This Iconic Cafe Visited By Jennie Blackpink To Dua Lipa Is Closed Due To The COVID-19 Pandemic

Kawaii Monster Cafe. (Sumber: Wikimedia Commons/Roxanne Ready)

JAKARTA - The glitter and hustle and bustle of the crowd in a corner of Tokyo, Japan will certainly disappear. In fact, the crowd came from one of the iconic cafes in Japan.

Not only iconic, this cafe called Kawaii Monster Cafe is also a symbol of Japanese 'kawaii' pop culture. This cafe is a mandatory destination for tourists from abroad, including celebrities.

Located in the center of youth culture in the capital Harajuku, its functional aesthetic with bizarre colors and designs attracts celebrities from around the world. Call it reality show star Kim Kardasian, singer Dua Lipa to K-pop Idol Jennie Blackpink.

For five years this cafe has been in great demand, but the COVID-19 pandemic has knocked him out. Starting from losing overseas customers due to the pandemic, customers from within the country have slowly decreased along with restrictions due to the imposition of an emergency status due to COVID-19.

Kawaii Monster Cafe. (Instagram / @ kawaiimonstercafe)

The devastating hit is increasingly being felt, after hopes to reap from the 2020 Olympics did not materialize, because the multi-branch sports party between countries was postponed and it is not clear when the event will be held.

"I find it very difficult to maintain this business, without knowing how long the current situation will last," cafe manager Keisuke Yamada told Reuters.

"It is difficult for overseas customers to come to Japan, and it is also difficult for customers in Japan to leave," he added.

Operating hours had to be cut so that the cafe closed earlier, at 7 pm local time, after previously temporarily closing operations for 2 1/2 months due to the corona virus emergency status.

Finally, on January 31, the cafe closed down, along with the end of the rental period. Fans also flocked to the cafe's final day, paying attention to health restrictions and protocols.

"I am happy to come on the last day. I am truly moved, "said Misuzu Kida, 24 years old.

Kawaii Monster Cafe. (Instagram / @ kawaiimonstercafe)

Kida is one of the fans who flocked to get one last chance, to see their favorite cosplay-inspired 'Monster Girls' staff and soak up the atmosphere in quirky themed areas, such as Mushroom Disco and Mel-Tea Room.

Meanwhile for Sebastian Masuda, the artist who designed this cafe, said it was sad to see this reality up close. However, he remains optimistic about the future of this trend-setting district.

“In Harajuku, regardless of age and era, the younger generation will always create a new culture. So I am sure the younger generation will make something interesting again, "he assured.

To note, the Japanese government plans to extend the application of emergency status in Tokyo and a number of other areas, related to preventing the spread of COVID-19. Currently, Japan has 390,687 cases of infection and 5,766 deaths.