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Two Chinese tourists travelling in Japan were verbally assaulted and kicked out of a popular restaurant simply for wearing sports vests and loose trousers, which the owner deemed “too revealing.” The incident took place in late August when a Chinese blogger, whose personal information remains undisclosed, and her friend visited the highly popular Thai restaurant Baan Thai Market in Kobe, Japan. She later shared her experience on Chinese social media, where the post received over 2,100 likes at the time of writing. According to the post, as soon as they entered the restaurant, they were met with a rude comment from the owner: “Summer is over. You don’t need to come out naked any more.” The blogger noted that their outfits – a sports vest paired with trousers – were completely normal and appropriate. The situation quickly escalated. While they were still eating, the manager and staff abruptly rushed over, snatched their chopsticks, cleared their plates, and took away all the food, even without asking whether they had finished. “When I went to pay the bill, I asked the manager how much it was. He completely ignored me, just glanced at the computer screen as if to say we should check it ourselves,” she wrote. She added: “Later, I checked the Google reviews and realised many people had experienced discrimination from the same manager. The number of negative reviews is staggering.” Google Maps reviews echoed her claims, revealing a torrent of negative feedback focused on the owner’s malicious attitude, discriminatory behaviour, and explicit accusations of racism. One reviewer claimed they were kicked out of the restaurant for wearing perfume, while another reported that when they visited with Japanese friends, the manager was “extremely enthusiastic,” but his attitude turned instantly hostile when he heard them speaking Chinese. This year, Japan overtook Thailand to become the most popular overseas travel destination for Chinese tourists, driven by factors such as relaxed visa policies, a weak yen, and a growing interest in unique experiences like food tourism. Amid the recent controversy, Japanese netizens voiced strong criticism, defending the tourists and condemning the owner’s behaviour. One person commented: “That manager is genuinely rude. His reputation has been bad for a long time.” Another said: “It wasn’t about the clothes at all. He changed his attitude the moment he realised they were Chinese.” A third added: “Discrimination only hurts the country’s image. He doesn’t understand that his business depends on tourists.” On Chinese social media, the incident also sparked widespread outrage. One online viewer commented: “Summer is over. You don’t need to come out naked any more. If you ever hear something like this, the right response is to walk out. Why tolerate humiliation when you’re the one paying for the meal?”
