Some 10 sewing needles were found in customer meals at a hotel in Kitami, eastern Hokkaido, police said Tuesday. No one was hurt.
Hokkaido police are investigating the apparent attempt Monday evening to disrupt the operation of Shiki Heian no Yakata, located in an "onsen" spa resort in Kitami facing the Sea of Okhotsk.
According to police, two customers who were served dinner courses found several needles, 3.5 cm to 5 cm long, protruding from mushrooms served in a "nabe" stew pot.
Several others were hidden under other dishes, police said, adding the total was more than 10.
Because lids are usually placed on such traditional stew pots, hotel employees did not see the needles before serving them to customers, the hotel said.
The customers noticed the needles before starting to eat and complained to the hotel, which alerted police.