Kura Sushi expands with record-breaking sustainable restaurant at Osaka Expo

Kura Sushi Inc., one of the world’s most recognized conveyor-belt sushi chains, is set to open its largest-ever restaurant at the Osaka-Kansai Expo on April 13, 2025. Designed with an emphasis on eco-conscious dining, the Kura Sushi Osaka Kansai Expo Store will feature a record-breaking 338 seats and the longest revolving sushi belt in the company’s history, measuring 135 meters.

More than just a milestone in expansion, the new store exemplifies Kura Sushi’s commitment to sustainability and technological innovation, merging environmentally friendly materials with cutting-edge automation to enhance food safety and customer experience. This ambitious venture signals a new era in the conveyor-belt sushi industry, where tradition and technology align with global sustainability goals.

What Makes the Kura Sushi Osaka Kansai Expo Store Unique?

The Kura Sushi Osaka Kansai Expo Store introduces a next-generation restaurant model that prioritizes sustainability at every stage of construction and operation. The exterior walls are crafted using a unique plaster made from 336,000 repurposed seashells, reducing waste and eliminating the need for artificial materials. The store’s signage and seating number indicators incorporate 15 kg of discarded fishing gear, including ropes, buoys, and baskets, while approximately 100 kg of recycled plastic bottle caps and polyethylene tanks have been transformed into pictograms for cash registers and restroom signage.

Even the waiting area reflects this eco-conscious approach, with benches built from sustainably sourced cedar trees, ensuring that every aspect of the restaurant embodies Kura Sushi’s environmental vision. The store also utilizes AI-driven food safety measures, reinforcing the chain’s reputation as a leader in high-tech sushi service.

How Does Kura Sushi Integrate Technology for an Enhanced Dining Experience?

While sustainability is a central theme, Kura Sushi Osaka Kansai Expo Store also incorporates state-of-the-art AI and ICT-driven automation to ensure optimal food quality and hygiene. The “Antibacterial Sushi Cover Mr. Freshness”, a signature feature across the chain’s locations, has been given a special design for the Expo, incorporating a handshaking motif in red and blue, symbolizing global unity through cuisine.

This AI-powered system helps protect sushi from airborne contaminants, maintaining freshness while minimizing waste. Kura Sushi remains the only major conveyor-belt sushi chain to uphold this high standard of food safety across all its locations, reinforcing its competitive edge in the fast-growing automated restaurant sector.

What Role Does Kura Sushi Play in Advancing Sustainable Seafood Practices?

Kura Sushi’s commitment to sustainable seafood sourcing is evident in its expansion of eco-friendly menu options, particularly in its efforts to incorporate low-use fish species like nizadai. This initiative is part of the company’s longstanding partnership with Japanese fisheries, which focuses on preserving marine resources through responsible fishing practices and AI-driven smart aquaculture.

The Kura Sushi Osaka Kansai Expo Store will also feature a diverse range of sustainable menu items, including organic hamachi and Healthy Roll, the latter made using non-standard vegetables repurposed into edible sheets to reduce food waste. This approach aligns with the company’s broader Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), positioning Kura Sushi as an innovator in eco-friendly food solutions.

How Is Kura Sushi Bringing Global Culinary Influences to Its Menu?

For the first time in its history, Kura Sushi is introducing an exclusive 70-dish international menu, inspired by cuisines from 70 different countries and regions. This unique offering has been developed in collaboration with ambassadors and culinary experts, ensuring authenticity in taste and presentation.

Each dish has been carefully curated to provide an immersive cultural experience, allowing visitors to explore global flavors while enjoying the familiar conveyor-belt sushi format. By bridging Japanese sushi traditions with international culinary diversity, the company aims to showcase the universality of sushi culture, making it accessible and appealing to a worldwide audience.

How Does the New Store Reflect Kura Sushi’s Future Growth Strategy?

At the official press announcement, Hiroyuki Okamoto, Director and General Manager of Public Relations, Advertising, and Investor Relations, emphasized Kura Sushi’s long-term vision of combining sustainability with advanced technology. He highlighted that the company remains dedicated to the authentic revolving sushi experience, setting it apart from competitors in the fast-evolving automated dining landscape.

With 546 stores in Japan, 73 in the United States, 59 in Taiwan, and three in Shanghai, Kura Sushi continues to expand its global footprint. The launch of the Kura Sushi Osaka Kansai Expo Store is not only a testament to its commitment to sustainable dining but also a strategic step toward reinforcing its brand as a leader in eco-conscious restaurant innovation.

By aligning traditional Japanese sushi culture with modern sustainability efforts, Kura Sushi is paving the way for the future of conveyor-belt dining, proving that technology and environmental responsibility can coexist in the restaurant industry.