Latest news with #Hirotoshi
Japan Today
9 hours ago
- Japan Today
Former Michelin-star restaurant owner arrested after food poisonings
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. © KYODO
Kyodo News
12 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.
Tokyo Reported
17 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.
