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Kyodo News
2 hours ago
- Kyodo News
Former Michelin-star restaurant owner arrested after food poisonings
KYODO NEWS - 10 hours ago - 17:27 | All, Japan 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, investigative sources said. Hirokazu Kitano, 69, his son Hirotoshi, 41, and wife Noriko 68, have all been involved in operating traditional Japanese-style restaurant Kiichi in Kawachinagano, Osaka Prefecture, and are alleged to have violated the Food Sanitation Act. According to the prefectural government and other sources, the restaurant was handed a two-day business suspension order on Feb. 15 after 33 customers experienced developed symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea following meals at the restaurant or after consuming "bento" boxed meals sold between early and mid-February. Norovirus was detected in some of the people, which a local public health center determined was linked to food poisoning. Subsequently, 23 more people who ate at the restaurant between Feb. 22 and 24 fell sick and norovirus was again detected, prompting authorities to order the restaurant to close from March 2. The business prohibition order was lifted at the noon of March 18. Investigators later found that the establishment had continued to sell bento boxes during the initial suspension order. According to the sources, the three family members, all residents of Kawachinagano, were arrested for allegedly selling 11 bento boxes to customers on Feb. 16. They have admitted to the allegation, telling investigators they underestimated the norovirus situation.
Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
Former Michelin-star restaurant owner in Japan arrested after food poisonings
OSAKA - Members of a family who run a formerly Michelin-starred restaurant in western Japan were arrested on Ju ne 16 for ignoring an order to temporarily shut down the establishment after a spate of food poisonings, investigative sources said. Hirokazu Kitano, 69 , along with his wife Noriko, 68, and his son Hirotoshi Kitano, 41, and have all been involved in the operation of the traditional Japanese-style restaurant Kiichi in Kawachinagano, Osaka Prefecture. It is alleged they violated the Food Sanitation Act. According to the prefectural government and other sources, the restaurant was handed a two-day business suspension order on Feb 15 after 33 customers experienced vomiting and diarrhoea following meals at the restaurant or after consuming 'bento' boxed meals sold earlier in February. Norovirus was detected in some of the people, which a local public health centre determined was linked to food poisoning. Norovirus i s a highly contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhoea. It is usually spread through contaminated food or surfaces. Then, 23 more people who ate at the restaurant between Feb 22 and 24 fell sick and norovirus was again detected, prompting authorities to order the restaurant to close indefinitely from March 2. Subsequent investigations found that the business had continued to sell bento boxes during the initial suspension order. KYODO NEWS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Tokyo Reported
7 hours ago
- Tokyo Reported
Ex-Michelin-star restaurant served bento boxes despite suspension for norovirus TokyoReporter
OSAKA (TR) – Osaka Prefectural Police on Monday arrested the managers of a one-time Michelin-starred Japanese restaurant for allegedly selling bento boxes contaminated with norovirus while operations were suspended, reports Fuji News Network (June 16). Police accused Hirokazu Kitano, the 69-year-old manager of Kiichi, his son, 41-year-old Hirotoshi and his wife, 68-year-old Noriko, of violating the Food Sanitation Law. According to police, the three suspects allegedly sold eleven bento boxes contaminated with norovirus on February 16 despite an order to cease operations. The incident emerged after a total of 33 customers experienced symptoms that included vomiting and diarrhea following the consumption of meals at the restaurant or bento boxed meals sold between early and mid-February. A doctor reported to the public health center that norovirus was detected in the stool of a patient who visited the restaurant on February 10, 2025. After an investigation, the public health center determined that the food poisoning was caused by food provided by the restaurant and ordered the restaurant to suspend operations for two days from February 15. But the problem persisted. Between February 22 and 24, an additional 23 people contracted norovirus after eating at the restaurant. The center ordered the restaurant to shut again from March 2. Business resumed on March 18. Hirokazu Kitano, center, Hirotoshi, left and Noriko (X) Luxurious bentos The catered bento boxes in question were luxurious, containing simmered dishes, tempura, sashimi and other items. The list price was 7,268 yen each, including tax. A total of 11 'Rokutsugiri Kongo Makunouchi' and 'Kids' Bento' boxes were made during the suspension of operations. When asked to comment on the making and selling of bento boxes despite an order to halt operations, Hirokazu Kitano stated, 'We cooked and sold 11 bento boxes at Kiichi. We had a poor understanding of the dangers of norovirus.' Police are currently investigating the circumstances that led to the incident.
