From Asahi Brewery to Sushi Restaurants

Conveyor belt sushi, also known as kaiten-zushi or rotation sushi, has revolutionized the way people enjoy this beloved Japanese cuisine, turning it into one of the most influential international dishes of all time. The concept, which involves plates of sushi revolving around a bar on a conveyor belt, enabling customers to serve themselves, was the brainchild of Yoshiaki Shiraishi. Shiraishi was inspired by the efficiency of conveyor belts used in Asahi breweries to move beer bottles.

The Birth of Mawaru Genroku Sushi

Struggling with staffing issues at his small restaurant, Shiraishi spent four years brainstorming, designing, and prototyping a system that would allow for more efficient service. In 1958, he opened the first ever conveyor belt sushi restaurant, Mawaru Genroku Sushi, in Osaka. The original setup featured no chairs around a central bar and a stainless steel belt that moved clockwise, facilitating the ease with which diners, especially those using chopsticks with their right hand, could grab plates with their left. The belt’s speed was meticulously calculated at just over three inches per second to maintain freshness without causing mishaps.

Global Popularity of Kaiten-Zushi

Yoshiaki Shiraishi’s innovative dining concept not only transformed sushi service but also democratized it, stripping away the frills to offer an entertaining and efficient dining experience. The Osaka World Expo in 1970 provided him the perfect platform to introduce kaiten-zushi to an international audience. The success at the expo led to increased popularity and the proliferation of conveyor sushi restaurants across Japan and beyond.

Legacy and Evolution

By the mid-70s, the expiration of Shiraishi’s patent allowed other restaurateurs to adopt the conveyor belt system, leading to a boom in the industry. New chains opened not just in Japan but across Asia, Europe, and the Americas, giving rise to new sushi variations influenced by local cultures, such as the New York roll and California roll. Despite Shiraishi’s passing in 2001, his legacy lives on, with thousands of conveyor belt sushi restaurants in Japan alone and many more worldwide.