TOKYO: A series of unhygienic pranks at sushi conveyor belt restaurants in Japan have sparked furious social media criticism alongside prompting stock slumps, venue overhauls and legal action.
A video which received nearly 40 million views on Twitter, an apparently teenaged customer is seen licking the top of a communal soy sauce bottle and the rim of a teacup. The teenager then places back on a shelf, before licking his finger and touching a small piece of sushi as it goes past on the belt.
The viral video clip, filmed at a branch of the Sushiro chain in central Japan prompted the stocks of the restaurants parent firm to fall nearly five percent on Tuesday.
Other videos showed customers at different restaurants putting wasabi on passing sushi pieces and licking spoons in green tea powder containers.
The incidents, which appear to be confined to just a few videos, have sparked an uproar in Japan, a country known for its high standards of cleanliness.
Sushi chain takes action
In response, some restaurant chains have taken legal action, changed their policies, and installed cameras to monitor customers.
Despite the initial outrage, there has also been a wave of support for the affected firms online, with some tweeting their backing under the hashtag #saveSushiro. — APP
