News On Japan

Kura Sushi seeks to taste success in China with 100-store target

Jun 16 (Nikkei) - Conveyor-belt sushi chain Kura Sushi opened its first mainland China location Thursday in Shanghai, aiming to have 100 outlets in the world's second-largest economy by 2033 as locals resume dining out after long COVID shutdowns.

The new location boasts a prime spot inside a popular shopping center easily accessible via three subway lines. As with locations in Japan, the Shanghai restaurant features a smart system where customers can dine without coming into contact with staff or touching any store devices -- from using a touchless screen to enter the number of people in their parties to paying their bills.

The menu features items limited to China, such as salmon tataki sold for 12 yuan ($1.70) per plate, as well as familiar dishes from Japan, including broiled eel, which costs 24 yuan. About 80% of the ingredients are procured in China, the company said.

Kura Sushi operates 98 restaurants in the U.S. and Taiwan and plans to grow to 400 locations outside of Japan by 2030. ...continue reading

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As of November 4th, the Japan Meteorological Agency announced that a tropical depression near the Caroline Islands is expected to develop into a typhoon within the next 24 hours. The system is separate from Typhoon No. 25 (Haiyan) currently near the Philippines and is projected to move northwestward once it intensifies.

China’s Foreign Ministry announced that it will extend visa-free entry for Japan, France, and 43 other countries until the end of December 2026, as the government seeks to attract more overseas investment and tourists amid a prolonged economic slowdown.

Japan’s record-breaking bear crisis has entered a new and deadly phase, with authorities confirming that a 79-year-old woman missing in Akita Prefecture was found dead in the mountains, believed to be the 13th fatality from bear attacks this year.

An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed at a poultry farm in Eniwa City, Hokkaido, prompting authorities to begin culling operations on Sunday afternoon.

Japan’s worsening bear problem has prompted calls for national intervention, but legal and operational barriers have complicated the government’s response. In 2025, bear attacks have reached record levels, leaving 12 people dead—double the previous high of six fatalities in 2023.

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