Japanese broadcasters have reported that David Bouhadana, the New York sushi chef behind the Sushi by Bou omakase chain, has been indicted in Japan on marijuana possession charges. Prosecutors have dropped a separate investigation alleging that he helped smuggle drugs into the country, saying there wasn’t enough evidence to prove smuggling.
Asked about the case, a spokesperson from Simplevenue, the company behind Sushi by Bou, said in an emailed statement: “We’re aware of the situation and respecting his privacy at this time. Our focus remains on our guests and providing them with our exceptional experience as always.” Bouhadana remains in Japan; whether he’s still in jail isn’t clear.
In mid-November, a local TV station in Kochi Prefecture reported that an American man who had served as a tourism ambassador for the small coastal city of Susaki had been indicted on October 21 for alleged possession of dried cannabis. The man, identified in Japanese reports as 39-year-old “David Bujadana” or “David Buhadana,” was later investigated on suspicion of arranging for narcotics to be shipped from the United States to Japan, but the Kochi District Public Prosecutors Office stated that it “determined it would be difficult to prove involvement in smuggling.” Coverage from Kochi Sun Sun TV said Bouhadana was arrested in Susaki on September 30 after police allegedly found a small quantity of cannabis at a home in the city.
Unlike some parts of the United States, Japan has strict cannabis laws: Possession of cannabis products can carry “a maximum prison sentence of five years, and if you are caught growing it, you can be sent to prison for up to seven years.” Punishment often comes with public shaming. The shame apparently ripples beyond the person accused: Local coverage surrounding cannabis crimes has emphasized the embarrassment for city officials. In a separate incident earlier this month, Susaki’s deputy mayor issued a public apology after a community worker and a local fisherman were arrested on suspicion of distributing cannabis, noting that the scandal followed the earlier arrest of Bouhadana.
As a tourism ambassador, Bouhadana had begun chronicling episodes of his journeys between Florida and Japan on YouTube, where he was “training students, and helping build something special in Susaki, a town blending legacy with new energy,” according to the post.
Nearly a decade ago, Bouhadana, who is white and was born in Florida, was criticized in an Eater piece in 2017 over using a fake Japanese accent at his sushi counter. Since then, he has gone on to expand his chain around New York and into multiple states: Sushi by Bou has 10 locations in New York, with one on track to open in the East Village at 320 East 11th Street. Bouhadana’s group also has restaurants in New Jersey, Illinois, Tennessee, Florida, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C.
AloJapan.com