ISAHAYA, Nagasaki -- A first lieutenant at a Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) camp in southwest Japan has been suspended for one month for forcing a subordinate to eat wasabi after he dozed off, claiming it would help him stay awake.

According to the public affairs office of Camp Omura in the Nagasaki Prefecture city of Omura, the first lieutenant in his 30s fed his subordinate wasabi on Nov. 1, 2021. The member developed abdominal pain and was diagnosed with acute gastritis at a hospital and needed a total of five days to recover.

The suspension was issued on Oct. 29. The commander of the 16th Infantry Regiment, Captain Takanori Doi, released the following comment regarding the incident, "We deeply regret this and will thoroughly implement educational guidance."

(Japanese original by Masaya Matsuo, Isahaya Resident Bureau)