The operator of a major Japanese conveyor-belt sushi chain has dropped a damage lawsuit against a customer over his posting online of a video showing a prank at one of its restaurants. The company withdrew the suit after reaching an arbitration agreement with the customer.

The video uploaded in January shows the customer licking a soy sauce bottle in the Sushiro restaurant in Gifu City, central Japan.

The operator, Akindo Sushiro, filed the suit in March, saying the number of customers fell across the country as the prank caused a feeling of significant discomfort and disgust among many of them. The operator demanded he pay more than 67 million yen, or about 470,000 dollars, in damages.

On Monday, the operator and the person who carried out the prank agreed on an arbitration at the Osaka District Court. Akindo Sushiro withdrew the suit as a result.

Representatives for the customer said he generally admitted to the act and regrets it, but asked the court to dismiss the suit, saying the decline in customer numbers may have been partially attributed to competition with rival restaurants.

The operator declined to disclose the details of the arbitration, but said it was acceptable as the person admitted to his responsibility for the prank.