TOKYO, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- A Tokyo restaurant announced couples will not be welcome at the eatery on Christmas Eve because the sight of them would make single customers feel lonely.

The PiaPia restaurant posted a note in its window featuring a hand-drawn couple and a heart that have been crossed out with an explanation stating, "We will be refusing entry to all couples on December 24, with no exceptions!"


The note says couples would serve as a reminder of loneliness for single patrons on Christmas Eve and romantic pairs "would cause severe emotional trauma to members of our staff" who have to work on the holiday.

PiaPia worker Takashi Kyozuka said the sign was posted because eatery staff don't want customers to "feel sad that they are by themselves."

"To start with, someone said we should ban couples as a bit of a joke, but then we realized that it's true," he told The Telegraph. "If you are single on Christmas Eve, then it's easy to get down."