Shocking Secret Behind Famous Cheap and Generous Japanese Chinese Restaurant: Discarded Fish Bones Used as Ingredient

According to Financial News, a Chinese national running a restaurant in Japan was caught by local police after stealing discarded fish bones from a seafood market and using them in his restaurant's dishes.
On the 9th, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) and other outlets reported that on the 28th of last month, Japanese police charged Mr. A, a 66-year-old Chinese national, with theft and unlawful entry.
Mr. A is accused of breaking into a seafood wholesale building at Toyosu Market in Tokyo on the 21st of last month and stealing 30 kilograms of discarded tuna loins and bones worth 210 yen (about 2,000 KRW).
Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage released by Tokyo police showed Mr. A arriving by bicycle at a collection site for a fish bone purchasing company.
Mr. A reportedly repeated similar thefts on the 22nd and 26th of the same month and was eventually arrested after market employees witnessed the incidents and reported them.
Investigations revealed that Mr. A and his wife operated a Chinese restaurant about 1.5 kilometers from the market, selling sashimi and seafood dishes. According to local residents, the restaurant was popular for its affordable prices and generous portions.
Mr. A frequently visited the market to source ingredients and was reportedly aware of where market vendors stored fish bones.
The fish bones he took were originally waste processed into feed for farmed fish, and the market explained that these items were 'not managed for human consumption.'
However, it was confirmed that Mr. A made meatballs from the stolen fish bones for his own consumption and also grilled some to serve to customers.
During police questioning, Mr. A reportedly stated, 'The bones were going to be discarded, but I thought they could be eaten if cooked.'
The incident sparked controversy among netizens in both Japan and China.
Japanese netizens commented, 'You should never serve this kind of food to others,' 'This is waste managed to be inedible. The theft is a problem, but serving it to people is an even bigger issue,' and 'If 30 kilograms cost only 210 yen, he could have just asked to buy it properly from the company.'
Chinese netizens also criticized the theft, though some noted, 'There is a cultural background among older generations who experienced poverty, where discarded items are seen as too valuable to waste.'
Meanwhile, Mr. A's length of stay in Japan has not been disclosed, and SCMP reported that if convicted, he may lose his residency status in Japan.
newssu@fnnews.com Kim Su-yeon Reporter