Tokyo jewellery trade show opens despite Covid state of emergency
Tokyo, Jan 13 (efe-epa).- Thousands of people are set to flock to Tokyo’s international jewellery trade fair, one of the most important of its kind in Asia, which opened Wednesday despite the ongoing state of alarm in Japan due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
International Jewellery Tokyo has been held in Japan for more than 30 years and this year, amid a health crisis, some 510 exhibitors are poised to welcome 30,000 visitors, according to organizers.
The fair is to go ahead despite the recent decision from the Japanese government to extend the state of emergency beyond the capital to include seven other regions, including Osaka and Kyoto.
The state of emergency in Tokyo and its surrounding area is due to remain in place until at least 8 February. The measures include limits to social gatherings, such as a 5,000 person or 50% capacity cap in large event spaces.
IJT organizers said the domestic health restrictions would not affect the event although the number of participants is set to be lower than usual due to the current ban on international travel into Japan.
Health and safety protocols such as mask-wearing, temperature checkers and ventilation will be in place at the event.
The jewellery show is due to run from Wednesday to 16 January at the Big Sight international exhibition centre in Tokyo.
Participants at the event include artisans, manufacturers and distributors of traditional Japanese jewellery, traders of native Japanese pearls and diamonds and other sought-after gems such as sapphires, rubies, agate and emeralds.
In its 2019 edition, exhibitors from 32 countries around the world participated, and products were sold for a value of $30.6 million, according to data from the organization.EFE-EPA
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