People gather at bars in an alley in Tokyo that are serving alcohol on Sept. 22, 2021, despite the capital government's request for businesses not to serve alcohol under the state of emergency. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)

       TOKYO -- The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is considering allowing restaurants and bars to serve alcohol following the lifting of the state of emergency over the coronavirus, as long as the establishments have been certified as taking thorough infection prevention measures.

       The capital, meanwhile, is expected to maintain its request for eateries to shorten their business hours. The metropolitan government is in consultation with the national government over several plans regarding eateries' operating hours and until what time they can serve alcohol. Establishments that have not been certified as adopting thorough anti-virus measures will be requested to cut their opening hours and banned from selling alcoholic beverages.

       In a bid to prevent a possible rebound in infections, the metropolitan government has been coordinating a plan to relax shorter hours and other restrictions on restaurants and bars in stages after the state of emergency expires on Sept. 30.

       According to an individual close to the metro government, there are plans such as allowing establishments to serve alcohol until 7:30 p.m. and close by 8 p.m., or enabling them to sell alcohol until 8 p.m. and close by 9 p.m. The capital's government is mulling setting a three-week period for such requests. Tokyo plans to provide "cooperation money" to establishments that are compliant with its requests, and is seeking financial assistance from the central government.

       Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike told reporters on Sept. 27, "I believe it will be effective for the metropolitan area to keep in step," suggesting that it is desirable for the capital to take a concerted response with Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures. The Kanagawa Prefectural Government is making adjustments to act in line with Tokyo's response.

       (Japanese original by Hitomi Saikawa, Tokyo City News Department, and Tsumuki Nakamura, Yokohama Bureau)

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