A Japanese sushi chain is suing a high school student who licked his finger and touched a plate of sushi at one of their restaurants.
According to Japanese broadcaster NHK, Akindo Sushiro Co. claims that they suffered a significant decline in customers following the circulation of a viral video. The footage not only showed the student touching the plate of sushi but also licking a soy sauce bottle and a cup. Akindo Sushiro Co. filed a lawsuit at the Osaka District Court, alleging losses of approximately 16 billion yen ($115 million) due to the video.
Since the video was uploaded in January, it gained widespread attention in Japan and became part of a series of similar videos involving Sushiro’s competitors. Collectively, these videos contributed to the popularization of the term “sushi terrorism,” which refers to unsanitary behaviors observed at sushi train restaurants in Japan.
The student’s legal representative submitted a letter to the court in May, requesting the dismissal of the lawsuit. The letter acknowledged the student’s admission of the act and expressed remorse for his actions. However, it argued that there was insufficient evidence to establish a direct connection between the student’s actions and the decline in customers.
Akindo Sushiro Co. has chosen not to publicly address the incident further while the case is under appeal. The company’s statement emphasized their commitment to addressing customer behavior and their readiness to take rigorous measures, both in criminal and civil aspects, to effectively address such conduct.
