World · East Asia & Pacific · 3 hrs ago
Kyoto eel business owner arrested over alleged origin mislabeling
Kyoto police arrested the owner of eel business Doi Katsuman on suspicion of mislabeling the origin of eel.
They allege that a Kyoto restaurant served Chinese eel while its menu said it was carefully selected from Aichi Prefecture.
Police also allege that the business used similar wording to sell Chinese eel online.
The owner denies that the labeling amounted to origin fraud.
Police say more than 99% of the eel sold by the business in 2025 was Chinese, and estimate its sales that year at about 223 million yen.
The case concerns whether customers were misled into believing the eel was from Japan.
Police are continuing their investigation.
Kyoto police arrested the 54-year-old owner of eel business Doi Katsuman on suspicion of mislabeling Chinese eel as sourced from Aichi Prefecture.
Police allege that in July 2025, the Fushimi Inari restaurant menu said its eel was carefully selected from Aichi’s Isshiki area.
They also allege that in December 2025, the company’s online shop advertised Chinese eel products as coming from Aichi.
The owner denies that he considered the labeling to be origin misrepresentation.
Police estimate that more than 99% of the company’s 2025 eel sales involved Chinese eel.
- Who
- The 54-year-old male owner of Doi Katsuman, an eel business in Kyoto.
- What
- He was arrested on suspicion of violating Japan’s Unfair Competition Prevention Act by misrepresenting the origin of Chinese eel.
- When
- He was arrested on October 20, 2026. The alleged labeling took place in July and December 2025.
- Where
- At the company’s Fushimi Inari restaurant and its online shop; the business is based in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto.
- Why
- Police allege the labeling misled customers into believing Chinese eel was from Aichi Prefecture.
Doi Katsuman owner
Kyoto police
Origin labeling
Doi Katsuman owner
The owner denies that he considered the labeling to be origin misrepresentation.
Kyoto police
Police allege Chinese eel was labeled as coming from Aichi Prefecture.
Police received information about the business, according to the Mainichi report.
Police allege the Fushimi Inari restaurant menu described Chinese eel as sourced from Aichi’s Isshiki area.
Police allege the online shop advertised Chinese eel products as coming from Aichi.
Kyoto police arrested the business owner.
- Business
- Doi Katsuman
- Owner
- Male, 54
- 2025 sales
- About 223 million yen
- Share police believe involved Chinese eel
- More than 99%
- Alleged restaurant location
- Fushimi Inari, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto
3 sources
What people are saying
I do not think this is origin misrepresentation.
The supplier is in Aichi, but it can be domestic or Chinese, depending on the case.