The encyclopedia · Strategy & Leadership · Strategic decision · 1980–2026
Kani Goten (かに御殿) crab souvenir shop, self-bankrupt in 2026
Maruyoshi Suisan ran Kani Goten, a Shiraoi crab shop famous for its bear-and-salmon roof — COVID emptied it and the ¥320M landmark stopped business in 2026.
Maruyoshi Suisan (株式会社マルヨシ水産) · 2026-07-20
What happened
Maruyoshi Suisan operated Kani Goten, a souvenir shop and restaurant in the Shiraoi area of Hokkaido selling crab and other marine products. Founded in 1980, the business became a landmark of the local tourist road, known for the large bear and salmon statues on its roof.
COVID-19 cut the flow of visitors, and the harsh conditions continued afterwards. Customers did not return, cash flow deteriorated, and the company stopped business on 20 July 2026, preparing to file for self-bankruptcy.
Liabilities are about ¥320 million. The closure was reported on 22 July 2026.
Why it happened
- One tourist flow fed everything: Kani Goten's customers were visitors passing through Shiraoi, so when travel stopped the shop had no other base to fall back on.
- The recovery never came: after COVID the difficult conditions continued, and a business built on sightseeing could not rebuild its own demand.
- No second income stream: a 46-year business with one location and one product line found nothing to lean on while cash drained.
The lesson
A shop that lives on one tourist flow is a weathervane: COVID emptied the road to Kani Goten and the visitors never came back, leaving the 1980 landmark unable to pay its bills.
Aftermath
Maruyoshi Suisan stopped business on 20 July 2026 and prepared to file for self-bankruptcy, with liabilities of about ¥320 million. The company, founded in 1980, operated Kani Goten, a souvenir shop and restaurant in Shiraoi, Hokkaido, selling crab and marine products, and was a local landmark thanks to the large bear and salmon statues on its roof. Customers declined due to COVID-19 and continued harsh conditions strained cash flow until continuation was judged impossible. Reported 22 July 2026.
Sources
spotted an error? The club wants to know.
More like this
Daimaru Shimonoseki, western Yamaguchi's last department store, closes August 2027
Fukuoka PARCO, Tenjin's fashion landmark, closes in Feb 2027 for a rebuild
Isetan went from six Singapore stores to one in thirteen years
Somewhere, someone solved the problem this company failed at. 2nd Opinion →
Comments · 0
Sign in to join the comments.