30-04-2025
Restaurant issues apology and changes its 'deeply hurtful' name after backlash from angry customers
A Japanese-themed restaurant has been forced to apologise and promise to change its 'deeply hurtful' name following a backlash from angry customers.
Jap To Go, in Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester, serves 'East Asian street food' including sushi, poke bowls, bao buns and katsu curries.
However its choice of name has sparked fury, with experts on Japanese culture saying the term 'Jap' is offensive and racist.
In 2015 England and Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy apologised after aiming the slur at an Asian man in a casino but denied being racist.
Vardy was given a 'substantial' fine and ordered to undergo diversity awareness training after a video of the incident emerged.
The restaurant's owner insists the name stands for 'Japanese Authentic Perfection'.
However in response to the backlash he has now issued a grovelling apology and promised to rebrand it - but claims he can't currently afford to install new signs.
Today Dr Ruth Taplin, director of the Centre for Japanese and East Asian Studies, said the name should be changed immediately.
Owner of Jap To Go Karim Mansour has apologised for unwittingly causing offence and promised to rebrand his restaurant - but says he currently can't afford to
'The word "Jap" is a racist term and it is never acceptable to use it in relation to Japanese people or culture,' she said.
'The owner of this restaurant really ought to know better.
'Young people today don't understand the historical roots of how "Jap" came to be used as a term of abuse.
'It stemmed from how British and other foreign prisoners were treated abysmally by the Japanese during the Second World War.
'But that was 80 years ago now and there's no excuse for using an offensive term for the name of a restaurant.'
Dr Taplin added: 'To say it stands for "Japanese Authentic Perfection" just doesn't wash – there's nothing authentically Japanese about the menu it's serving.
'Bao buns are from China for a start, not Japan.
'Japanese people are very proud of their cuisine, and for an outdated and loaded term like "Jap" to be used for a restaurant serving this kind of fusion East Asian food would cause added offence.
'The owners really need to get the name changed immediately and show some respect.'
Calling out the restaurant on social media, one person said: 'It is a very offensive word to Japanese people so it would be appropriate if you change the name and never use the word as stand for Japan.'
Another said: 'How could you possibly think this was acceptable?
'You claim it's out of "respect"? It's offensive and ignorant.'
Speaking of the owner's claims behind the meaning of its name, a third commented: 'Japanese authentic perfection???
'That doesn't even sound like proper English.
'No one will guess it's Japanese Authentic Perfection when they see [it].'
Jap To Go - which displays its name in capital letters - opened last December.
In response, owner Karim Mansour said he 'fully understands the reason for the criticism' and has apologised for any upset that the name of the venue has caused.
'We've heard your feedback, and we want to offer our sincere apology to those who have been hurt or offended by our restaurant's name,' he said in a statement.
'When we opened JAP TO GO our intention was never to cause harm.
'The name was originally meant to represent: J – Japanese, A – Authentic, P – Perfection.
'But regardless of that original meaning, we now understand the impact the name has had.
'I want to speak from the heart and share where I stand.
'I have always loved and respected Japanese people, culture, and food.
'My goal in opening this restaurant was to celebrate and share the beauty of Japanese cuisine and tradition with my local community.
'If you've visited, you've likely seen this reflected in many small details — from the care we put into our food, to things like Japanese flag colouring sheets for children.
'We now fully understand that the name of our restaurant has upset and hurt many people — especially in the Japanese community — and I want to say clearly: that was never our intention, and we are truly sorry for the pain it caused.'
However Mr Mansour said he was 'currently not in the financial position' to be able to change its name but was 'fully committed' to rebranding.
'As a small independent business, we are currently not in the financial position to make a full rebrand immediately,' he said.
'However, we are fully committed to changing the name and moving forward with greater care, humility, and respect.
'We're listening. We're learning.
'And we hope to move forward together — with humility and care.'
Vardy was filmed saying 'Yo, Jap. Walk on' to an Asian man during a row over cards at a Leicester casino in 2015.
In his autobiography published the following year the footballer wrote: 'The word "racist" is a permanent stain against my name. It's worse than a criminal record.
'I was angry at the time and I'd had too much to drink but I'd never have used the word "Jap" if I'd known it was racist.'
Writing about the diversity awareness training, Vardy said: 'The tutors explained some of the context behind the word and its meaning, dating back to the Second World War.
'It made me feel more embarrassed.'
