Three family members who operated Japan’s once prestigious Michelin-starred restaurant Kiichi were arrested after ignoring safety regulations and continuing to serve contaminated food even after a government shutdown order, sickening nearly 80 patrons with norovirus.
Key Takeaways
- The family trio running Kiichi restaurant in Osaka – Hirokazu Kitano (69), his wife Noriko (68), and their son Hirotoshi (41) – were arrested for violating food safety laws after 80 diners suffered food poisoning
- Health officials detected norovirus in the restaurant’s food multiple times in February, initially sickening 33 customers and prompting a suspension order
- Despite being ordered to close, the family continued selling potentially contaminated bento boxes, causing 23 additional illnesses
- The former Michelin-starred establishment admitted to poor hygiene practices and promised reforms after authorities extended their suspension through March
- All affected customers have since recovered from symptoms that included diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain
Elite Restaurant’s Fall From Grace
The Kiichi restaurant in Kawachinagano, Osaka Prefecture, once proudly displayed its Michelin star earned during the 2010s. With a 25-year history as what they described as a “famed Kyoto kaiseki restaurant,” the establishment had built a reputation for culinary excellence. That prestigious standing now lies in ruins as Japanese authorities have arrested the three family members who operated the restaurant following repeated food safety violations that left dozens of customers ill with serious symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain.
The arrested individuals – Hirokazu Kitano (69), his wife Noriko (68), and their son Hirotoshi (41) – face serious charges for violating Japan’s Food Sanitation Act. Their troubles began in early February when 33 diners reported food poisoning symptoms after eating at the establishment on February 8. Testing confirmed the presence of highly contagious norovirus in the restaurant’s food, prompting health officials to issue a suspension order on February 15, temporarily shutting down operations.
Defying Authorities and Continuing to Operate
In a shocking display of negligence and disregard for public health, the family allegedly ignored the shutdown order and continued selling their signature bento boxes the very next day. Police investigators discovered that the restaurant sold 11 bento boxes on February 16, demonstrating a reckless underestimation of the serious norovirus situation. This decision would prove catastrophic as 23 additional customers fell ill after consuming meals from the restaurant between February 22 and 24, with norovirus once again detected in the food.
“Members of a family who run a formerly Michelin-starred restaurant in western Japan were arrested Monday for ignoring an order to temporarily shut it down after a spate of food poisoning cases, According to investigation.”
The repeated violations forced authorities to extend the restaurant’s suspension from March 2, with the prohibition only lifted on March 18 after a thorough investigation. By this point, the total number of affected customers had climbed to nearly 80, creating a significant public health incident that demanded accountability. Police have cited poor hygiene management practices as the primary cause of the outbreak, highlighting the fundamental failures in the restaurant’s operations.
Too Little, Too Late: Restaurant’s Response
Facing mounting legal troubles and public backlash, the restaurant finally issued an apology and acknowledged their shortcomings in maintaining proper food safety protocols. The management admitted to not enforcing stringent hygiene practices among staff, a critical oversight for an establishment that once held elite status in Japan’s competitive culinary landscape. Their belated recognition of these failures did little to mitigate the damage already done to both customers and their own reputation.
“We take this series of incidents seriously and deeply regret it. We will work to ensure food safety by strengthening and thoroughly implementing our hygiene management system to prevent a recurrence,” According to The Restaurant.
This incident highlights a concerning pattern we’ve seen repeatedly – businesses that put profits above safety, with ordinary citizens paying the price. The Kiichi case demonstrates how even the most prestigious establishments can fall when basic safety standards are ignored. While Japan’s food safety system eventually worked to protect the public by shutting down the dangerous operation, the fact that 80 people had to suffer before decisive action was taken raises important questions about regulatory oversight and enforcement mechanisms for elite restaurants.
