This photo shows a Hama-sushi sign in Saitama Prefecture in October 2026. (Mainichi/Mao Fukuda)
SAITAMA — A 43-year-old man who filmed nuisance acts at a major Japanese conveyor-belt sushi restaurant chain and posted the videos on social media received a suspended prison sentence in September after being convicted of obstruction of business. His trial highlighted the heavy consequences that can result from reckless attempts to gain attention online.
The man visited a Hama-sushi restaurant in western Saitama Prefecture in late May. He recorded himself pouring what appeared to be dishwashing detergent onto a piece of tuna sushi he had ordered with his smartphone and uploaded the footage to social media.
The video quickly went viral, drawing widespread criticism. The restaurant operator contacted Saitama Prefectural Police, and investigators identified the man through the restaurant’s security camera footage and other evidence. He was arrested the following week on suspicion of forcible obstruction of business.
In late June, the man was summarily indicted and ordered to pay a 500,000-yen (about $3,200) fine. At the time, he pledged to “compensate for the damage and never post on social media again.”
However, just five days after receiving the summary order, he visited another restaurant in the same region. There, he filmed himself touching the spout of a soy sauce bottle with his hand and fingers and dispensing soy sauce from it. He again uploaded the video to social media and was arrested for a second time.
The Kawagoe Branch of the Saitama District Court, where the man’s trial was held, is shown in this photo taken on Oct. 2, 2026. (Mainichi/Mao Fukuda)
Viewing the matter as serious, prosecutors sought a formal trial and charged him with forcible obstruction of business. During the hearing in late September, the man was questioned about breaking the pledge he had made after the first incident.
“I wanted attention,” he said.
After seeing the view count on his earlier video increase, he believed that repeating similar behavior would generate even more online engagement. He also said, “When view and follower numbers increase, it gives me a sense of happiness and superiority because I attracted public attention.” His calm demeanor as he answered questions slowly and in a loud voice contrasted with his emotional words and behavior in the social media videos.
The man’s wife appeared in court as a character witness and said, “I think he had a desire for recognition and wanted to become popular.” To prevent him from reoffending, she said she would make him replace his smartphone with a conventional feature phone so he could not post videos and would monitor his movements through location tracking services.
The trial concluded at the first hearing, and the court sentenced him to one year in prison, suspended for five years. The judge described the conduct as “extremely selfish” and warned the defendant that there would be “no second chance.”
A Hama-sushi public relations official said, “We hope this ruling will help deter similar misconduct.” The restaurant was forced to respond to customer complaints and replace soy sauce bottles following the incidents. The company is also considering suing the man for damages.
Keio University professor Tatsuhiko Yamamoto is shown in this photo taken in Tokyo’s Minato Ward in May 2026. (Mainichi/Naoyuki Inukai)
The case is seen as reflecting the rise of the “attention economy,” in which gathering people’s interest and attention through the rapid spread of social media creates benefits or value.
Tatsuhiko Yamamoto, a professor of constitutional and information law at Keio University Law School, said, “In today’s information landscape, a mindset has formed where ‘going viral’ is seen as the goal. The man may have been driven by an impulse to attract attention. People need to stay calm and look at oneself objectively.”
(Japanese original by Toshiya Itahana, Mao Fukuda and Ryo Endo, Saitama Bureau)
AloJapan.com