Until recently, the insect had been largely confined to Okinawa and southern Japan. Larger than the domestic species typically found in Tokyo, the American cockroach is distinguished by a pale band across its back. Pest control specialists warn that the variety is proving far harder to eradicate than its smaller cousins.
“American cockroaches are solitary, but perhaps because they have a higher reproductive capacity than the others, their numbers make it appear that they are moving in large swarms,” Masaya Adachi, president of Tokyo-based extermination company 808 City, told Fuji News Network.
The insects are causing chaos for restaurant owners, as the Tenkaippin chain of ramen outlets is discovering. The owner of the chain, Tenchi Foods, has suspended operations at two outlets in Kyoto and ordered a thorough inspection of all its restaurants across Japan after a customer found a dead cockroach in a bowl of ramen served at one outlet last month.
The store manager immediately brought in an insect extermination company and informed the city health authorities three days later. The authorities have conducted an inspection and found no significant hygiene issues, but noted that the store failed to keep timely records of its pest control measures.
Tenchi Foods has been widely criticised for poor hygiene control and not announcing the incident until 10 days later.
“Customers will stay away from companies that are unable to honestly accept what has happened, that are only concerned with pursuing profits or lack the ability to clean themselves up,” said one message linked to a story on the incident on the Yomiuri Shimbun website.
Another message read: “I don’t have high expectations for other restaurants either. I know there are going to be cockroaches.”
