Photo/Illutration Katsuhiko Inaba, the owner of the toy store, exchanges final words with his neighbor while cleaning up the store on June 3. (Ryo Ikeda)

A traditional Japanese toy shop in business for more than a century is closing its doors for good on the Nakamise shopping street in Tokyo’s Asakusa district, another economic victim of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Inaba toy shop reopened after Japan's state of emergency lifted in late May, but Katsuhiko Inaba, 78, the store's fourth-generation owner, decided to shut it permanently shortly after.

“It was hard for me to bring its history to an end. I want to express my gratitude to people in the Nakamise shopping street and Asakusa,” Inaba said. 

Before the pandemic, many Japanese and foreign customers stopped by the shop on their way to Sensoji temple to buy toys such as toy swords and drums.

“Some regular customers used to come with their children and grandchildren,” Inaba said.

But the coronavirus drove the number of Inaba's customers into a free fall.

After his revenue halved in February, Inaba temporarily closed the shop in March.

“I didn't have anyone to take it over after I retired. (The coronavirus) gave me the push to close for good,” Inaba said.

All the shop's remaining toys will be donated to a charity association that will deliver them to children.

Inaba also gifted the store's shelves and accessories to neighbors who stopped by to speak with him.

“Many shop owners in this town are self-employed and are struggling to keep their businesses going under quite tough conditions. I'll keep asking the government to support them,” Inaba said.

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