Earlier this week, toilet paper was available almost everywhere in Japan. Now, it is sold in stores across the country because of the coronavirus. Here's how this happened.
Rumors have been circulating that the materials used to make toilet paper are not imported and that will result in shortages. Since it is already difficult to buy a sick mask (and people meet in the morning when drug stores bring them in) to Japan, rumors on the toilet paper seem unlikely.
Worse then after photos of shops in Kumamoto Prefecture revealed that the toilets were for sale – they were probably awakened by rumors! It was seen as a local problem because while the pictures were being circulated online, it was still possible to walk through most shops this morning elsewhere in Japan and buy toilet paper. Sales have become more frequent in the afternoon and evening. Tires and paper towels have also disappeared from store shelves. Near where I live in Osaka all the toilet paper is already gone.
However, the initial rumors about the difficulties of importing from China are completely absurd. As Chukyo TV reports, only 2.3 percent of toilet paper sold in Japan depends on Chinese production. When these rumors started circulating, some people uploaded pictures on Twitter showing the introduction of domestic papers for sale, which clearly says Taiwan 製 or "made in Japan."
"None of these member companies have run out of products (paper)," said a Japanese toilet paper industry representative. The news of the Princichi
But …
None of this stopped you from buying shocks or disrespectful people trying to hand over the toilet paper.
This fear of toilet paper is not the first in Japan. After March 11, 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, withdrawal caused deficiency. But even before that, back in 1973, there were even rivals for toilet paper in Japan. Here is Matt Alt, the author of Pure Establishment, explaining how that went down:
Hopefully, unlike in 1973, the purchase of a toilet paper in Japan will no longer be exported.
