Counter-terrorism on 'wasabi terror' with 'bland sushi'

Counter-terrorism on 'wasabi terror' with 'bland sushi'. October. 13, 2016 07:30. by 도쿄=장원재특파원 peacechaos@donga.com.

A sushi restaurant located in Osaka, Japan had caused controversy over serving sushi dishes containing extra-double horseradish (or wasabi in Japanese) to foreigners, including Koreans. Now, the restaurant is causing another stir by serving sushi without horseradish.

Recent Korean online users are posting updates that when Koreans order sushi at Ichiba Sushi Namba Store, no horseradish is contained in the sushi. When asked why the sushi was served with no horseradish, the servers said, "Didn't Koreans asked their sushi with no horseradish?"

In a telephone interview on Wednesday, an official of the sushi restaurant said that since there are people who find horseradish quite exotic, we are offering sushi and horseradish separately, adding that it is in line with our headquarters policy, which apply to not only Koreans, but also to foreign customers from all around the world. Still, some point out that the restaurant is making another discrimination as they never asked the customers' opinions and completely left out horseradish.

The anti-Korean sentiment is heating up in recent months, as testimonies claim that a Japanese man kicked a 14-year-old Korean male student who was travelling to Osaka early October. "Regarding the recent issue surrounding the horseradish, we conveyed our message to the Osaka local government that it is a pity not just on Japan, but also on Osaka," Korean Consul General in Osaka Ha Tae-yoon said.