A Must-Visit Course in Japan Travel Causes 'Shock'... All Stores Closed for Four Days for 'Hygiene Inspection'

Rats and Cockroaches Found at Major Japanese Gyudon Chain Sukiya
Most Stores Nationwide to Close for Four Days for Hygiene Inspection

“Sukiya,” one of Japan’s three major gyudon chain restaurants popular among Koreans as well, decided to close most of its stores across Japan for four days and implement measures against pests after rats and cockroaches were repeatedly found in food sold at its chain.

Sukiya Gyudon Set Menu. Yonhap News

According to local media including the Yomiuri Shimbun on the 30th, Sukiya decided to close most of its approximately 1,970 stores in Japan, excluding some located inside shopping centers, from 9 a.m. on the 31st until 9 a.m. on the 4th of next month.

Sukiya also plans to sequentially close stores located inside shopping facilities as arrangements are completed. This is the first time all stores have been closed. During the closure, Sukiya plans to commission a professional pest control company to identify the causes and implement countermeasures. The Sukiya side stated, “We take very seriously the fact that despite contamination incidents at other stores, such situations have occurred again,” and bowed deeply, saying, “We sincerely apologize for causing great inconvenience to our customers and related parties.”

Promotional photo of the Japanese gyudon chain Sukiya, which decided to close all stores for four days starting March 31 due to store hygiene issues.

Earlier, in January, Sukiya was embroiled in a hygiene controversy when a rat carcass was found mixed in misoshiru (Japanese miso soup) served at a store in Tottori Prefecture. A Google review posted, “I ordered the morning set meal, but there was a dead rat in the soup. It’s hard to believe,” sparking controversy. After verifying the facts, Sukiya belatedly apologized on the 22nd, more than two months later, stating, “It seems that a rat got into the miso soup ingredients while they were temporarily stored in a large refrigerator.”

Another foreign object contamination incident occurred on the 28th at a store in Tokyo. A customer found a cockroach in a takeout item and reported it to the restaurant. The store immediately apologized to the customer, issued a refund, and suspended operations. Meanwhile, Sukiya is famous as one of Japan’s three major gyudon chains along with Matsuya and Yoshinoya.