Strike in a department store in Tokyo, unprecedented protest since 1962

2023-08-31 16:29:59

On Thursday, August 31, a historic strike is held in Japan. As of this morning, one of the busiest department stores in Tokyo remains closed. And this strike does not go unnoticed in the archipelago, since the last strike in this sector took place more than sixty years ago.

First modification: 08/31/2023 – 16:29

1 min

With Bruno Duval, Tokyo correspondent for RFI

Seibu Ikebukuro is the Tokyo version of the famous London Harrods: a high-end department store, with twelve floors and 100,000 customers a day. But on Thursday, August 31, it closed its doors. The unions are protesting against the sale of the store to a US investment fund, which plans to turn it into an electronics store.

A strike in this sector is unprecedented since 1962 in Japan. And most Tokyoites aren’t thrilled: “Department stores are essential services, like post offices or banks, so for me strikes in these sectors should be prohibited,” says a Tokyo resident. . “Going on strike is taking the general public hostage,” added another Tokyoite.

But other residents understand the social movement, like this woman: “A strike is never ideal. After all, these people are fighting to preserve some commercial diversity: Tokyo already has a lot of electronics stores.” I applaud. In Japan, employees are always asked to do their best, but servility has never advanced humanity,” says a Japanese interviewee.

Strikers with blurred faces

Stoppages are rare in Japan, where only 16% of employees are unionized. Joining a workers’ organization is often seen as a sign of defiance of the employer.

Many of the strikers at Seibu Ikebukuro currently appear on television with their faces blurred and their voices distorted so as not to be recognized.