said the closure of Japan’s pachinko parlors was an appropriate response under the guidance of the National Police Agency.
“Pachinko parlors have already taken measures to improve the environment so that the infection will not spread to employees under the direction of the National Police Agency,” he said.
“We are also requesting that disinfectant measures are taken for locations on the machines where many unspecified people could touch, like handles.
“The pachinko industry has been asked to not advertise with the intent of encouraging more people to visit the parlors, and for some locations to impose closure days to contain the spread of the virus.
“The National Police Agency will continue to instruct the pachinko industry to take appropriate measures based on the government’s basic policies.”
