Sushi chain in Japan may consult police over video of man pouring liquid on sushi

Hama-Sushi said it would take strict action, including potentially consulting police, after a video showing a person pouring what appears to be dish soap onto sushi at one of its conveyor-belt sushi restaurants went viral online.

The video, posted on TikTok on Wednesday, appears to show the uploader pouring liquid from a dish soap bottle onto sushi that had been delivered to him via a conveyor belt at a Hama-Sushi restaurant. The video has since been deleted.

The uploader, a male TikTok user with around 12,000 followers, has previously posted several other videos often referred to as “rage bait,” or posting something provocative online to get attention.

Over the past several years, there have been a spate of viral videos featuring unhygienic pranks at conveyor-belt sushi restaurants, with such acts referred to in Japan as “sushi terrorism.” In 2023, one video in particular that gained notoriety was of a high schooler licking a soy sauce dispenser at Sushiro, another major chain.

In a video posted to his TikTok account Monday, the uploader apologized, saying: “I would like to apologize to the staff and everyone who works at Hama-Sushi. I have no idea why I did it. It was stupid.”

Hama-Sushi’s parent company, Zensho Holdings, condemned the incident in a statement provided to The Japan Times.

“Such inappropriate behavior in a space where many customers are meant to be able to enjoy their meals with peace of mind is utterly unacceptable,” said a Hama-Sushi public relations representative.

“We also recognize this as an extremely serious issue, as it could lead to health problems for other customers. We intend to deal with the matter thoroughly, including by consulting with police.”