Kimimi Tanabe, 47, who was the president of Kappa Create, which operates Kappa Sushi, was charged with violating the Unfair Competition Prevention Act. He was accused of copying data related to the purchase of Hama Sushi and comparing it with his own data when he changed jobs.
Judge Kiichi Hiraide of the Tokyo District Court pointed out that "there is nothing to extenuate in the greedy motive of gaining a position or reputation at a new job" He was sentenced to three years in prison, four years of suspended sentence, and a fine of 31 million yen.