Tokyo, Japan – March 24, 2025 – Sukiya, a popular beef bowl restaurant chain in Japan, has confirmed that a dead rat was found in a bowl of miso soup at one of its locations earlier this year. This shocking news has raised serious concerns about food safety at the chain, which is run by Zensho Holdings.
The problem first came to light in late January when a customer at Sukiya’s Tottori Minami Yoshikata branch posted a review on Google Maps. The customer claimed to have found a rat in their miso soup and shared a disturbing photo. The image quickly spread online, causing widespread disgust and debate. Some people thought the photo might have been fake, but Sukiya’s investigation has now confirmed that the incident was real.
On March 22, 2025, Sukiya released an official statement admitting the mistake. The company said the rat likely got into the soup during preparation, when ingredients were being divided into bowls. They also admitted that staff failed to check the soup properly before serving it. Sukiya apologized and promised to improve safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
However, the company has faced criticism for waiting nearly two months to address the issue publicly. Sukiya reportedly apologized to the customer privately in January but did not make the issue public until the photo went viral. This delay has upset many customers and food safety experts, who question why the company kept the problem hidden for so long.
The news has hurt Sukiya’s reputation. Shares of Zensho Holdings, the company that owns Sukiya, dropped sharply after the announcement. Sukiya is known for its affordable beef bowls and miso soup, but now it must work hard to regain the trust of its customers.
This is not the first time Japan’s food industry has faced such a scandal. Last year, a major bread company was criticized after foreign objects were found in its products. These incidents highlight the challenges of maintaining high hygiene standards in large food operations.
For now, Sukiya has only apologized and promised to improve its safety practices. The public is waiting to see what steps the company will take next—and many are likely to double-check their soup before eating.
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