A 21-year-old part-time worker at a Lawson convenience store in Kamobe, Kochi Prefecture, uploaded pictures of himself inside an ice cream freezer to Facebook, prompting Lawson headquarters to cancel its contract with the franchise after receiving complaints, company officials said.
The store, which was closed down on Monday, will reopen as soon as a new owner is found, according to Lawson.
"As (a company) that handles food products, it is unacceptable and we are reflecting on the incident," a Lawson official said.
On June 17, his day off, the worker, reportedly the son of the franchise owner, allegedly removed the freezer cover and climbed inside, the official said.
The man apparently asked a friend to take pictures, which were uploaded the next day.
All the products in the freezer, which measures 1.8 meters by 0.8 meter and is 1 meter tall, were replaced soon after the worker's act came to light, the Lawson official said.
The store, which was covered with a blue sheet, attracted many visitors Monday afternoon after the news broke on the Internet.
"If it weren't for the Internet, this incident wouldn't have become such a big deal," said a 50-year-old woman from Kochi.
The store opened in August 2004.