It had been a while since I last went out for dinner, as I don’t eat outside often.

Yesterday, I went to a sushi train restaurant, somewhere I had not been in a long time.

The system of these restaurants have changed, and even the menus are different. Not only do they serve sushi, but also the kind of food you would order at a western-style restaurant.

I remember a few years ago, “K**pazushi” dominated the sushi train industry. However, recently it ranks at the bottom of the market. Prior to the decline in popularity, “K**pazushi” had a system where the sushi would come directly to your table on a miniature bullet train. This was extremely popular among children, and the restaurant gained many family customers. Unfortunately, now this system is installed in every sushi train restaurant and therefore has lost its uniqueness. Maybe children have lost their interest, you know what they say; children never lie. The restaurant also has failed to create a diverse menu, making it fall behind the sushi train market race.

I was surprised to know that “K*razushi” now competes for first place in the industry. I had seen their TV ads a few times, and got the impression that they are trying to redefine the borders of “sushi restaurants.” Their reception system is practical and efficient, and the reservation system is great for the weekends when the restaurant is packed.

They have a variety of coffee, no less than the types you can find at convenience stores. They even have a wide range of desserts. Many customers dine not onyl for the sushi, but also for the ramen noodles, rice bowls, and pancakes that the restaurant offers. With such an abundant menu, even the grownups are bound to enjoy themselves.

The sushi conveyer-belts are more creative too. For example, the sushi plates have covers on them to prevent the sushi from drying, or the plate itself turns so that the covers don’t come off.

Dining was entertaining until the end, up until the part when the waiter counted our plates. For every five plates, we were given a small toy in a capsule. What a clever idea! This would make children want to get more plates. Counting and collecting the plates were simultaneous, which means less time wasted. The collected plates probably go into the automatic dish washer, giving the waiters more time to do other jobs.

“K*razushi” had accomplished to meet their customer’s needs while saving the store’s time and money. The cost of fish can change according to buyer, so these ideas determine whether the store succeeds or fails in the industry.

Even though I finally dined out after a long time, I couldn’t help myself from having these thoughts.