Sukiya Temporarily Shuts Down After Pest Incidents Prompt Customer Concerns

Sukiya, one of Japan's largest restaurant chains, has announced a temporary closure of its nearly 2,000 outlets for deep cleaning following multiple pest incidents that concerned customers, including a rat found in miso soup.

Sukiya, known for its beef-on-rice dishes, is taking swift action after two alarming incidents were reported involving pests in food. The company revealed that a rat had been discovered in a bowl of miso soup earlier this year but had not been confirmed until now. Most recently, an insect, rumored to be a cockroach, was found by a customer in Tokyo, prompting the chain to announce a complete closure for a thorough deep cleaning between March 31 and April 4.

In a public statement, Sukiya expressed apologies for the “great inconvenience and concern caused” by these findings. Rumors about the January rat incident had circulated for weeks on social media, which compelled the company to confirm the incident after public pressure. Following the initial reports, the Tottori location where the rat was found was temporarily closed. The company has since committed to inspecting all locations for potential pest entry points and reinforced measures regarding food storage.

The chain has faced scrutiny from the public and investors, with its stock being affected following the initial rat discovery last week. The drastic measure to temporarily shut down the chain for pest management comes after growing customer dissatisfaction, with share prices expected to reflect ongoing concerns about food safety and hygiene in the coming days. Sukiya is a subsidiary of Zensho Holdings, which operates multiple restaurant chains across Japan.