Kura Sushi (Japanese: くら寿司, Hepburn: Kura zushi) is a Japanese sushi restaurant chain.[6][7] It is the second largest sushi restaurant chain in Japan, behind Sushiro and ahead of Hama Sushi.[8] Its headquarters are in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture.[9]

It has 543 locations in Japan, 56 in Taiwan, and 61 in the United States.[10] While it is a conveyor belt sushi chain, it relies on a high level of automation allowing the average location to function with fifteen to twenty staff members.[11] At Kura Sushi's locations, a robot known as "KuraB the Kurabot" delivers foods, beverages, and other objects,[12] however sometimes employees will simply supply the beverages themselves.

History

Kura Sushi launched its first location in Taiwan in December 2014 near Songjiang Nanjing metro station in Taipei.[13]

Kura Sushi has featured decorations and menu items based on characters such as Sonic the Hedgehog and Hello Kitty. By inserting a certain number of plates into a receptacle, customers can trigger custom animations or win prizes during their dining experience. [14]

Response to COVID-19

During the coronavirus pandemic, the company received $6 million in forgivable loans intended for small businesses from the Paycheck Protection Program.[15] The funds were distributed as part of the government's $2.2 trillion CARES Act and intended to benefit workers at employers with fewer than 500 employees that are unable to obtain credit elsewhere.[15] The loan was returned immediately after criticized.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Kura Sushi, Inc". Food Revolution Kura Sushi, Inc. Retrieved 2022-06-08.
  2. ^ "Statements of Income". Food Revolution Kura Sushi, Inc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  3. ^ "Kura Sushi Usa, Inc. 2021 Annual Report 10-K". SEC.report. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  4. ^ "Company Profile". Kura Sushi Asia Co., Ltd. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
  5. ^ "2021 Annual Report". investor.kurasushi.tw. 30 April 2022.
  6. ^ Gahōsha, Jiji (2001). Pacific Friend. Jiji Gaho Sha, Incorporated. pp. 12–13. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  7. ^ "Kura plans more sushi restaurants in Taiwan". Nikkei Asian Review. December 1, 2016. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  8. ^ "Kura Sushi to raise prices, end 100-yen sushi after 4 decades | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis". The Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  9. ^ "Company". Kura Sushi. Retrieved 2022-06-11. 1-2-1 Fukasaka, Naka-ku, Sakai-shi, Osaka 599-8253, Japan - Address in Japanese: "大阪府堺市中区深阪1-2-2"
  10. ^ "20231213kessann" (PDF). kura-corpo.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  11. ^ Hiroko, Tabuchi (2010-12-30). "For Sushi Chain, Conveyor Belts Carry Profit". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
  12. ^ "Kura Sushi on TikTok".
  13. ^ "日本迴轉壽司KURA台灣1號店開始試營運 每盤40元". ETtoday 旅遊雲 (in Traditional Chinese). 18 December 2014. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
  14. ^ "Kura Sushi U.S. and Sanrio to Launch 2nd Collaboration on Feb. 1". License Global. January 28, 2022.
  15. ^ a b O'Connell, Jonathan (20 April 2020). "White House, GOP face heat after hotel and restaurant chains helped run small business program dry". The Washington Post. Retrieved 20 April 2020.

External links