"No smartphones while eating. If you don't like it, leave"... Ramen shop rule began with a customer watching adult content [What Do You Think?]

[Financial News] A ramen restaurant in Japan has adopted a "no smartphone use while eating" policy, sparking heated debate among online users.

According to Unseen Japan and other local media on the 1st (local time), a ramen restaurant in Saitama Prefecture posted a notice stating that smartphone use is banned while eating.
Back in January, the restaurant went viral after posting a notice that read, "No smartphones while eating. If you cannot follow this rule, please leave. No refunds."
Online reactions to the notice were sharply divided at the time.
Some commenters criticized it as "too extreme" and asked, "Are they just telling people to eat quickly and leave?" Others countered, "If you don't like it, you can go to another place," and, "What’s wrong with a business setting its own rules?"
Although the notice stirred controversy among online users, the ramen shop did not issue any further statement then. However, on the 1st, the restaurant reiterated the policy through its official social networking service (SNS) account.

The restaurant explained, "Using your smartphone before your meal or taking photos of the ramen is not a problem," adding, "We also hope you will eat at your own pace."
It went on, "In the past, one customer watched adult content while eating," and revealed, "There was also someone who placed their smartphone on the condiment container and watched videos."
The shop stressed that "it is important to protect the restaurant’s environment and hygiene."
In response, online users commented, "It might not be a bad idea to pause for a moment and fully focus on the taste of the food," "You can look at your phone while waiting, but once the food arrives, you should concentrate on eating," "They probably considered table turnover," and "If you don't like it, just don't go."
newssu@fnnews.com Kim Soo-yeon Reporter