(21)［English Edition］

週刊NY生活VOICES From

THE NEW YORKERS
Support JapaneseBusinesses During
COVID-19

by Susan McCormac
We a r eliving in uncertain times
with theCOV I D -19
pandemic. As thecoronavirus
started tospread in
our area,
New Yorkers began to see cancellations of events and closures of bars
and restaurants at an alarming rate.
Several organizations have cancelled their Sakura Matsuri eventsand film festivals, and Japan Day @Central Park and the Japan Day Parade have been postponed. Museums,galleries, and cultural organizations
have closed their doors as well. Stayconnected with them on social media
to get updates and your Japan culture
fix.
While we practice social distancing, we can support our favorite
Japanese restaurants by ordering takeout or delivery where available. If
your favorite restaurants are closed indefinitely, please consider purchasing
a gift cards. TIC Restaurant Group,
which operates 16 Japanese restaurants, has a Go Fund Me campaign
to support their staff. Please consider
making a donation if you are able.
Katagiri and Sunrise Mart remain
open and provide grocery delivery.
Stock up on sake, shochu, and Japanese whisky from Sakaya and Kuraichi.
Stay safe and help those in need ifyou can. I hope to see everyone at aJapanese bar, restaurant, or event verysoon!
(Susan is the founder of JapanCultureNYC, an English-language website for all things Japanese in New
York, and the co-host of The Big Root
Podcast.)THESHUKAN NEW YORK SEIKATSU

JAPAN VOICECOOL JAPAN from New Yorkers’ Viewpoints
planned to have restrictions on internal
meetings. Meanwhile, there were a lotof answers indicating that companies
wished to avoid contact with other companies. 37.3% of companies cancelledmeetings and interviews. If you include
companies avoiding contact with “peo-https://www.yomiuri-info.jp/daily_yomiuri/nys/

Remote Workers Rise to 60%
Countermeasures Against
COVID-19
The Consulate-General of Japan,
JETRO New York Japan and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New York (JCCI) held a survey forJapanese companies in New York to research the effects of COVID-19 on theirbusinesses. The survey targeted JCCI’smember companies and out of 226 ofthem, 126 answered during the span ofMarch 10 to 12. According to the survey,
62.7% of companies have made remoteple who stayed in specific countries
within 14 days,” the numbers would add
up to over 60%.
Companies restricting “non-company related meetings with large
numbers of people” form 66.7% of
those surveyed while those eating with
non-company related people was 43.5%.
Business trips are being restricted, too.
In the country, 62.7% are restricting
business trips. 86.5% of international
business trips have been restricted insome way. Even if international businesstrips are allowed, half of companies aresuggesting staying at home afterwards.
44% of Japanese companies are doing
the same with remote working afterbusiness trips. If we include companies
that plan to implement remote work after business trips in the near future, thatbrings the figure up to 67.3%. (Ryoichi
Miura/Translated by Kanta Hakamata)Japan Day @Central Park 2020
Postponed

Rescheduling in the Fall

2020 年（令和 2 年）3 月 28 日（土）groups and parties involved. The Consulate General of Japan in New York
made an announcement to news media
about this decision. Japan Day, Inc.
gave the following statement: “In lightof the ongoing situation concerning thenovel coronavirus pandemic, after muchconsideration, we have regrettably cometo the decision to postpone the Japan
Day @ Central Park 2020 (Japan Day
Parade and Festival) event, currently
scheduled for May 10, 2020, to a later
date in the year (currently anticipating thefall).” This decision was made only twomonths before the event was scheduled tooccur. They also said, “This decision wasdifficult to make as the situation is quite
fluid; however, our main concern is thesafety and wellness of our spectators andvisitors, sponsors, staff and all involved
with the event. Therefore, we kindly ask
you for your unequivocal understanding
in this decision. We will pay special attention to this situation and will informyou with further details.” This event isheld annual with the goal of expressing
the Japanese community’s gratitude toAmerican society, to form a strong bond
between New York based companies ofJapanese descent and to be a bridge ofJapanese and Americans through thebiggest event in New York that is related
to Japanese culture. Their plan for thisyear is to hold a big parade in Central
Park, celebrating the 160th anniversaryof the First Japanese Delegation to NewYork City. (Ryoichi Miura/Translated byChikako Iwasaki)

10,000 MIKI HOUSESmiles Projecton Instagram(Goal: 10,000 posts)
Post a photo of your child/baby
smiling with hashtag #mikihousesmileand tag @mikihouseusa in the photo.
Once we reach 10,000 hashtag #mikihousesmile, we will donate $10,000 value(market price) of our products to Latin
and South America through @United
Planet. Your kid’s smile can make theworld brighter!

working an option for their employees.
Most of the companies did not specify
Japan Day, Inc. sent an e-mail rehow long they would implement remotegarding
the decision to postpone Japan MIKI HOUSE is partnering with Unitedwork. Delaying start times for work
Planet for this project. Find out more
was cited as a plan for more than 50% Day @ Central Park 2020, originallyabout them at unitedplanet.org!
of surveyed companies, while 25% scheduled for May 10, to all sponsors,
did not show interest in doing so. A
THE JAPAN VOICE is the English Edition of SHUKAN NY SEIKATSU
surprising 43.7% indicated they would
New York SEIKATSU PRESS,INC.
have no restrictions on meetings held
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inside the company. However, there
Editor in Chief: Ryoichi Miura, Associate Editor: Ashley Matarama
were about 30% of companies who212-213-6069 info@nyseikatsu.com

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And the back numbers, too!!

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