Death knell sounds for some of Japan’s oldest department stores

 Death knell sounds for some of Japan’s oldest department stores

日本部分歷史最悠久的百貨公司喪鐘大作

【摘要2020.9.11.自由】◎張沛元

After more than three centuries in business, the Onuma department store in northern Japanese city of Yamagata began bankruptcy proceedings this year - one of many distinguished department stores across the country in dire straits.

在日本北部城市山形市營業超過3個世紀的大沼百貨公司，今年展開破產程序，為全日本各地許多經營陷入困境的知名百貨公司之一。

Japan’s department stores have been in a long slow decline as shopping habits change.

隨著購物習慣改變，日本的百貨公司已進入漫長且緩慢的衰退。

Now the coronavirus pandemic, just as it has forced U.S. retailers such as Lord & Taylor and Neiman Marcus into bankruptcy, is hammering nails into coffins for some - particularly those in regional areas.

如今新冠病毒肆虐全球，一如迫使美國零售百貨業者羅德與泰勒以及尼曼馬庫斯破產，該病毒正對部分——特別是區域型百貨公司，發出催命符。

Last month, 146-year-old Nakago closed the doors of its last remaining store in Fukushima city, while Izutsuya Co Ltd, a chain in the southern city of Kita Kyushu, shuttered one of its two main stores. （Reuters）

上個月，有146年歷史的中合百貨公司關閉在福島市碩果僅存的最後一家分店，至於在南部城市北九州市的連鎖百貨公司井筒屋，則關閉了兩大主要分店中的一家。（路透）

新聞辭典

death knell：名詞，喪鐘，預示終結。例句：U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned China’s proposed national security law for Hong Kong, warning that the passage of the legislation would be a "death knell" for Hong Kong’s autonomy.（美國國務卿龐皮歐譴責中國研議的港版國家安全法，警告通過該法會是香港自治的「喪鐘」。）

in dire straits：慣用語，形容情況嚴峻，困境。

a nail in the coffin：慣用語，（釘入）棺材釘，形容某事的終結或失敗；催命符；導致失敗的事件。例句：Getting arrested for drunk driving was the nail in the coffin of his college scholarship.（酒駕被抓成為他的大學獎學金的催命符。）