In brief
Sukiya, one of Japan's largest restaurant chains, is taking precautionary measures by shutting down nearly 2,000 locations for deep cleaning after customers reported finding pests in their food, including a rat and an insect.
Sukiya, renowned for its beef-on-rice offerings, announced the temporary closure in response to recent pest-related incidents that have raised significant concerns among customers. The decision comes after a customer in Tokyo discovered an insect, believed to be a cockroach, in their meal last Friday. The growing unease dates back to January when a rat was found in a bowl of miso soup at one of its restaurants in Tottori, an incident that prompted widespread rumors on social media.In a statement, Sukiya expressed regret for the "great inconvenience and concern caused" and outlined plans to address the issue. Between March 31 and April 4, the majority of the chain's outlets will be closed to facilitate deep cleaning and inspections aimed at preventing further infestations. The company is taking measures to seal gaps in its buildings and improve waste management practices, including refrigerating rubbish.The initial revelation of the rat sighting led to a noticeable impact on Sukiya's stock prices, plunging last Monday before rebounding later in the week. These recent developments are expected to influence ongoing scrutiny of the company's shares. Sukiya is a subsidiary of Zensho Holdings, which oversees various restaurant chains across Japan.
