2020.05.01 2025.06.13

Bankruptcy and closing time issues! The real financial situation of con cafes during the COVID-19 lockdown

Akihabara BC

It has been a month since the request for self-restraint due to the spread of COVID-19. Although no stores have closed since April 2nd, specific amounts needed to keep stores open are being floated around, and it is finally time for "bankruptcy"These two words are becoming a reality.

INDEX

No closures. Many reopenings postponed.
- Anyway, the rent is crazy
- But how can we survive?

No closures. Many reopenings postponed.

https://akihabara-bc.jp/akihabara-concafe-heiten/
As mentioned in the article above, A-Front Building is a new den of Akihabara, with 5 of its 10 floors being con cafes, but due to the impact of COVID-6, openings have been postponed one after another. In addition to "The Seven Deadly Sins" on the 4th floor,Magical Twintails", 9F "MOET PARTY" have also announced that they will postpone their openings.
The store that was scheduled to open in Kandanode21The opening of " has been postponed until 2021. It has an Olympic-like grandeur.

The concept cafe "The Seven Deadly Sins," which was scheduled to open on April 1st, has been forced to postpone its opening due to the request to close due to the COVID-4 pandemic.
We are very sorry to all of you who have been looking forward to this event, but we are currently facing the issue of how long we can endure this crisis. Updates on our status will be posted here.

— [NEW] Concept Cafe The Seven Deadly Sins 2020 (@seven_akiba) April 20, 2020

A-Front Building 5FStarry Forest", 8F "MOET COLLECTIONAlthough there has been no announcement from ", it is believed to be in a similar situation.

Anyway, the rent is crazy

So far, no stores have closed, but it's clear that if things continue as they are, they'll be in dire straits. Rent is a particularly fatal problem, with the combined monthly rent of "Anime Song Bar Guild," which has five stores in Tokyo, and "PINK DRAGON" in Akihabara announcing a realistic figure of 3.4 million yen, and 750,000 yen, respectively. The cash-strapped con cafes are exuding a sense of desperation, unable to care about appearances.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06P8elJ-QrE
A heartbreaking monologue by the president of Luminous Co., Ltd., the company that runs the "Anime Song Bar Guild." The deadline of the end of June is also quite vivid.

Due to the coronavirus closure request, we will be suspending business.
We will let you know when we have a plan to resume operations.
The rent is about 75 yen, and I'm honestly worried about how long I can endure it, but my life is more important than anything.
We hope that the day will come when we can meet again in good health with all our customers who support us. Please take care of your health.

— 🎊Concept Cafe PINK DRAGON Akihabara (@pindra_akiba) April 20, 2020

"PINK DRAGON" seriesGinza "GIRLS NEXT PHI" conducts crowdfundingHowever, this is not enough to cover even one month's rent.

If things continue like this, it's going to be bad! So many stores are scrambling to raise funds through online streaming, mail order, and crowdfunding. Although they have raised a decent amount of money, it's still just a drop in the bucket. If they could get by with online streaming, they wouldn't have opened stores in the first place.
So, they decided to take out a loan to keep themselves afloat! However, this is not the case in the con cafe industry. Toy Group, which operates multiple stores in Akihabara, revealed on Twitter that it had been denied a loan. In reality, it seems that there are not many con cafes, not just Toy Group, that will suddenly lend you money.

Current situation explanation

As we announced on April 8th, Toy Group had consulted with the Ueno branch of the Japan Finance Corporation to receive the "COVID-4 Special Loan," but in the end we were unable to receive a single yen in loans.

We are currently in discussions about the future, and we will do our best to give everyone good news. pic.twitter.com/e7voCH7USy

— Akihabara Maid Cafe TOYGROUP (@TOYGROUP_tw) April 27, 2020

If the company runs out of cash, it will go bankrupt, and the management may be left with huge debts.

But how can we survive?

Stores can't open. Even if they do, customers won't come. Online revenue is dwindling. Banks won't lend money. And worst of all, there's still no end in sight to the infection. The only way to achieve a miraculous V-shaped recovery from this point is literally if a miracle occurs. Unfortunately for business owners, it seems like closing down isn't a bad idea at all.

On the other hand, for "strong" cast members who already have a regular customer base, the reason for the store's existence is becoming increasingly diluted. There is no need for a physical store in an online environment, and if a store is voluntarily suspending operations, individuals can simply rent space and hold events. With the widespread use of social media, perhaps there is no need to continue to belong to a store.

A customer from my maid days came to the cabaret club the day before yesterday and the con cafe yesterday, but the cabaret club bill was 23000 yen and I got 9700 yen, and the con cafe bill was 33000 yen and I got 2130 yen. It makes me cry.

— Lumba-chan (@Pigfarm__) April 26, 2020

Regardless of whether it's true or not, the concrete numbers are impressive. It's a pyramid of customers → cast → management.

It will be a difficult time for humans to live in for a while, but we ask that all managers, cast members, and other employees take care of yourselves.

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