Japan's retailers and manufacturers hunker down for longer closures

Business restarts by some risk undermining containment effort

20200430N Kajima

Construction company Kajima, which had planned to resume work May 7, is weighing how to proceed if Japan's state of emergency is extended. © Reuters

RYO IIZUKA, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- As Japan's government looks set to extend its state of emergency for another month to combat the coronavirus outbreak, retailers and factory operators are scrambling to adjust their plans for long-term closures.

"I believe it is impossible to return to normal life from May 7," Abe told reporters Thursday, referring to the date the current declaration is set to expire. "We should expect a rather long battle."

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