Go Tokyo Your Experience
An Italian restaurant in Okubo, Shinjuku, Tokyo, has come under fire after publicly announcing a ban on Chinese and Korean customers on July 5th. This announcement has triggered widespread controversy and public outrage. According to Japanese media reports, the restaurant posted a photo on social media showing a notice on its window stating, “To avoid unpleasant work experiences, we refuse service to Chinese and Korean customers.” The post has since garnered over ten million views.
Located in Hyakunincho, the Italian restaurant “Okubo Bar” shared the photo on X, writing “So refreshing” alongside it. The notice on the window, written in white ink, read, “While everyone is advocating for diversity and tolerance, to avoid unpleasant work experiences, we refuse service to Chinese and Korean customers♪”
Although some netizens expressed understanding and support for the restaurant owner, believing that businesses have the right to choose their clientele, the majority were outraged. Many criticized this as an act of racial discrimination. Comments included, “Seeing such a place makes me not want to go in,” “As a fellow Japanese, I feel ashamed,” and “It seems the owner didn’t dare write this in Korean or Chinese.” Some even commented in English, “This is racial discrimination.”
Reports indicated that the restaurant is located near JR Okubo Station, in an area with a significant number of foreign residents. The restaurant is also opposite a Taoist temple, near several Asian supermarkets, and just steps away from the “Korean Wave” hotspot, Shin-Okubo. Setting up an exclusionary notice in such a multicultural area has raised many questions and discussions.
Regular patrons of the restaurant revealed that the owner is usually quite friendly. When asked about the online backlash, the owner openly acknowledged it, stating that he would not delete the post and dismissing the criticism, even claiming to be the “victim.” Some customers shared similar sentiments, saying, “Advocating diversity is disgusting.”
Recently, another message appeared on the restaurant’s window, stating that the decision to ban Chinese and Korean customers was due to violent behavior and disruptions from these patrons. The message expressed dissatisfaction with online criticism. This development has shocked many and led to further questioning and disapproval of the owner’s actions and statements.