Japanese worker sues president after shocking hotpot prank.

Japanese worker sues president after shocking hotpot prank.

Shocking Soup Incident: A Year-End Party That Went Wrong

What Happened

  • Ninety‑five minutes into a company holiday bash in December 2015, a 23‑year‑old employee found himself face‑first thrust into a boiling pot of soup by the 25‑year‑old president.
  • Instead of rushing to rescue him, fellow coworkers erupted in cheers, and one visibly kept stirring the same pot like it was a cooking competition.
  • The president, dismissing any alarm, bragged that “there are clients here, make it fun,” before pushing the youngster again—so hard that the pot spilled off the stove.

The Aftermath

  • One photo later showed the victim’s face covered in painful blisters and scarring.
  • He spent roughly a month battling the burns—physical and emotional agony layered on top of each other.
  • The president later shrugged, calling it “just a prank” in an interview with Weekly Shincho.

Legal Action Years Later

  • The employee didn’t file a lawsuit until three years later—why the delay remains a mystery.
  • Now the former staffer seeks justice against the president and alleges relentless bullying at the workplace.
  • Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare recently noted a surge in “power harassment” by superiors over the past decade, hinting that this event isn’t isolated.

Public Reaction

  • The viral video—although we’ll skip the link—spurred outrage on YouTube and Weibo, racking up almost 4 million views.
  • Netizens denounced the bullying and rallied behind the victim’s right to hold the perpetrator accountable.
  • Many comment that “seeing a hot‑pot now feels like reliving that trauma,” underscoring the lasting impact.

For the company, this case is a stark reminder: office fun can quickly turn into a nightmare if hands‑on safety and respect are ignored. The hope is that the legal outcome will send a clear message—bullying gets no “prank” clearance in the workplace.