The other day, I purchased "Special Yakiniku Sauce from Shirasagi-so, a Popular Inn in Nanshu/Ina Valley, Lake Oguchi," made by the manager of Oguchi Campground.
When I opened the bottle, the contents gushed out with such force that it splattered all over my clothes, the ceiling, and the room, creating a disastrous situation.
It appears that abnormal fermentation or decay was occurring, as bubbles continued to bubble up from inside, and gas was building up. After some of the sauce had come out, I closed the lid again and started cleaning, but the pressure inside caused the lid to open with force again, and again a large amount of sauce gushed out.
I was very confused by the stains on my clothes and the room, so I called the seller to explain the situation. They said they would put me through to the person in charge, and then the manager of Oguchi Campground answered the phone.
However, before I could explain the situation in detail,
the representative immediately said,
"Is this a complaint call? Did you read the instructions on the back before using it? It says to be careful not to stain your clothes when opening the bottle, right? If you have something to say, take it to court. Bye," he said in a unilateral, overbearing tone, and then hung up the phone.
I was extremely disappointed that there was no sincere response whatsoever to a product problem like this.
I have doubts about the safety of the product itself, and above all, their response was far too dishonest.
The abnormal fermentation (or decay) indicates the possibility that bacteria harmful to the human body may have been growing inside.
I was astonished at the representative's lack of awareness of the problem, as he tried to avoid responsibility by citing a single sentence in small print on the back, without even bothering to examine the product, saying, "Did you read the instructions on the back? It says to be careful not to stain your clothes when opening the bottle, right?" Such excuses will not work in a case like this.
I urge anyone considering purchasing this product to be very careful in the future.
[⚠️Warning⚠️]
*Products with a best-by date of August 23, 2026, or products exposed to high summer temperatures during transport, have a best-by date of two years, but leaving them unopened is extremely dangerous.
There is a risk of explosion due to fermentation gas.
When gas and liquid rapidly escape and bubbles appear upon opening, as in the case of the product purchased this time,
① Microorganisms (mainly yeast, lactic acid bacteria, and miscellaneous bacteria) are living and continuing to ferment within the container.
② As a result, sugars and other substances are broken down, generating large amounts of carbon dioxide (gas).
③ Internal pressure increases, and gas suddenly erupts upon opening, causing bubbles like a carbonated drink and overflowing liquid.
This clearly indicates microbial contamination at some stage during manufacturing, storage, or distribution. This is clearly a product defect (subject to the Product Liability Act).
Clothing, furniture, walls, etc. were damaged by the scattering of contents due to abnormal fermentation.
→ This constitutes "damage to property," and a claim for compensation may be made under the Product Liability Act and Article 709 (tort) of the Civil Code.
This company avoids responsibility by not even investigating the details of the product defect or listening to the customer's complaint, and instead makes the customer read the warning on the back, saying, "It says to be careful not to stain your clothing when opening, doesn't it?"
Please take care and take appropriate measures to protect yourself.
[Added in response to a reply from the representative of Oguchi Campground ↓]
If a yakiniku sauce container "explodes despite normal use,"
the seller or manufacturer may be liable for damages under the Product Liability Act (PL Act) and tort liability under the Civil Code.
Conditions for coverage under the Product Liability Act:
The product must be "defective."
The damage caused by the defect.
The user must not be negligent (the product was used correctly).
→ If this is the case, you may be able to claim "actual costs" such as cleaning and repair costs for clothing and furniture.
The representative's response: "No, it's fine. You can wipe it off (the stains on the ceiling). Don't you have a stepladder? Can't you reach it by using a chair? How high is the ceiling?"
They responded with a half-smile throughout.
This is clearly not honest corporate behavior.
When I called to report a product defect,
the first thing they said was, "Are you calling to complain? Did you read the label on the back before using it? It says to be careful not to stain your clothes when opening it, right? If you have something to say, take it to court," they said in a unilateral, overbearing tone, and then hung up the phone. They clearly lack the basic attitude of apologizing, investigating the cause, preventing recurrence, and compensating for any damages.
Since the manufacturer showed no intention of responding at all, I contacted the store where I purchased the product, and they investigated and handled the matter in a very honest manner. The representative only began to respond after the retailer's buyer contacted me, so I guess they had no choice.
In the representative's reply, he wrote, "Regarding the request for cleaning fees, I think that commenting that the ceiling couldn't be cleaned because it was out of reach is a bit of a difficult one to make from a common sense perspective."
However, if you have suffered emotional and practical burdens due to dishonest behavior, it is legitimate to claim damages.
In particular,
- Damage to clothing or the room (actual damage)
- Re-cleaning or wasted time
- Mental distress caused by dishonest behavior
All of these can be claimed as "damages."
In fact, the Consumer Affairs Agency and local consumer affairs centers consider it reasonable to seek compensation later even for damages that were not initially claimed.
The review response shows that the representative's "writing seems like an apology, but is not really an apology; it is an attempt to avoid responsibility, get angry, and defensive."
While the letter contains "words of apology," the structure, tone, and shifting of the topic make it difficult to say that he respects our position. This is extremely poor corporate behavior.
I am still in contact with the buyer to give progress reports and so on, so I will continue to consult with A-Co-op regarding the contents of this reply as well.
I booked a stargazing terrace with a friend for Golden Week.
When we arrived through the forest, we saw a beautiful lakeside area, and was very impressed by how quiet and relaxing the space was. Some people set up tents and camp by the lake, making it a very magical and beautiful place.
At the inn with a stargazing terrace, we were welcomed by a unique and approachable young proprietress. This time I made a reservation for a large group of 10 people, and I was very grateful that they were able to accommodate the 10 people flexibly.
In the evening, there was a barbecue, which was quite plentiful and satisfying. There is a place where you can make a bonfire on the star viewing terrace, so you can light a bonfire at night while waiting for the stars to appear. There is also a stylish outdoor bar right next to the inn, where they will make cocktails to suit your requests.
At night, the starry sky can be seen clearly with the naked eye, and if you're lucky, you might even see a shooting star.
The inn is a Japanese-style room where up to four people can stay in one room. The interior of the hotel was Japanese style and very comfortable. There is also an old-fashioned bath, and it felt very nice to soak in it after the barbecue. Badminton and other equipment can be rented, and there is also a wide selection of play equipment.
We spent the next day walking around the lake until lunchtime, and the time passed quickly.
Shirasagiso was a very comfortable place with beautiful scenery and plenty of things to do, and there was no need to move to another place. I will definitely come stay again!
