Shanghai officials condemned for Bundside Japanese banquet on night of stampede

Shanghai officials are facing media scrutiny and public condemnation after details emerged of a lavish Japanese banquet enjoyed on New Year's Eve. 

Senior functionaries in Huangpu District, site of the deadly stampede that killed 36 revelers on the Bund in the final moments of December 31, 2014, dined at a luxury restaurant on the night of the tragedy. 

The restaurant, Utsusemi, features set menus ranging from RMB1,888 to RMB3,888 and fresh ingredients flown in from Japan, served in just four private dining rooms for 2, 6, 10 or 12 guests.

Located some 300 meters from Chen Yi Square, site of the fatal crush, the restaurant belongs to state-owned enterprise Shanghai Waitanyuan Development Co., enabling officials to simply sign off on all expenses incurred therein.

The revelations prompted fury online, but many netizens unsure what they should be furious about: the cost of the meal, its timing, or the fact that it was Japanese cuisine?

"The crucial point here is that you cadres entered into a restaurant in the Japanese style, designed by Japanese people," railed one comment with close to a thousand endorsements, "did you not feel at all twisted within?"

Another popular comment was even more virulent: "Eat whatever you want and we won't say a thing, but don't eat f***ing Japanese food! What the hell, I'm fuming!"

"How much do these officials make a month?" one slightly calmer web user mused. "Whether they paid for it or the government did, it's got nothing to do with the stampede. Where that money really came from is all that matters."

[Images via Sina]