Tokyo department stores collectively experienced a decline in sales, causing a heavy blow to the antique industry in Japan.

Recently, due to factors such as the incorrect remarks made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Japan has significantly decreased, which has also impacted the retail industry in Japan. The latest data released by four major department stores in Japan at the beginning of January showed that duty-free sales in December 2025 decreased across the board, with some companies experiencing a 40% decline in sales to Chinese tourists. In certain areas of Nagano Prefecture in Japan, which rely heavily on the tourism industry, the restaurant, antique, and hotel industries have all been affected. Local practitioners in these industries expressed concern. The manager of a restaurant in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, said, "In previous years, there were a lot of Chinese tourists, but in the past two to three months, the number of Chinese tourists has significantly decreased, to the point where we hardly see any." An antique dealer in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, explained, "There used to be many Chinese tourists, but now there are far fewer. If Chinese people are not coming to Japan or not buying things here, it is a huge blow for us in the antique business."