JAPANESE RESTAURANT GOES VIRAL AFTER DECLARING NO HALAL, NO VEGAN AND PORK ON THE MENU
A Japanese restaurant has sparked an international debate after a blunt notice informing customers that it does not provide halal, vegan or vegetarian menus went viral online. The sign, reportedly displayed outside a restaurant in Tokyo’s Jiyugaoka area, clearly sets out what customers should expect before entering.
It states that there is no vegetarian menu, no vegan menu, no halal menu and no takeout service.
The restaurant also informs customers that its menu contains chicken and pork and that payment is cash only.
SIGN DIVIDES SOCIAL MEDIA
The notice has attracted considerable attention online, with some users praising the restaurant for clearly communicating what it can and cannot provide.
Supporters argue that a privately operated restaurant should generally be free to determine what food it serves and that customers with particular dietary requirements can choose establishments that meet their needs.
Others have criticised the tone of the notice and questioned whether restaurants in a country receiving millions of international visitors should make greater efforts to accommodate different dietary requirements.
However, saying that a restaurant does not provide halal or vegan food is not the same as prohibiting Muslims or vegans from entering.
The sign primarily communicates what the kitchen serves.
JAPAN ALSO HAS HALAL RESTAURANTS
The viral debate should not be interpreted as evidence that Japan has adopted a national policy against halal food.
Japan’s official tourism authorities provide information designed to help Muslim visitors communicate religious and dietary requirements while travelling in the country.
Halal and Muslim friendly restaurants can also be found across major Japanese cities.
At the same time, individual restaurants may have limited kitchens, fixed menus or preparation methods that make accommodating every dietary requirement difficult.
For travellers, the viral sign delivers one very clear message.
Check what a restaurant serves before ordering, and when a particular establishment cannot accommodate your dietary requirements, another restaurant may be the better choice.
VNTV
