Former Michelin-star restaurant owner arrested after food poisonings

Members of a family who run a formerly Michelin-starred restaurant in western Japan were arrested Monday for ignoring an order to temporarily shut down the establishment after a spate of food poisonings, investigative sources said.

Hirokazu Kitano, 69, along with his son Hirotoshi Kitano, 41, and his wife Noriko, 68, have all been involved in the operation of the traditional Japanese-style restaurant Kiichi in Kawachinagano, Osaka Prefecture. It is alleged they violated the Food Sanitation Act.

Traditional Japanese restaurant Kiichi is pictured on June 16, 2025, in Kawachinagano, Osaka Prefecture. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

According to the prefectural government and other sources, the restaurant was handed a two-day business suspension order on Feb. 15 after 33 customers experienced vomiting and diarrhea following meals at the restaurant or after consuming “bento” boxed meals sold earlier that month.

Norovirus was detected in some of the people, which a local public health center determined was linked to food poisoning.

Then, 23 more people who ate at the restaurant between Feb. 22 and 24 fell sick and norovirus was again detected, prompting authorities to order the restaurant to close indefinitely from March 2.

Subsequent investigations found that the business had continued to sell bento boxes during the initial suspension order.

According to investigative sources, Hirokazu Kitano, the head of the restaurant, and the two other family members — all residents of Kawachinagano — were arrested for allegedly selling bento boxes to customers on Feb. 16, despite the health center having ordered the restaurant to close for two days.