Japan restaurant bans couples on Christmas Eve

telegraph ^ | 12 Dec 2014 | Julian Ryall

[Brother Cracker]

A restaurant in Tokyo has announced that it will refuse to serve couples on Christmas Eve because their happiness would serve to remind single patrons of their loneliness. The owner of PiaPia, a pasta restaurant in the Hachioji suburb of west Tokyo, has placed a handwritten sign in the window of the restaurant that reads, "We will be refusing entry to all couples on December 24, with no exceptions!" The message is accompanied by an outline of a male figure in blue and a female figure in red and a heart with a large red cross through the image. As well as upsetting single patrons, the message suggests that the presence of couples would upset employees having to work on Christmas Eve, adding that romantic duos "would cause severe emotional trauma to members of our staff".

[Brother Cracker]

[MeshugeMikey]

evidentily Panther whizz has gained a foothold in Japan

oh well

[Responsibility2nd]

Sounds like a restaurant in Tokyo has mistaken the romantic holiday of Valentines Day and mistook it for Christmas.

Stupid.

[momtothree]

Depending on the interactions of the couple.. the single person may be tinkled pink that he/she is single.

[Fresh Wind]

“Deck the harrs with boughs of horry
Fa ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra”

[Brother Cracker]

[SkyDancer]

Japan celebrates Christmas crazier than we do, shopping wise that is. They have an idea of who Yeshua is but it’s lost in their decorations, esp. The Ginza.

[Steve_Seattle]

I wonder if it’s a joke. Moronic policies like this usually only crop up in Europe and California.

[Vigilanteman]

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are normal work days in Japan unless they fall on weekends.

That doesn't keep the locals from doing a small celebration which usually consists of bringing home a Christmas cake and exchanging gifts if you are married with family, or going out to eat or drink if you aren't.

This restaurant is in Hachijoji, a university neighborhood of Tokyo. They probably don't want couples cluttering up their table and bar space when they can serve more singles. I'm betting the sign is placed there purely for economic reasons.

Couples are more likely to order snacks or something to eat and spend much longer nursing a small glass of wine. Singles and college kids, on the other hand, will drink a lot more and generate more profits.

[mountn man]

And this is the society that had samurai warriors.

[thackney]

I wonder if two singles start talking to each other, will they kick them out?

[Brother Cracker]

[Blue Jays]

Good luck to them to serve restaurant patrons who arrive alone!

[a fool in paradise]

Lonely? Stop in for a breast or a thigh to go.

[a fool in paradise]

And this is the society that had samurai warriors.

Some even hailed from Kentucky.

[MrB]

[Brother Cracker]

[baddog 219]

[Boogieman]

Christmas is a depressing time for single people too. Why do you think the suicide rate rises so high around that time?

[Skooz]

I am in favor of this being the policy of every restaurant, cafe, coffee house and buffet in the free world.