Japanese Sushi Chain Suspends Operations after Food Poisoning

September 13, 2018

Tokyo- Totoyamichi, a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant operator affiliated with Japan's Skylark Holdings Co., has been shutting all 24 outlets since Monday after food poisoning occurred at some of them.

At least 39 customers have complained of food poisoning symptoms after eating at Totoyamichi restaurants.

Skylark reported the case only on its website while stopping short of holding a press conference. The restaurant group may thus come under fire for failing to fully explain the incident, analysts said.

According to Skylark, food poisoning symptoms, such as diarrhea and stomachache, were reported from customers who used eight Totoyamichi outlets in Tokyo and neighboring Kanagawa and Saitama prefectures between Aug. 31 and Sept. 3. The affected customers are recovering from their illness.

In a survey by Skylark, vibrio parahaemolyticus, a type of bacteria that causes stomachache and other symptoms, was detected from raw sea urchin at some outlets.

Totoyamichi has yet to decide when to resume operations at the 24 outlets in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama and Yamanashi Prefecture, also next to the Japanese capital.

With Totoyamichi procuring seafood items independently, there is no possibility of food poisoning happening at restaurants run by other Skylark group firms, a Skylark public relations official said.

On reasons for reporting the food poisoning case only on the website, the official said, "No more costumers will be affected as all Totoyamichi restaurants are closed," adding, "We acted in the same way in a similar situation in the past." Jiji Press