A popular Chinese restaurant - has its business violated the residence status rules?

 Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

人気中華店 在留資格外の業務か

09月09日　18時34分

 独特な調理法でつくる焼きそばが人気の中華料理店、『梅蘭』の神奈川県内などにある店舗で働く中国籍の従業員７人が、在留資格で認められていない業務を担当していた疑いがあるとして、警察は９日、出入国管理法違反の疑いで逮捕するとともに、関係先として運営する会社を捜索しました。

捜索を受けたのは『梅蘭』を運営する横浜市中区の「源玉商事」で、９日午前、事務所に神奈川県警の捜査員およそ２０人が入りました。

警察によりますと、神奈川や東京にある店舗で働く中国籍の従業員７人は、在留資格で認められていない配膳や接客などの業務を担当していたとして、出入国管理法違反の疑いがあるということです。

警察は９日、７人を逮捕し、関係先として運営する会社を捜索しました。

このうち数人の従業員は「在留資格の申請は会社が行っていた」という趣旨の説明をしているということで、警察は会社が不正を把握しながら雇っていた疑いもあるとみて調べています。

『梅蘭』は独特な調理法でつくる焼きそばが有名な人気の中華料理店で、テレビ番組でもたびたび紹介され、ホームページによりますと関東を中心に２０店ほど出店しています。

捜索について源玉商事は「責任者がいないのでコメントできない」としています。

Translation

It was suspected that seven Chinese employees working at "Bairan", a Chinese restaurant in Kanagawa prefecture popular for making yakisoba by using a unique cooking method, was undertaking a business that was not permitted by the status of residence. On the 9th, the police arrested the employees on suspicion of violating the Immigration Control Act, and was searching for a company that had operated as a related party.

The search was conducted on "Gentama Shoji" in Naka-ku of Yokohama which operated "Bairan"; and about 20 Kanagawa Prefectural Police investigators entered the office in the morning on the 9th.

According to the police, the seven Chinese employees working at stores in Kanagawa and Tokyo were suspected of violating the Immigration Control Act, alleging that they were in charge of the table setting and serving customers etc. that were not permitted by their status of residence.

Police arrested the seven people on the 9th and searched for a company that had operated as a related party.

Some of the employees explained that “the company had applied for the status of residence”, and the police conducted an investigation on suspecting that the company was using fraud in hiring.

"Bairan" was a popular Chinese restaurant famous for yakisoba that was made with a unique cooking method. It was often introduced on TV programs; and according to its website there were about 20 stores centering around the Kanto region.

Regarding the search, Gentama Shoji said, "We can't comment because the person in charge is not available."

              So, the Japanese police is keen to ensure that no foreigners are working illegally in Japan.