The 16-year-old boy, whose name has been withheld because of his age, was referred to prosecutors in Tokyo on Monday over the March incident, which took place at a branch of the Kura Sushi chain. He had been dining with five friends when one of them dropped an unwrapped condom into the slot used to collect empty plates while the boy took photographs.
He uploaded an image to social media on the evening of March 28. The post quickly went viral, with online users identifying the restaurant chain and location.
The operator of the outlet contacted police and used security video footage to identify the group behind the prank. Kura Sushi’s management filed an official complaint of obstruction of business, saying it had to disinfect the entire restaurant and handle a flood of customer complaints and inquiries.
During questioning by police, the boy admitted the act, saying, “I wanted to post something funny and see how my friends reacted. I did it without thinking about the consequences,” the Yomiuri reported.
Media coverage has triggered an outpouring of fury on social media, with a message on the Sponichi Annex news website stating: “I’m shocked that he cannot tell right from wrong. The reason, I guess, is simple: the people around this boy are at the same level as him, so they do things like this and find it funny.”
