A Japanese ramen shop owner has sparked outrage after placing a cash bounty on customers who left a scathing one-star review, before issuing chilling threats and vowing to “deal with” them. The owner of TOYOJIRO, a Kyoto-based ramen restaurant, took to Instagram to launch a furious tirade against two diners who dared to criticise his food.
In a now-deleted post, he shared their photo and offered a 100,000 yen (£660) reward to anyone who could identify them. “I saw your post, and you seem a bit weird,” he wrote, before adding, “We try not to treat people like you as customers, so it’s fine. But you should probably avoid eating out. Someday, someone like you will get screwed. I don’t care—just come directly, and I’ll deal with you.”
The owner didn’t stop there. He went on to make disturbing threats against the reviewers and their families. “The only thing he can do is come back, eat again, and write a good review with a photo. I told him I won’t forgive him otherwise—not even for the safety of his family. If he does that, he’ll be killed right away. This kid is so scared.”
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The online backlash was swift and fierce. Social media users were horrified by the owner’s aggressive behaviour, with many pointing out the sheer absurdity of placing a bounty on customers for simply expressing their opinion. One user quipped, “Imagine leaving a bad review and suddenly you’re the main ingredient in the next special.”
The owner, realising the gravity of his actions, eventually removed the offending posts and issued a grovelling apology. “I know there are pros and cons. For an act that went too far I’m reflecting on this. I’m looking forward to reflecting and moving forward. Thank you,” he wrote.
The restaurant also released a separate statement, saying, “Our restaurant, which achieved champion status on Japan’s largest ramen site, Ramen Database, just one month after opening, deeply regrets the recent incident we have caused … this incident has resulted in a shameful outcome for us. We are committed to transforming ourselves and becoming a ramen restaurant that is truly supported by customers from around the world.”
Image: Stephen Bedase
