Japanese beef bowl chain Sukiya , famous for its beef bowls, announced that it will shut down its stores nationwide after customers found a cockroach and a rat in their food.

Sukiya announced in January that a customer had found a rat in their miso soup in an outlet in Tottori Prefecture.

On March 28, the Gyudon chain received a phone call from a customer saying that there was a cockroach in a takeaway item from an outlet in Tokyo.

Sukiya has issued refunds and recalled the meals, deciding to close stores nationwide between March 31 and April 4.

Only a few stores will be open during the period.

Sukiya said it will take measures to eradicate pests and to block them from entering stores.

The beef bowl chain operator has apologized over the contamination.