OSAKA — Shopkeepers here are disheartened by the impact the World Cup soccer finals are having on the area's economy.
Local merchants said foreigners who are visiting Osaka to watch the games are keeping a tight hold on their purse strings, with one restaurant owner saying, "Many foreigners order only beer, and no food."
Osaka hosted its first of three World Cup games on Wednesday, when Nigeria and England played to a 0-0 draw. It will also be the site of Friday's Tunisia-Japan game and a quarterfinal match on June 22.