Thailand's 'unluckiest' matcha ice cream stand.

Matcha ice cream stand in front of a temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Junichi, 39, a Japanese national, opened a small matcha ice cream stall outside Yang Kwang Temple, located in the city center of Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The stall quickly became a social media phenomenon after being featured by many Thai food bloggers. They praised the matcha ice cream as being made from high-quality ingredients, according to Thaiger .

Previously, Junichi and his family ran a restaurant in Japan. He traveled to Chiang Mai and decided to stay for over six months after falling in love with the area and developing a relationship with a Thai woman.

Junichi reportedly frequented Yang Kwang Temple for meditation. Knowing that the Japanese citizen was staying in Thailand for an extended period without a job, the temple's abbot reportedly allowed Junichi and his girlfriend to set up a small ice cream stall in front of the temple free of charge.

Initially, the stall only sold homemade matcha ice cream made using a traditional Japanese recipe. Later, Junichi expanded the menu, adding onigiri (traditional Japanese rice balls) and other Japanese dishes. The stall received many positive reviews from both Thai and foreign tourists.

However, the ice cream stand's growing popularity attracted the attention of the Chiang Mai Provincial Immigration Office. On January 15th, authorities conducted an inspection, questioning the legality of the business and carrying out a surprise check of the stand.

Matcha ice cream, matcha bar 1

Authorities inspected Junichi's matcha ice cream stall.

At the authorities' office, Junichi and his Thai girlfriend admitted to operating the shop without a business license. The Japanese man also confirmed that he did not have a valid work permit, despite legally residing in Thailand on a Non-Immigrant O visa.

He was then taken to the Mueang District Police Station in Chiang Mai for further legal processing. He was prosecuted under Section 8 of the Foreign Workers Management Act for working without a permit.

According to regulations, this offense can result in a fine of 5,000-50,000 baht, the risk of deportation, and a two-year ban from applying for a work permit in Thailand.

The arrest of the matcha ice cream vendor quickly sparked controversy on social media. Some supported the police decision, arguing that Junichi and his girlfriend needed to complete all necessary legal procedures before starting their business.

However, many critics argue that authorities often overlook large-scale illegal businesses run by foreigners, while focusing on cracking down on smaller-scale operations.