A ramen restaurant in Kyoto has stoked a backlash over allegations that the owner paid a bribe to uncover diners who left negative reviews on the internet. The reported incident, which occurred in February 2025 at TOYOJIRO, a restaurant serving ramen in the style of the legendary Jiro close to Kyoto Kawaramachi Station, has left residents and foodies appalled and in opposition to Japan’s reputation for faultless customer service.
The saga began when two diners visited TOYOJIRO and later shared their disappointment online, posting a one-star review criticizing the restaurant’s service and ramen quality. Rather than addressing the feedback constructively, the owner took an unprecedented approach. In a now-deleted Instagram post, he reportedly threatened the reviewers, writing,
“If you write a stupid review, we’ll find you. We’ll beat you up.”
He escalated further by offering 100,000 yen (about USD 662) for information leading to the reviewers’ identities, even sharing what he claimed were surveillance photos of the customers.
Reports from outlets like AnimeGalaxyOfficial and Dexerto detailed the owner’s menacing tone, quoting him as saying,
“We run a planned business, so if you get in our way, we’ll get in the way of yours too.”
The post quickly spread across social media, amplifying the incident into a viral sensation.
The owner’s actions triggered an immediate backlash. On X, users expressed a mix of shock and sarcasm. One wrote,
“Interesting, they think this will improve ratings,”
while another remarked,
“It’s like they’re begging for more bad reviews.”
Japan’s Switch News reported that ramen fans were “perplexed” by the owner’s behavior, a sentiment echoed on Reddit threads like r/japan and r/offbeat, where discussions garnered significant engagement.
The incident struck a nerve in a nation where hospitality is a cultural cornerstone.
“This isn’t just bad business—it’s a betrayal of what Japanese service stands for,”
said a Kyoto resident who declined to be named. The contrast between the owner’s threats and Japan’s reputation for politeness only fueled the public’s dismay.
Facing mounting criticism, TOYOJIRO’s owner issued an apology, though details remain sparse. The restaurant followed with a statement distancing itself from the remarks, attempting to salvage its image. Opened in December 2024, TOYOJIRO had earned a respectable 3.06 rating on Tabelog based on 12 reviews, but this incident threatens to unravel its early success in Kyoto’s competitive ramen scene.
The episode highlights the power of online reviews and the perils of mishandling criticism in the digital age. For a small business like TOYOJIRO, the owner’s outburst could prove costly.
“Reputation is everything here,”
noted a local food critic.
“This kind of stunt might drive away more customers than a bad bowl of ramen ever could.”
