Recent reports have revealed a concerning trend in Japan, known as ‘sushi terrorism’. Two men have been taken into custody after posting a video, showing them eating from a communal bowl of food at a popular chain restaurant.
Ryu Shimazu and Toshihide Oka, both 35 and 34 respectively, are suspected of obstructing business and accused of property damage. The video, taken at Yoshinoya restaurant, showed Oka filming Shimazu as he ate directly out of a bowl of pickled ginger using chopsticks. This incident, reportedly reported by a viewer, has compelled the restaurant to throw out any potentially contaminated food and to alert the police.
According to Shimazu and Oka, the video was uploaded to social media purely for jovial purposes. Unfortunately, their prank served as a larger sign for the rise of the ‘sushi terror’ trend; videos and photos of the stunt have been posted online with the hashtag #寿司テロ. Elderly conveyor belt restaurants across Japan have been targets for behavior such as licking soy sauce bottles, or adding wasabi to random dishes on the conveyor belt.
Shimazu and Oka face tough sentences if convicted, with a maximum of 6 years and a fine of around $6000. Yoshinoya expressed dismay of the situation and expressed their regret that this video could cause customers to question the safety of the restaurant. In response, many restaurants worldwide are taking the initiative to install CCTV footage and artificial intelligence technology to identify suspicious behavior amongst customers.
Yoshinoya is a global chain of restaurants, based in Japan. It serves a range of affordable and quick meals, with a focus on hygienic and authentic Japanese cuisine. Founded over 140 years ago, it is popular both in Japan and overseas.
Ryu Shimazu is a 35-year-old man currently in custody in Japan for the crime of ‘Sushi Terrorism’. He was caught on camera eating directly from a communal bowl of pickled ginger in Yoshinoya restaurant with his chopsticks, a low-level crime that has been marked by the Japanese police with heavy punishment. He has since expressed that the video was posted with good intentions and as a comedic gesture.
