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In Japan, one of the most earnest, old-school ways to apologize is by shaving your head. Obviously, this isn’t something people do for honest mistakes or minor screw-ups, but when you want to go all-out in saying you’re sorry, there’s no clearer way to send the message.
So when the owner of Takoba, a takoyaki (octopus dumpling) stand in Osaka, received a customer complaint about a heinous transgression, he grabbed the clippers and got clipping. In his case, though, this act of contrition was doubly appropriate, because the complaint he’d received was that the customer had found a hair in their takoyaki.
The owner tweeted: “The other day I received a complaint that a customer had found a hair in their takoyaki. I sincerely apologize for causing the customer such inexcusable discomfort. Along with these deep regrets, I have shaved my head and will not make the same mistake again.”
What’s more, since the customer didn’t notice the hair in their takeout takoyaki until they got home, Takoba’s owner even made a special point of going to her home to apologize in person.
Obviously, no one wants to find a hair in their food, especially in a country that values cleanliness as much as Japan does. All the same, many Twitter commenters couldn’t help but be impressed by how thoroughly Takoba’s owner was owning up to the mistake, with reactions such as:
“What a great example of how business owners should behave!”
“Very gallant.”
“There aren’t many people who’d be willing to go that far to apologize.”
“Definitely want to stop by Takoba next time I’m in Osaka.”
However, it might seem kind of strange that someone so deeply responsible and committed to customer concerns would let a hair get into the food in the first place. It turns out there’s an explanation. After arriving at the customer’s house, Takoba’s owner says he asked the woman to show him the takoyaki she’d found the hair in. However, when she did, they were able to determine that she hadn’t actually bought the takoyaki from Takoba at all, the owner reports, but from another stand entirely.
Magnanimously, Takoba’s owner doesn’t have any hard feelings. It’s got to be hot working the takoyaki grill, and with Japan’s sweltering steamy summer just around the corner, it’s at least a convenient time for a short, cool haircut.
Related: Takoba Twitter
Source: Twitter/@sparmdrum via Jin
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- External Link
- https://soranews24.com/2021/05/28/japanese-cook-shaves-head-in-apology-after-gross-customer-complaint-then-things-get-weird/
39 Comments
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kurisupisu
Good job he didn’t go any further!
Mark
No need to shave the head, just apologize and move on. If everyone listens to a customer complaint business owner will be lining up at the barbers shops daily.
SauloJpn
At least no one will notice the tiny little hairs inside their takoyaki...
rcch
That Minegishi girl shaved her head a few years ago because of the no dating rule. Yeah, really old school. You really can’t say anything about it, it’s part of Japanese culture.
Kobe White Bar Owner
Trying to draw attention to his restaurant. Also he’s a chef not a cook.
Erik Morales
That is very honorable. Respect.
shogun36
Did he not wear a hat or bandana while cooking?
Michael Machida
Shaving your head to say you are sorry? There is no clearer way to do this in Japan? Just say you are sorry and bow for 30 to 60 seconds.
Boku Dayo
It was a very honorable gesture.
ThonTaddeo
Is the woman going to shave her head and visit Takoba to apologize, after falsely accusing him?
BertieWooster
How did he know where she lived?
Speed
Good excuse to get a haircut. It's getting hot.
Numan
It is summer! He probably would have done it anyway. Not much of an effort if you ask me!
kohakuebisu
I'm sure you are all desperate to know that if I happen to walk past Takoba next time I'm in Osaka, it might be years, and just happen to fancy some takoyaki, or my kids do, we may buy some. Assuming that I don't think it's overpriced, which is a deal breaker for me. My son likes it with shoyu, not the sweet sauce, so that could be a deal breaker for him.
There you go. More vital information from another random person on social media.
Alfie Noakes
Yawn. Nippon is just so sugoi!
Mocheake
A big deal over nothing. National news. Tweets. More false humility.
Harry_Gatto
Isn't this Offensive / Vulgar to you Mr Moderator? It certainly would have been had I posted it.
Boy Next Door
Hair regrowth is natural. So I'm not buying his old antics. Go buy some hairnets instead.
Joe Blow
What if it was a hair from below the Equator? He should shave his little takoyakis too.
itsonlyrocknroll
20 years ago my Mother shaved her head.
My Mother shaved her head because she thought she has lost the love of my Father.
Shaving ones head will never forgo the need to open ones mouth and communicating.
Ascissor
And the punchline:
Lucky I didn't tell them about the dirty knife
sir_bentley28
A hairnet would've sufficed!
El Rata
What a loser, a regular apology and a free order of takoyaki would've been sufficient, no need to humiliate yourself.
justasking
I shave my head every week, so I guess I am deeply sorry for something I don't know what.
William77
Welcome to the medieval/feudal era,the dark ages aren't finish in some area of the world yet.
Aly Rustom
I wonder what part of his body he will shave next when the next customer complains...
Yubaru
First time I ever heard of a street stand takoyaki place being called a restaurant, and the cook a chef!
WA4TKG
How typical, “In a Country like Japan”; Guilty until proven Innocent
almostshat
Pathetic. Nothing less than hara kiri is enough for such a heinous crime.