Tokyo pub ordered to close for illegal street tables

Tokyo's Public Safety Commission has ordered a 21-day closure of an izakaya in Shimbashi for illegally placing tables on the street. This is the first time such an order has been issued against a pub for violating traffic laws. The Eiyuya izakaya's Sanchome branch received over 60 warnings from law enforcement between April 2023 and October 2024. Despite these warnings, the pub continued to set up tables outside, only removing them temporarily. The pub's representative attended a hearing on March 11, claiming the practice was not habitual. The establishment has since stopped placing tables on the street, following complaints from local residents about similar violations.