Nationwide fury, legal action over ‘crass’ prank videos of ‘sushi terrorism’ in Japan
Japan sees unhygienic pranks at sushi conveyor belt restaurants.
Japan is witnessing a nationwide fury over unhygienic pranks at sushi conveyor belt restaurants and besides hastriggeredstock slumps, venue overhaulsand even legal action. Several prank videos on social media – dubbed ''sushi terrorism'' – show people indulging in unhygienic acts at such restaurants. On Twitter, a nearly 50-second video shared on January 29, showedan apparent teenage boy licking the top of a communal soy sauce bottle and placing it back on the conveyor belt while checking around to ensure that no one is watching him. He then proceeds to lick the rim of a teacup. The video ends with the teenager licking his fingers and touching a piece of sushi as it goes past the belt.
A report by the news agency AFP on Friday (February 3) said the video, which got over 39 million views, was filmed at a branch of Sushiro in Gifu city. The act prompted stocks in the restaurant's parent company to plunge nearly five per cent.
Some other videos emerged of customers at different chains putting wasabi on passing pieces of sushi or licking the spoon in a tea powder container.
Taking to Twitter, one user said, "This is sickening," while another tweeted, "I can't go to conveyor belt sushi restaurants anymore."
According to a statement, Sushiro – the Japanese multinational conveyor belt sushi speciality store – said the teenager in the video apologised but the firm filed a formal police complaint. "As a company, we will continue to respond firmly with both criminal and civil cases," Sushiro said.
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
National Handloom Day 2026: From Alia Bhatt to Samantha Ruth Prabhu; Actresses who celebrated India's textile heritage as brides
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Unitree Robotics targets $9 billion valuation in landmark IPO backed by DeepSeek and Tencent
)
India names 27 sites in Arunachal Pradesh
)
Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata OTT: When will Kangana Ranaut's film stream online?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How many soldiers operate one S-400 battery?
)
Shakib Al Hasan ready to return to Bangladesh—under one condition
)
‘Fake news’: MEA rejects report claiming India sought defence pact with Israel after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey deal
)
Rockstar to unveil GTA 6 extended look ahead of November launch
)
Russia forms Ukrainian Volunteer Spetsnaz Brigade to fight Ukraine
)
Drug-resistant fungus that hides in hair and enters bloodstream reported in 23 US states
)
Technology transfer deal boosts India's defence manufacturing ambitions
)
Border row erupts in Europe after Ceuta crossings, Spain imposes border controls on Italy
)
Morale plummets on USS Abraham Lincoln: Are US sailors reaching a breaking point? | GRAVITAS
)
'Security can't be bought with Pakistan, Turkey deal': Iran tells Saudi Arabia
)
Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside
)
Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella vows to ‘defeat narco-terrorists’, signals hardline shift
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (August 7, 2026): Operation Safed Sagar, Vadhandhi, Main Vaapis Aaunga- 6 movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth scripts history as Indian Air Force gets its first woman ‘Top Gun’ pilot
)
RSS says Gen Z protests reflect genuine distress
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
IAF officer held for sharing sensitive information in 'honey trap' case, booked under Official Secrets Act
)
Stray Kids under scrutiny? Fans react to Grammy submission silence after BTS boycott
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI doesn't need external fuel tanks to fly vast distances
)
Jugal Hansraj reunites with Shekhar Kapur after 40 years for Masoom: The Next Generation
)
New speed limits, automatic challans: Big traffic change coming to Delhi-Meerut Expressway. All you need to know
)
India officially names 27 places in Arunachal to counter China's renaming claims
)
Trump calls White House ballroom ruling a 'national disgrace' as court says Congress approval needed
)
US sanctions Iran’s crypto network after Strait of Hormuz attacks, offers $15m bounty for intel on IRGC finance
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI is one of the heaviest fighters ever built
)
Uttarakhand young innovator builds India's own flying vehicle, conducts first test flight: WATCH
)
Chilling video shows students take cover as teen opens fire at Thai school
)
Reese Witherspoon's father hospitalised after poolside incident in Nashville: Report
It added that soy sauce bottles at the affected store were replaced, and cups were cleaned. The firm also announced new restaurant policies.
The AFP report said that at Sushiro's Gifu branch and other nearby branches, customers would now take utensils and condiments to their tables from a serving point. And across Japan, diners would be able to request disinfected tableware.
Two other sushi chains affected by ''sushi terrorism'' — Hama-sushi and Kura Sushi — said they were planning to take legal action. A report by the Jiji press agency said that Kura Sushi was planning to install cameras above conveyor belts to monitor customers.
(With inputs from agencies)
WATCH WION LIVE HERE