A Japanese restaurant recently made waves on news channels and social media platforms when it was discovered that visitors voluntarily receive cheek slaps before receiving their food. For 300 Japanese Yen, kimono-clad waitresses at Shachihoko-ya in the Japanese city of Nagoya repeatedly slapped a willing customer in the face with their palms. If customers want a certain staff member to slap them, there an additional fee of ¥500. The eatery’s bizarrely brutal slapping service was popular with both locals and tourists and many even expressed gratitude to the waitresses for the slaps, NDTV reported. However, after videos of the practice went viral, the restaurant announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the slapping service had been discontinued.

In a post on the microblogging website, they wrote, Shachihoko-ya currently does not offer slaps. We appreciate the attention it has received today, but we cannot accommodate visits with the intention of receiving slaps. We didn t expect old videos to go viral like this, so please understand before coming. The controversial service, launched in 2012, revived the establishment business by attracting more patrons. Initially, only one female staff member performed the slapping, but as demand increased, management hired more. It's unclear if the service will return or if it has been discontinued permanently.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)