On December 23, 2024, at the CoCo Curry House located in Osaka City, chaos unfolded as a YouTuber engaged in disruptive behavior during a live-stream. The incident, streamed late at night, began when the male Youtuber, donning a black knit cap and jacket, entered the restaurant and deliberately intruded upon female customers by filming them without consent. His actions drew outrage from other diners, culminating in explicit and inappropriate comments made near unsuspecting patrons. This behavior escalated to the point where some customers were visibly uncomfortable, leading to calls for intervention.
The restaurant staff attempted to defuse the situation as the YouTuber continued filming and mocking fellow diners. A male staff member finally approached him with the request: "撮影は止めていただくことできますか？" (Can you please stop filming). The YouTuber, taken aback, queried, "撮影は止めて？ なんで？" (Stop filming? Why?). Despite no signage indicating recording was prohibited, staff expressed the need for courteous behavior to all customers present.
During the interaction, instead of calming down, the YouTuber argued with employees, insisting his rights to film. After multiple attempts to reason with him, one employee, recognizing the disturbance, suggested, "はい、無料で大丈夫です。全然大丈夫です" (Yes, it’s fine to waive the charge. No problem at all). To his surprise, the YouTuber learned he would not need to pay for his meal, prompting him to reflect aloud, "なんでお代はいいと言ったんだろ？" (Why did they say it was okay not to pay?). He left the establishment without settling the bill, valued around ¥2000.
The aftermath of this incident sparked widespread debate online once footage of the event was re-posted. Viewers expressed mixed emotions, with some sympathizing with the staff burdened by the YouTuber's antics. Commenters on social media platforms criticized the establishment’s decision to not charge the YouTuber, dubbing it "駄々こねてただ食い？" (Is this just him throwing a tantrum and getting free food?). Concerns were raised about setting poor precedents for future behavior by potentially encouraging similar disruptions.
While discussing the incident, the restaurant manager stated, "お客様への迷惑を止めさせるのを第1に考えました" (Our priority was to stop the inconvenience to other customers). He emphasized the urgency of addressing complaints and balancing customer satisfaction, admitting, "状況によっては警察に呼ぶ選択肢も考えましたが、調理の業務もあった" (While we could have called the police based on the circumstances, we had cooking operations to attend to). This assertion reflects the internal struggle between addressing public order and continuing regular operations.
On December 26, the management of CoCo Curry House, operated by CoCo Ichibanya, confirmed their awareness of the incident and reiterated their reluctance to comment on any set policies without considering individual circumstances, stating, "個別の事案ですので、コメントは差し控えたいと思います" (We prefer not to comment on individual cases). Their intention to refrain from punitive action highlights the complexity of managing public relations even when faced with disruptive patrons.
This incident raises important questions about the responsibilities of both content creators and businesses. It prompts society to ponder the boundaries of entertainment and respect for shared spaces. The YouTuber's choice to behave disruptively for views also raises ethical issues about the value placed on engagement over decency. Similarly, the restaurant's choices reflect the challenges faced by establishments to uphold the integrity of their services without compromising business operations.
Moving forward, the CoCo Curry House is expected to evaluate its policies on filming and disruptive patrons. While they have gained significant online attention, it remains to be seen how this will shape future interactions and operational guidelines. Patrons and local businesses alike will be watching closely to understand not just how CoCo Curry House responds, but also how society navigates the intersection of social media content creation and public behavior.
The incident serves as both cautionary tale and opportunity for reflection, urging establishments to implement clearer policies against disruptive behavior and for patrons to uphold mutual respect within public spaces. The balance of entertainment and etiquette continues to be tested as social media dynamics evolve.
