Trois Ono
In recent months, Japan has been struggling with a disturbing trend that has come to be known as “food terrorism.” Licking soy sauce bottles, eating red ginger directly from shared containers, and blocking conveyor belts, are just some of the cases seen in many chain dining establishments. For a country constantly praised for its cleanliness, this incident sent people feeling absolutely repulsed. One Twitter user complains, “I can’t eat out anymore. What happened to our morals?” Though Japan has experienced these situations in the past, Japanese citizens have just been introduced to more relaxed COVID regulations, nearing a “New Normal” and thus, are particularly concerned about ‘food terrorism’ which can increase the risk of coronavirus clusters.
On the 29th of January, a video of a 17-year-old high school student licking a soy sauce bottle, an unused cup, and sushi then returning them as if nothing happened, circulated. Immediately, netizens were outraged at the delinquent’s behavior. Since the incident occurred, the Sushiro chain restaurant replaced all soy sauce bottles and implemented policies for customers. Being a multinational business, Sushiro co. did not take this prank lightly. Akindo Sushiro Co. rejected the teen’s apology and filed a formal police complaint.
There were numerous incidents that occurred as a chain reaction in other kaitenzushi restaurants. Recently, arrests were made on three individuals (aged 15, 19, 21) in Aichi prefecture following a video of Yoshino Ryoga (21) displaying aggressive behavior by grabbing sushi on the conveyor belt, stuffing it down his throat, and chugging a shared bottle of soy sauce. The arrests were the first of its kind. Kura sushi, where the incident occurred, stated “We sincerely hope the arrests will spread awareness in society that these pranks, which fundamentally undermine our system based on a relationship of trust with customers, are a crime.”
The rise of food terrorism has led many to question the development of youth after the pandemic. Many theorize that the pandemic has led youngsters to develop without a strong sense of morals. Others believe that social media has a definitive impact on the new generation. Since most of these videos were posted online on some of the biggest platforms, Tiktok and Twitter, there was a factor of wanting to rebel against adults whilst also receiving public attention.
Despite the initial concerns over health and safety eating out, Japanese citizens showed overwhelming support for the chain restaurants. The new Twitter trend “I want to save Sushiro” emerged as a way to combat the trend of ‘sushi terrorism.’ The CEO of Akindo Sushiro co., Nii Kouhei, expressed his immense appreciation for the Japanese people on Twitter, stating, “I am so filled with gratitude that I could cry.”
The recent incidents of food terrorism in Japan have sparked concern among the public and authorities alike. Such actions not only pose a serious health risk, but also have the potential to cause widespread panic and mistrust in the food industry. In addition, the trend demonstrates a decline in Japanese values in the younger generation, worrying civilians about the future of their country. Though it is important to acknowledge that these incidents are likely the actions of a small minority, it is crucial for individuals to understand the gravity of their own actions and the impact they can have on public health especially in light of the ongoing pandemic.
Trois Ono