Sinar Daily
10 hours ago
- Health
- Sinar Daily
Former Michelin-star restaurant owner in Japan arrested after food poisonings
Norovirus was detected in some of the people, which a local public health centre determined was linked to food poisoning. 16 Jun 2025 03:31pm Norovirus was detected in some of the people, which a local public health centre determined was linked to food poisoning. - AFP photo for illustration purpose only OSAKA - Members of a family who run a formerly Michelin-starred restaurant in western Japan were arrested on Monday for ignoring an order to temporarily shut down the establishment after a spate of food poisonings, Kyodo News Agency reported. Hirokazu Kitano, 69, along with his son Hirotoshi Kitano, 41, and his wife Noriko, 68, have all been involved in the operation of the traditional Japanese-style restaurant Kiichi in Kawachinagano, Osaka Prefecture. It is alleged they violated the Food Sanitation Act. Norovirus was detected in some of the people, which a local public health centre determined was linked to food poisoning. - AFP photo for illustration purpose only According to the prefectural government and other sources, the restaurant was handed a two-day business suspension order on Feb 15 after 33 customers experienced vomiting and diarrhoea following meals at the restaurant or after consuming "bento" boxed meals sold earlier that month. Norovirus was detected in some of the people, which a local public health centre determined was linked to food poisoning. Then, 23 more people who ate at the restaurant between Feb 22 and 24 fell sick and norovirus was again detected, prompting authorities to order the restaurant to close indefinitely from March 2. Subsequent investigations found that the business had continued to sell bento boxes during the initial suspension order. - BERNAMA-KYODO More Like This
Asahi Shimbun
11 hours ago
- Health
- Asahi Shimbun
Michelin-listed eatery owner arrested over food poisonings
The owner of a Michelin-starred restaurant in western Japan was arrested with two other people on June 16 for ignoring an order to shut down after a spate of food poisonings, investigative sources said. Hirokazu Kitano, the manager of high-end restaurant Kiichi, was accused of breaching the Food Sanitation Law for continuing to sell bento lunch boxes that made people sick. All three were involved in running the traditional restaurant in Kawachinagano, Osaka Prefecture. The eatery had a one-star listing in the Michelin Guide for the Kansai region in the 2010s. Kiichi, on its website, advertises itself as a 'famed Kyoto kaiseki restaurant that has been continuing for a quarter of a century.' But on Feb. 15, public health authorities ordered the restaurant to suspend operations for two days until Feb. 16 after several customers who had dined there on Feb. 8 developed diarrhea and stomach pains apparently due to the highly contagious norovirus. According to investigators, Kitano and the others were arrested for allegedly selling 11 bento boxes on Feb. 16 that were suspected to be contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms, despite the business suspension. The norovirus was detected in several people who ate the bento boxes. The restaurant was also ordered to suspend business indefinitely on March 2 after several customers who dined there between Feb. 22 and 24 developed diarrhea and vomiting, symptoms of food poisoning. According to the prefectural authorities, 80 people fell ill in February with contaminated food served by the restaurant suspected as the cause. All of them have since recovered. Prefectural police suspect poor hygiene management was behind the food poisoning incidents. The restaurant posted an apology on its website on March 20 after the suspension order was lifted. It said: '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.' (This article was written by Hiroyuki Kojima and Rikuri Kuroda.)
