Image Credit: Yahoo! Japan
Gyukaku, a prominent yakiniku chain, has ignited a social media storm with its latest promotional campaign offering women a 50% discount on all-you-can-eat courses from September 2 to 12, 2024. The campaign, intended to celebrate Gyukaku’s participation in the “TOKYO GIRLS COLLECTION” event at Saitama Super Arena, is causing a significant controversy.
Announced on August 30, the promotion is available to female customers who are official app members and make a reservation in advance. The discount applies to both the “Gyukaku Course” and the “Kankan Course” but is limited to Mondays through Thursdays. The campaign was met with enthusiasm on social media platforms, receiving over 100,000 likes by September 1. Many women welcomed the initiative, sharing their excitement and plans to visit Gyukaku.
However, the promotion has sparked substantial criticism, particularly from male users. Critics argue that the discount discriminates against men and contradicts modern principles of gender equality. Comments such as “This is discrimination against men” and “It is unacceptable to separate services by gender” have flooded social media. The backlash extends to some female users who worry that such promotions could exacerbate gender divisions.
Gyukaku defended the campaign by explaining that it was designed to cater to consumer preferences for affordable luxury dining. The company pointed out that, historically, women tend to order fewer meat plates than men, which they believe justifies the discount. The debate reflects broader concerns about gender-based pricing in the service industry and highlights ongoing discussions about equality and fairness in promotional practices.
Despite the controversy, Gyukaku remains committed to the campaign, which is set to run across all its locations starting September 2.