Fluctuations in the Number of Stores by Industry During the COVID-19 Pandemic Based on Japanese Phone Book Entries

Currently in Japan, summaries of the number of bankruptcies due to the spread of COVID-19 can only be obtained from surveys conducted by a few research firms targeting particular companies. In this study, we used Japanese telephone directory data containing detailed information on the location and industrial category of stores/facilities nationwide in an effort to infer the influence of COVID-19 on businesses in Japan. We analyzed the temporal change in the number of stores before and after the COVID-19 outbreak. Among other findings, the analysis revealed that the number of travel agencies and facilities offering karaoke and other forms of entertainment declined significantly after the outbreak in some prefectures, with the largest declines in Ibaraki, Osaka, and Hyogo prefectures, and a relatively small decline in Tochigi prefecture. Among the stores and facilities categorized as restaurants and travel-related services, the decline was particularly significant in urban areas such as Tokyo and Osaka prefectures.