Recently, a diner at the SUKIYA chain restaurant in Tottori, Japan, discovered a dead mouse floating in their miso soup. The customer took a photo and shared it online, drawing widespread attention. On March 22, SUKIYA officially acknowledged the incident and apologized, stating that the affected location was closed for two days to implement corrective measures and train staff. They also instructed all branches to conduct thorough visual inspections of food items before serving.
Reports indicate that the incident was first revealed in a Google review, where a customer claimed that on Jan. 21, they found a dead mouse in their miso soup while having breakfast. The customer expressed disbelief and mentioned they had informed the health department and the company, stating, "I lost my appetite." Due to a typo in the date as "Jan. 21, 2028," some netizens questioned the authenticity of the incident, with others speculating if the photo was AI-generated.
After a two-day investigation, SUKIYA confirmed on Jan. 22 that the incident did occur on Jan. 21. Preliminary findings suggested that staff had prepared several bowls containing ingredients, and it was likely that one bowl was contaminated by the mouse, which went unnoticed before serving. They emphasized that other customers' food was not affected.
Following the incident, the SUKIYA Tottori Minami Yoshikata branch was immediately closed for two days. The company stated they would provide hygiene management training to staff and plan to conduct quarterly inspections of store facilities. They also expressed regret for not communicating the incident through official channels, leaving customers to learn about it online.
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