Japan To Combat ‘Sushi Terrorism’ At Conveyor Belt Restaurants With AI Cameras

“Sushi terrorism” is a new trend wracking conveyor belt restaurants (kaitenzushi) and spoiling the lunches of sushi fans all over Japan. Alright, it’s not as drastic as it sounds, but it is pretty unhygienic once we pull back the plastic lid.
 
The trend began as a prank for social media where people took to tamper with sushi that passed by them on the conveyor belt. Videos posted to social media showed diners licking the spoons of the green tea powder that is present on every table, and others were seen dumping wasabi onto plates that were passing by on the trains. One video with over 98 million views on Twitter revealed a patron at the Sushiro chain in Gifu licking the top of the soy sauce bottle and the teacup’s rim before placing them back.

【悲報】回転寿司炎上界隈に新たな挑戦者あらわる
今度はスシローで醤油さしや湯飲みをベロベロ舐めまくり＆回る寿司にも唾タッチ pic.twitter.com/RMUk3caZQE

— 滝沢ガレソ🪚 (@takigare3) January 29, 2023

According to Insider, the videos have disgusted so many that they dampened sushi stock prices in the nation. The prankster from Gifu has since apologized, but Sushiro has already filed a police complaint.
 
The immediate response from the restaurant was to change all the soy sauce bottles and clean every cup thoroughly not to steer other customers away from fearing they might be seated at the contaminated table.
 
Even so, many other chains realized they couldn’t keep chucking out bottles and cleaning all teacups between each dining session. It has led many of these kaitenzushi places to rethink how they serve their dishes. And so, in steps artificial intelligence.
 
Cameras in such restaurants are a mainstay as they ensure that people only take plates they paid for. Per Nikkei Asia, the new system will be able to detect “suspicious opening and closing of sushi plate covers” and alert the staff immediately.
 
The Kura Sushi chain will be the first to implement AI cameras onto conveyor belts to catch perpetrators in the act.
 
 
 
[via Engadget and Insider, Photo 77792928 © Siraphol | Dreamstime.com]