The first day of Special Measures on Naha’s deserted night streets, “Just as we thought we’d finally gotten back to normal!”(10ja22)　

“Spread Prevention Special Measures” went into effect on 9 January in 3 prefectures: Okinawa, Yamaguchi, and Hiroshima. Because of the widespread Covid-19, no Coming of Age Day ceremonies were held. Even Kokusai (International) Street, which should have been bustling with loads of young people, was deserted.


At “Kotori”, a restaurant/bar near Kokusai Street staffed by two ladies, 2 groups of 4 were tipping their cups at the counter. The place has tables with about 30 seats. Ms. Maki Tamaki (68), charged with serving customers, lamented, “Normally, except for seats left empty as a contagion prevention measure, the place would be full. But now?” 


From the end of May until the end of September last year the place was temporarily shut down under the State of Emergency Declaration. During that time they kept in touch with their usual customers by mail. So, when doors opened again in October, the footsteps of their customers returned.


The ladies claim business was bustling until 2 January, just after New Years. But the Covid-19 infections surged while they were taking their 2 day holiday, and from 5 January, “In a flash, customers stopped coming.” Group cancellations just went on and on. Ms. Kazumi Uebaru (64), charged with the cooking, added, “Just as we thought we’d finally gotten back to normal! It sucked the strength right out of my body.”　


Their shop carries the Compliance Certified sticker for their thorough virus prevention measures such as sanitizing, ventilation, and setting up partitions. Until 9 p.m. on 31 January, they will carry on business pouring alcohol throughout this Special Measures period. This time, of the 3 prefectures targeted for Special Measures,  only Okinawa will allow the provision of alcohol.


Ms. Tamaki sighed, “Tourism, our main business, is out of the question because of Covid-19. If we couldn’t even sell alcohol, everybody would go down. Our Governor Denny Tamaki has taken Okinawa’s situation into account in deciding that won’t happen.” The shop has been open for nearly 40 years. She added, “With thorough contagion prevention measures and such, we can only do what we can to keep the shop going.” 


Original Japanese article: Asahi Shimbun Digital, published Monday 10 January 2021 at 07:00. Byline: Kei Yoshida

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/fac49e4cfbc9aa2c231935b33b52bf73288d77d6


Translator’s note:

Denny in the News: news about Okinawan Governor Denny Tamaki.

Denny Tamaki is the governor of Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. Although Okinawa is important as an international tourist destination and a key element in strategic US Military Forces, its governor receives very little coverage in the Japanese press and almost none in the English language media. 

  1. This blog hopes to  translate one news article a day on the governor.  It is unsponsored and unauthorized. The translator simply hopes to improve his skills and perhaps give the governor an English speaking audience. 

  2. Any suggestion on improving the translation will be gratefully accepted. However, please leave political comments for another forum.

  3. Where they occur, words and phrases in Ryukyuan (the Okinawan language) are rendered in italics and translated in parentheses. Names  whose readings are uncertain are rendered as Name (=Kanji?) as in Nagayuki (=長行?). Any corrections in such instances would be gratefully appreciated.

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