![]() It now has 210 locations in Tokyo, including 40 that opened during the pandemic. Since then, however, the number has been recovering, returning to about 15.55 million as of July.Īnytime Fitness, a 24-hour gym chain, has been growing nationwide even after the pandemic began. Rizap Group President Takeshi Seto, left, and actor Ken Matsudaira promote chocozap fitness clubs in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, in September.Īccording to the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry’s Survey on Selected Service Industries, the number of fitness club users nationwide plummeted by 95% from about 18.35 million in May 2019 to about 890,000 in May 2020, when the coronavirus began to spread. “We will continue to support people who are suffering from a lack of exercise.” “Our membership growth demonstrates the demand for exercise during the pandemic,” said Kazuki Murahashi, executive officer in charge of the company’s operations. Rizap has about 64,000 members nationwide and plans to open more locations, mainly in Tokyo. ![]() In the past year, Rizap has opened 134 gyms that are open around the clock, including chocozap, with 67 of them located in Tokyo. The company emphasizes the convenience and affordability of chocozap, which charges a monthly fee of just ¥3,278.Ĭustomers can use a dedicated app to check how crowded a certain location is, while the operator confirms whether users are wearing masks via security cameras. They provide beginners with an exercise menu from which they can see results with just 5 minutes of exercise a day. Rizap has been known for its high-end facilities, but chocozap are so-called convenience gyms that operate without staff. Inc., said in September at an opening ceremony for one of its “chocozap” 24-hour gyms, which Rizap plans to expand nationwide. “We want to provide services that allow everyone to stay active, despite the sense of stagnation caused by the pandemic,” Takeshi Seto, president of Rizap Group. Sports gyms that stay open around the clock, or offer personal training sessions to avoid crowded conditions, appear to be especially popular at a time when many people are eager to remedy their lack of exercise amid the teleworking trend. TOKYO – Fitness clubs in Tokyo are diversifying how they operate during the coronavirus pandemic, leading to steady expansion in the market.
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