Operator of major restaurant review site Tabelog ordered to pay damages

Jun 17, 2022 | News On Japan

Jun 17, 2022 (Japan Today) - A Japanese court on Thursday ordered the operator of Tabelog, a popular restaurant review website, to pay about 38.4 million yen in damages to a Korean barbeque chain, judging that its rating algorithm is unfairly designed for chain outlets.

The Tokyo District Court found that the site operator Kakaku.com Inc. violated the antimonopoly law, saying its algorithm, which uniformly lowered scores of chain restaurants, is considered an "abuse of dominant bargaining position."

But the court rejected an injunction sought by the restaurant chain to stop the operator from using the algorithm, saying its negative impact on sales may not continue as consumers would choose restaurants by considering the change of the site's algorithm.

The ruling came as a number of restaurants have voiced concerns over opaque rating methods on one of the most influential restaurant review sites in the country.

In the ruling, the court said that Tabelog, which boasted about 87.63 million monthly users as of March, had a trading advantage over the chain and it would have to accept detrimental treatment if it ceases to be a paid member of the website. ...continue reading

Source: ANNnewsCH

Players to Watch When Japan Faces the Netherlands

Japan's World Cup campaign begins on June 14 when the Samurai Blue face the Netherlands at Dallas Stadium in Texas, a clash that will showcase some of the game's most talented players and pit two ambitious teams against one another in a crucial Group F opener. While Japan arrives without injured winger Kaoru Mitoma, one of its most recognizable stars, the squad still boasts a wealth of talent drawn from Europe's top leagues.

El Nino Returns, But Japan Faces Another Hot Summer

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) announced that an El Niño phenomenon is believed to have developed this spring, warning that Japan is likely to experience above-average temperatures nationwide this summer despite the climate pattern's traditional association with cooler summers.

Narita Airport Advances Compulsory Land Acquisition for Runway

Narita International Airport Corporation is expected to announce next month that it will apply to the national government for project certification as part of the process to enable compulsory land acquisition for the construction of a new runway at Narita Airport, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Fire Destroys Historic Arima Inari Shrine

A fire broke out at Arima Inari Shrine near the Arima Onsen hot spring resort area in Kobe on the night of June 9th, destroying multiple buildings and leaving an elderly Shinto priest and his wife with minor injuries.

Japan National Team Holds First Training Session in Nashville

Japan's national soccer team arrived in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 8th from Monterrey, Mexico, where it had been conducting a pre-World Cup training camp, and held its first practice session at its base camp for the FIFA World Cup in North America.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Food NEWS

Raiden Watermelon Fetches Record 400,000 Yen at First Auction

The first auction of Raiden Watermelon, a specialty product of Kyowa in Hokkaido's Shiribeshi region, was held in Sapporo on June 9th, with a pair of melons fetching a record-high 400,000 yen.

Seven-Eleven Okinawa Develops New Dairy Products Using Summer Milk Surplus

Seven-Eleven Okinawa and local dairy farmers have begun working together to find new uses for milk produced during the summer vacation period, when school lunch programs are suspended and demand for fresh milk declines.

Premium Plum Harvest Shrinks for Third Straight Year Despite Larger Fruit

The harvest of Nanko plums, a specialty product of Minabe Town in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan's largest ume-producing region, has reached its peak, with farmers busy gathering the highly prized fruit despite another disappointing crop year.

Japan's Squeezed Consumers to Pig Out on Itoham's Low-Cost 'Sunny Price' Ham

Major meat processor Itoham announced on June 5th that it will launch a new lower-priced product line next month as companies continue to grapple with rising costs driven by inflation and instability in the Middle East.

Trying RARE All-You-Can-Eat Domino's in Tokyo

Did you know that some Domino’s Pizza locations in Japan offer an all-you-can-eat deal? It is a super rare experience available at only a very limited number of stores.

YOSHIKI and Global Wine Experts Turn Their Attention to Hokkaido Wine

World-renowned musician YOSHIKI is betting on Hokkaido wine as Japan's next global export success story, joining a growing list of international figures and industry leaders who see the island as one of the world's most promising emerging wine regions.

$100 Japanese Street Food Challenge in Kyoto!!

I'll attempt to spend $100 on street food in Kyoto, Japan, but there's one problem: Japan is not really a street food country. Most people prefer to eat indoors, and finding street food is surprisingly difficult almost anywhere in the country—except in places like Nishiki Market. (More Best Ever Food Review Show)

World’s First Fully Farmed Eels to Go on Sale in Japan

Japan will begin trial sales of the world’s first fully farmed eels for consumers on May 29th, marking a major milestone for the aquaculture industry as domestic eel prices have already fallen by about 40% from a year earlier.

< 2 3 4 5 >