TOKYO -- Japanese izakaya, the usually boisterous pubs offering a variety of food and drink and often catering to large groups of people, have had to tone down their services due to the novel coronavirus. And while it remains unclear when they can get back to normal, many are coming up with creative ways to keep customers safe and reassured while supporting their businesses going.
On July 28, Shuta Kuraishi, the 37-year-old owner of Niku no Himaraya by Porcoro Tsukiji, about a two-minute walk from the Tsukiji subway station, made a toast with beer in front of his computer. He was enjoying a video chat with five other people, all holding glasses, as they discussed how to cook meat and other topics.
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