SAITAMA (TR) – Police here have arrested a 43-year-old man after he posted a viral video of himself spraying liquid from a dish soap container onto a plate of sushi at a major conveyor belt sushi chain, reports Fuji News Network (June 5).
Yuta Shinnishi admits to the allegations, telling investigators he committed the prank because he “wanted to increase views on social media.” However, he claims the liquid inside the detergent bottle was merely water.
The incident took place on May 27 at a Hama Sushi outlet in Saitama Prefecture. The viral video forced the restaurant’s operating company to scramble to handle a flood of customer complaints, leading to Shinnishi’s arrest and subsequent transfer to prosecutors.
In an interview with FNN on Tuesday, Shinnishi’s wife of 13 years expressed her outrage over the incident, calling his actions “unforgivable.”
“He crossed the line way too far,” she said. While she isn’t considering divorce just yet, she issued a stern warning: “If the police get involved one more time, I’ll think about a divorce. I want to tell him there is no second chance.”
Just before his arrest for forceful obstruction of business, Shinnishi sent a series of text messages to his wife, confessing that he was about to be taken into custody.
“I poured it on sushi at Hama Sushi. The container is for detergent, but the inside is water,” he texted. When his wife expressed dismay over his impending arrest, he attempted to downplay the situation, replying, “I’ll be arrested, but it doesn’t mean I’m going to prison yet… I didn’t think things would get this big.”
Prior to his arrest, Shinnishi also posted a public apology video online, vowing never to repeat the act or visit the restaurant chain again. Despite the public scandal, his wife described him as a “gentle, normal person” offline who carries her bags and is financially responsible.
Hama Sushi has announced it is considering pursuing a claim for damages against Shinnishi. His wife stated she intends to pay any financial penalties herself and vowed to “completely monitor” her husband once he returns home.
As “sushi terrorism” and nuisance videos continue to plague the restaurant industry, experts warn that perpetrators have nowhere to hide.
A Fuji TV commentator noted that police are taking a swift and uncompromising stance to deter copycat offenders, adding that tracking down video uploaders is an “easy task” for law enforcement.
