Usually, customers go to restaurants to order and try delicious foods. However, an eatery in Nagoya, Japan, called ‘Shachihoko-ya,’ offers a face-slapping service to customers who want to have an exciting time. This practice have sparked curiosity among people on the internet.
While many restaurants around the world are figuring out how to attract customers with various innovative themes, Shachihoko-ya restaurant came up with a bizarre idea of captivating customers–people are willingly receive slaps on their faces before their meals. For a mere fee of 300 Japanese Yen (Rs 170), kimono-dressed waitresses deliver repeated slaps, with an additional 500 yen (Rs 283) surcharge for patrons requesting a specific staff member. Surprisingly, this service has gained popularity among Japanese men and women, as well as foreign tourists.
On X, formerly Twitter, Bangkok Lad posted a video featuring the renowned restaurant and wrote, ”This is Shachihokoya – a restaurant in Nagoya – where you can buy a menu item called ‘Nagoya Lady’s Slap’ for 300 yen.” The video has amassed thousands of views, eliciting humorous reactions and comments from online users.
This is Shachihokoya – a restaurant in Nagoya – where you can buy a menu item called 'Nagoya Lady's Slap' for 300 yen pic.twitter.com/19qPM1Ohac
— Bangkok Lad (@bangkoklad) November 29, 2023
Meanwhile, according to the YouTube video narration on the ‘Save Your Money In Japan’ channel, ”The harder the female staff slapped them, the more excited the patrons became. Not only were the patrons not angry, but they appeared to feel more relaxed after getting hit. They would even thank the staff member who smacked them.”
Initiated in 2012, the controversial service at Shachihoko-ya has successfully revived the restaurant’s business, attracting an increasing number of patrons willing to try this unique experience. Initially, only one female staff member performed the slapping, but as demand grew, the management hired several girls willing to participate in this unconventional practice.
However, the restaurant has decided to discontinue its face-smacking service after some videos of it went viral. In a post on X, it urged people not to come by expecting to get slapped.
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 comming. pic.twitter.com/Xd30LjNTpk
— しゃちほこ屋通信 (@shachihokoya) November 29, 2023
The post reads, ”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 did not expect old videos to go viral like this, so please understand before coming.”
As of the moment, it’s uncertain whether the service will return soon or will stop the service permanently.
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