Hyogo prefectural police and Ikuta Police Station arrested six people linked to the Kobe ramen chain Kobe Ramen Daiichi Asahi on suspicion of illegal employment. The suspects, including the company president (79) and a manager (61), allegedly conspired with four store managers to have 10 foreign student workers from Vietnam and China at four central Kobe shops work beyond the 28-hour weekly limit and possibly without proper work permits or with expired residence status, from December 2022 to June 2025. All six reportedly admitted the charges. The investigation began after a tip about overstays; in June one worker was arrested for immigration law violation. Payroll records and time cards supported the illegal work, with some cases exceeding 80 hours per week. The chain operates four directly managed stores in Kobe and franchised locations elsewhere.