Watami controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2015
Settlement and apology in Mori case
Watami reached a 130 million yen out-of-court settlement with Mori’s family. Founder Miki Watanabe apologized in connection with the case.
2013
Continued criticism of labor practices
Watami again received the worst-company designation in the referenced Japanese workplace ranking, reinforcing its “black company” reputation.
2012
Negative workplace rankings
Watami was voted the worst company in Japan to work for in a referenced ranking, reflecting public criticism of its labor practices.
2008
Mina Mori employee-suicide case
Mina Mori, a 26-year-old employee of a Watami-named restaurant chain, died by suicide two months after joining the company. Her family sought official recognition that work-related stress contributed to the death. After an initial denial, the Kanagawa Prefectural Labor Bureau recognized work-related stress as a cause of the deterioration of her mental health.