The family behind a former Michelin-starred restaurant in Japan was arrested after defying shutdown orders and poisoning nearly 80 customers with contaminated food.
Key Takeaways
- Three family members running Kiichi restaurant in Osaka were arrested for violating food safety laws after a massive norovirus outbreak sickened nearly 80 diners.
- Despite receiving an official suspension order in February, the family continued selling potentially contaminated bento boxes, leading to additional illnesses.
- The restaurant, which once held a prestigious Michelin star in the 2010s, admitted to poor hygiene practices and promised reforms after the scandal.
- The Kitano family (father Hirokazu, 69, mother Noriko, 68, and son Hirotoshi, 41) now face serious legal consequences for repeatedly ignoring public health orders.
- All affected customers have recovered from their illnesses, but the restaurant’s reputation has suffered irreparable damage.
Elite Restaurant’s Dangerous Defiance of Health Orders
A once-prestigious Japanese restaurant’s owners now face criminal charges after their reckless disregard for food safety resulted in a widespread public health crisis. The three members of the Kitano family who operate Kiichi restaurant in Osaka Prefecture were arrested for flagrantly violating the Food Sanitation Act by continuing operations after being ordered to shut down. Authorities took action against Hirokazu Kitano, 69, his wife Noriko, 68, and their son Hirotoshi, 41, following a months-long investigation into repeated food poisoning incidents that sickened nearly 80 customers between February and March.
The family’s troubles began in early February when 33 diners reported severe gastrointestinal symptoms after eating at the establishment, which was once lauded with a Michelin star during the 2010s. Health officials detected norovirus in food samples and promptly issued a two-day suspension order on February 15. Rather than comply with authorities, the Kitanos allegedly sold 11 contaminated bento boxes the very next day, showing blatant disregard for public safety and official directives. This defiance ultimately led to more illnesses and escalated their legal problems from administrative penalties to criminal charges.
Repeated Violations Despite Multiple Warnings
The situation worsened when an additional 23 customers fell ill after dining at Kiichi between February 22 and 24, with tests again confirming norovirus contamination. This pattern of negligence prompted health officials to extend the restaurant’s suspension through March 18. Despite multiple opportunities to correct their dangerous practices, the family continued operating in violation of health codes. Police investigations revealed systemic failures in basic hygiene protocols that should be standard in any food service establishment, let alone one that previously held elite culinary status.
“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,” according to investigative sources.
The Kitano family reportedly admitted to investigators that they had “underestimated the norovirus situation” when they continued selling food during the suspension period. This casual attitude toward a serious public health threat demonstrates a troubling prioritization of profits over customer safety. “By the time authorities had fully intervened, the total number of affected customers had climbed to 56 by late February, with the final tally approaching 80 victims – all suffering preventable illnesses due to the restaurant’s negligence,” according to investigative sources.
From Michelin Star to Public Health Menace
The fall from grace for Kiichi has been dramatic. Once described as a “famed Kyoto kaiseki restaurant that has been continuing for a quarter of a century,” the establishment previously enjoyed the prestige of a Michelin star rating in the competitive Kansai region dining scene. Located in Kawachinagano, Osaka Prefecture, the restaurant specialized in traditional Japanese cuisine before its reputation was irreparably damaged by the food safety scandal. The contrast between its former elite status and current disgrace highlights how quickly negligence can destroy decades of culinary achievement.
“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,” declared by the restaurant.
Following their arrest, the restaurant issued an apology acknowledging their poor hygiene practices and promising reforms. However, this contrition came far too late for the dozens of customers who suffered from severe symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea due to the highly contagious norovirus. While all victims have reportedly recovered from their illnesses, the damage to public trust appears permanent. The case serves as a stark reminder that even prestigious establishments are not immune to basic health requirements and that reputation offers no protection against legal consequences when public safety is compromised.
