Japanese Apple Stores to go ahead with Golden Week events
updated 09:45 am EDT, Fri April 22, 2011
Sendai store newly re-opened with limited service
Apple will observe but not celebrate Golden Week in Japan, a report notes. The week includes several national holidays, and is therefore often a vacation time for workers and students. From May 1st through the 5th Japanese Apple Stores will be holding training sessions, creative exhibitions, and workshops for adults and children.
The issue of how to treat Golden Week is sensitive this year because the country is still coping with the aftermath of March 11th's 9.0 earthquake and ensuing tsunami, which together killed over 14,000 people, leaving just as many unaccounted for. The Sendai Apple Store -- closest to the epicenter of the quake -- only reopened this week, but will have limited operations during Golden Week. These include repairs, product questions and tech support, and visitor use of the Internet.
For a brief time following the disaster the Sendai store served a minor aid role. Because other communications were difficult, people gathered at the Apple Store to take advantage of its free Wi-Fi. The city has gradually been returning to normal.
