Many of Kyushu’s department stores have started increasing the number of days they take off. After regulations on the number of permissible work days were abolished in 2000, department stores lowered the number of days off, but Fukuoka-based Iwataya Mitsukoshi announced it will begin closing its Iwataya store once a month on a trial basis this August “to improve worker benefits and display development”. Iwataya Mitsukoshi decided to add more days off in light of a similar move by its parent company, Tokyo-based Mitsukoshi Isetan Holdings. It will start by closing Iwataya for one weekday in late August in order to improve shop displays. Mitsukoshi, however, will remain open given its prime location in the same building as Nishitetsu Tenjin Station. In 2012, Kumamoto-based Tsuraya upped its days off from four to nine, and it uses these days to make repairs. The customers say they enjoy the “clean, refreshing atmosphere.” Meanwhile, some retailers claim they can’t ensure enough revenue if they take more days off. Kagoshima-based Yamagataya began reducing days off after the regulations were scrapped, and has been only taking New Year’s Day off since 2001. Kitakyushu-based Izutsuya has been operating 365 days a year since September 2009. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun, June 5
