Police in Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture, have arrested two 30-year-old men on suspicion of fraudulent obstruction of business after they posted a video on social media showing them putting used toothpicks back into a holder at a yakiniku restaurant.
Police said the two men, Takahiko Iso, a construction worker from Otawara City in Tochigi Prefecture, and Masaki Muroi, an unemployed resident of Tsukuba in Ibaraki Prefecture, have admitted to filming the prank on their smartphones. The two men, who have been friends since their junior high school days, were arrested on Tuesday.
The incident occurred last September but the video was posted in February and went viral, at which point the yakiniku restaurant filed a complaint with police. It has also announced preventive measures such as providing customers with individually wrapped toothpicks.
© Japan Today
36 Comments
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Cards fan
Unemployed, 30 years old and still doing this stuff? Get a job.
Zizi
It's disgusting, but arrested?
TokyoLiving
Pathetic losers, go to jail..
Don't offend the Neanderthals, LOL !!..
Yubaru
Good! Deserve it!
Yubaru
Yeah, Japan has a neat law regarding "Obstruction of Business" or something like that, and what these guys did falls into that category.
It also ruins or lowers the reputation of the establishment, and they could lost customers because of it.
Glad to see cops getting involved and people getting nailed for this stupid crap.
sakurasuki
It's no prank, it's environmental friendly.
Reuse,Reduce,Recycle!
Sanjinosebleed
These guys must have shoe sized IQs! What morons!
garypen
Yes. It does seem harsh. But, unless these types of morons are made to understand that there are serious consequences for their stupid TikTok/Insta prank fad videos, they will keep doing this disgusting nonsense.
These publicized arrests should, hopefully, put an end, or at least seriously curtail, this stupidity.
Newgirlintown
What a pair of prankers.
Uchujin
It is not a "prank", it is a malicious act!
Fighto!
30-year-olds going on 13.
Sad.
Rodney
Most surprising thing is that the police actually did something. Always they say to me, too busy, or it would encroach on the baddies rights.
30 years old is a bit old to do teenage pranks.
wallace
In Japan "Obstruction of Business" is taken seriously.
Mark
Just when you thought you have seen and heard it all comes this!! until prosecutors start locking these guys for longer periods with $$$$ penalty things will not change.
finally rich
This part is strange. They did their disgusting "prank" several months ago and only now the video was posted. Probably
1-A "friend" wanted them jailed/shamed
2-They are really really dumb to post it themselves
Mocheake
As much as I dislike most social media, it actually can be super helpful in unforeseen ways. These fool are dying for attention so badly that they end up outing themselves, with the evidence plain to see. Make sure you throw the book at them.
commanteer
I think the video itself establishes #2.
rcch
a)
b)
What a combination…;
congratulations, you’ve “succeeded” in life…; your parents must be proud.
..
smh
shogun36
What goes on in the minds of these morons?
I’d like to see someone interview these clowns after being arrested for dumb stuff.
Definitely wanna see them getting arrested and the looks on their faces during and after the incidents.
kohakuebisu
There's nothing wrong with prank videos made at your own house. Do whatever you like with your own toothpicks.
We just need to get away from the idea that you make prank videos in public or other people's private spaces.
GillislowTier
I can understand teenagers being dumb enough to upload their minor crimes especially since they won’t be charged. But common 30 year olds, all the buzz about these restaurant gags going viral resulting in arrests, huge fines, or having your personal info blasted onto the net for the universe to see should be a sign to not upload stuff
falseflagsteve
Thirty years old! Can you believe it! It’s the type of antics that naughty schoolboys would do and ultimately regret as they were older.
These types are ghastly and selfish and I wish the law was able to ban them from any food establishment for life.Make them eat at home where they can lark about like morons without upsetting or harming the general public.
spektral
wow these copycat pranksters really aren't taking a break are they!?
Stephen Chin
Takahiko & Masaki ! You are having fun? There will be more fun in 2 weeks behind bars than putting 2 soiled tooth picks in a yakinuki restaurant. And your are both childhood friends? And 30 years young? And have not grown up? You will : in 2 weeks.
Yuuju
i wonder if its really only about immaturity. or whether to see that in Japan a person can even be hated, comdemned and arrested for a toothpick.
AdamP75
Haha I love these restaurant prank videos!
Charlie Sommers
AdamP765;
So you enjoy sushi slathered with another's salvia and aren't bothered by using a toothpick dripping with bacteria from someone else's mouth. (???).
Maryanne Wagner
Hope to see more of these types being arrested.
Brian Wheway
How unhygienic! what a gross act? what on earth are they thinking about? the ideal punishment would be to make them clean the toilet area with there own toothbrush.
1glenn
I remember some of the stupid things I did as a youth. Yuk.
sir_bentley28
I remember when putting a Whoopie cushion on a chair was a prank! It was safe, funny and nobody was at risk. So how is this rubbish a "prank" again? They're putting peopl'e health at risk!
Sven Asai
Every generation has its special ’talents’.
TokyoOldMan
It's the ones who do the same without showing themselves doing so on internet videos that I'm worried about.
TokyoOldMan
How do you think the CCP's COVID was spread around the World so easily ?
No one seen the video's of their operatives purposely going around licking products, etc. in shops ?
Rumor has it, that a new wave is coming from June to September... so be wary.