In October, U.K. sushi chain Yo! Sushi opened a new kaiten (conveyor belt) restaurant in a Florida mall. It is the third branch the chain has established in the United States this year, and more branches are slated to open in 2016. It is a reminder that this automated approach to dining continues to intrigue eaters outside of Japan.
Yet in its birth country, kaiten sushi is changing. Kappa Sushi, one of the major chains, debuted a new restaurant in September in Tokyo's Aoyama neighborhood called Sushi Nova. Since then, new locations have opened in Asakusa, Harajuku and Shibuya.
All the changes to the industry are on display at Sushi Nova. The Aoyama shop is compact, with a clean and futuristic interior. The menu includes classic fish options, but also devotes space to desserts, tempura and quirky "vegetable sushi" items. Customers order via touchscreens and a single-track delivery system zips the ordered food directly to tables within minutes.