Sukiya Faces Backlash After Dead Mouse Found in Miso Soup

The Japanese restaurant chain has apologized, implemented new hygiene measures, and seen its parent company’s stock drop 7.1%.

A customer at a Sukiya branch in Tottori, Japan, discovered a dead mouse in their miso soup on January 21, 2025.
Sukiya temporarily closed the branch for hygiene inspections and reopened two days later but did not publicly address the incident until March 22, 2025.
The delay in acknowledging the issue fueled public criticism, especially after the image of the mouse went viral on social media.
Zensho Holdings, Sukiya's parent company, experienced a 7.1% drop in stock value, its largest decline in over a month.
Sukiya has introduced new hygiene protocols, including employee training and regular inspections, to prevent similar incidents and rebuild customer trust.