The culture of Japanese kaiten sushi (conveyor belt sushi) is being lost due to a viral trend of reckless behavior at the sushi chain restaurant Sushiro by young Japanese people who posted videos of themselves on social media, such as sucking on shared soy sauce bottles, licking plates, and putting wasabi on other people’s sushi plates.
As a result, the hygiene image of conveyor belt sushi has also deteriorated, causing a massive drop in the stock prices of the company that operates Sushiro, “FOOD & LIFE COMPANIES,” resulting in a loss of 16.8 billion yen in one night.
What is conveyor belt sushi?
Conveyor belt sushi is a restaurant style that originated in Japan, where sushi is served.
The sushi is placed on small plates and placed on a conveyor belt that rotates near the counter. Customers can take the sushi plates that pass in front of them and eat them as is. The price is generally set by the color of the plate, and in addition to traditional Japanese sushi, the menu offers a variety of side dishes. Conveyor belt sushi is popular not only in Japan but also overseas because it offers sushi at a reasonable price and is easy to enjoy.
Support for Sushiro
Amid concerns about customers staying away from revolving sushi restaurants, a movement to support Sushiro spread through social media, with TV personalities and influencers joining the cause. Many people tried Sushiro for the first time and praised its deliciousness. Thanks to this effect, a significant image downgrade was avoided.
Abandoned the conveyor belt sushi system and changed to a touch panel ordering system
To avoid future malicious pranks, many conveyor belt sushi chains, including Sushiro, have stopped placing sushi on conveyor belts and have switched to a touch panel order system. The incident caused a significant image damage to the conveyor belt sushi industry, which had been going on for a long time in Japan.
Internet lynching is also a problem
The incident has caused a lot of problems, including net mobbing. The student who posted the troublesome video is now facing the consequences of his actions, as it has caused financial damages to the company and affected the entire industry. Netizens have also taken matters into their own hands by conducting “net mobbing” and publishing the student’s personal information, such as his name, age, and school, causing the student to be criticized by many people via email and phone calls. The student ultimately decided to voluntarily leave the school.
While some believe the student got what he deserved, others argue that, despite his misconduct, privacy and opportunities for reform should be equally available to everyone, and net mobbing like this can lead to serious problems.
Conclusion
The Japanese cultural experience of kaiten sushi, where customers choose their sushi from a moving conveyor belt, is being lost due to the irresponsible behavior of a few individuals. It is essential to consider the impact and dangers of social media when attempting to gain attention, as demonstrated in this incident.
