More than 100 businesses have decided to close in four municipalities in Ishikawa Prefecture since they were hit hard by the massive Noto Peninsula earthquake on Jan. 1, according to local chambers of commerce and industry.
Many business owners are giving up on rebuilding their businesses as the affected areas are experiencing population outflows due to slow progress in reconstruction efforts.
As of May 27, the number of businesses that had decided to close was at least 48 in the city of Suzu, 38 in the city of Wajima, 16 in the town of Noto and 10 in the town of Anamizu.