Osaka’s Neon-Lit Heart Shows the Cost of Japan’s Harder Line on China
A snap election tests whether voters accept falling Chinese tourism as the price of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s tougher security stance.
The economic impact of Japan’s worsening ties with Beijing is particularly acute in Osaka.
Photographer: Amanda Saviñón for BloombergAt a wagyu restaurant in Osaka’s vibrant entertainment district, manager Ryoji Shiokawa surveys a mostly empty dining room as he contemplates his next move.
Shiokawa’s business has long relied on Chinese tour groups drawn by popular 13,000-yen ($83) steak platters, featuring sirloin, rib-eye and the chef’s recommended cut. But sales at one of his two venues are down about 30% after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi last year suggested that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan could prompt a military response by Japan.
