COVID-19 scary? Japan group offers coffins, chainsaws for stress relief

Customers can lie in a windowed box and get poked with fake hands and squirted with water

Published: August 22, 2020 20:45 Reuters and Compiled by Nathaniel Lacsina, Senior Web Editor

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Tokyo: Finding the pandemic scary? A Japanese group is trying to take people's minds off COVID-19 - by putting them in coffins surrounded by chainsaw-wielding zombies. Image Credit: Reuters

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Customers this weekend in Tokyo can lie in a 2-metre (6 1/2-foot) windowed box, listening to a horror story, watching actors perform and getting poked with fake hands and squirted with water. Image Credit: Reuters

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"The pandemic is stressful, and we hope people can get a bit of relief by having a good scream," said Kenta Iwana, coordinator of production company Kowagarasetai - "Scare Squad" - which is putting on the 15-minute shows. Image Credit: Reuters

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As Japan experiences a COVID-19 upswing - with 1,034 infections of the new coronavirus on Friday - Iwana, 25, is scrambling to find work for his actors, who normally perform at venues such as theme parks. Image Credit: Reuters

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Last month Kowagarasetai offered drive-in horror shows. Image Credit: Reuters

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Customers, too, are looking for alternatives - and a way to blow off steam. Image Credit: Reuters

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"Lots of events have been cancelled because of the coronavirus, and I was looking for a way to get rid of my stress," said Kazushiro Hashiguchi, 36, said after lying through the 800-yen ($7.60) show. Image Credit: Reuters

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"I feel relaxed now." Customers for the shows, held in a rest lounge usually used by passengers arriving in the capital on overnight bus trips, include shopping mall owners and operators of other venues who Iwana hopes will host his mobile shows. Image Credit: Reuters

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"We needed to have something that we could take anywhere, and coffins are easy to move. All you need to do is put them in a dark room," said Iwana. Image Credit: Reuters

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"It's good business for us and satisfying for our customers." Image Credit: Reuters

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An actor dressed as zombie performs during a coffin horror show. Image Credit: Reuters

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An actor dressed as zombie performs during a coffin horror show. Image Credit: Reuters

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An actor dressed as zombie performs during a coffin horror show. Image Credit: Reuters

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An actor dressed as zombie performs during a coffin horror show. Image Credit: Reuters

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