Conveyor belt sushi has become very familiar in recent years. What once had the feel of being mainly for families with children has, more recently, come to be loved by people of all ages. When it comes to the special attraction at Kura Sushi, the second-largest player in the industry, that would be "Bikkura-Pon." Through a wide variety of collaborations, Bikkura-Pon is enjoyed not only by children but by adults as well. What are the features of this system? Here we explain Bikkura-Pon, Kura Sushi's entertainment offering.

How Kura Sushi's "Bikkura-Pon" Works

How exactly does the Bikkura-Pon system run by Kura Sushi work?
First, let us explain the system.

When you eat sushi at Kura Sushi, you do not stack your plates; instead, you drop them into the plate-counter water collection system.
Dropping in five finished plates acts like an omikuji (a fortune-drawing lottery), giving you a chance to win a prize.

This system is "Bikkura-Pon," which contributes to Kura Sushi's sales.

The Appeal of "Bikkura-Pon" Lies in Its Collaborations!

Behind Bikkura-Pon's popularity were collaborations with a wide range of cultural properties.

For example, in 2022, a collaboration with the anime "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" was realized.
The explosive popularity of "Demon Slayer" made big news for greatly boosting Kura Sushi's customer numbers.

Beyond that, collaborations with titles such as "Detective Conan" and "One Piece"—capturing not only children but also the younger generation of fathers—have been rolled out many times.

It is not only anime.
Collaborations with Yoshimoto comedians have become talking points, and BT21 goods from the popular Korean group BTS have been offered as prizes, helping to draw in female customers.

In 2023, a collaboration with "SPY×FAMILY" was announced, drawing considerable attention as well.
It may be fair to say that the appeal of Bikkura-Pon lies in the appeal of its prizes.

What kinds of prizes can you win with Bikkura-Pon?
Clear files, can badges, fans, charms, mini figures, and many other items that fans would surely love to collect have appeared.

Since most of these are original Bikkura-Pon goods, they have become objects of desire for fans.
In fact, it is said the number of plates customers order is often a multiple of five.

Fans will want to obtain as many prizes as they can, but do be careful not to over-order sushi.

The Background Behind the Introduction of "Bikkura-Pon"

Bikkura-Pon is hugely popular, but did you know that the introduction of this entertainment was actually born from solving a very practical problem?

Conveyor belt sushi is characterized by plates stacking up after you finish eating.
However, the dislike of leaving dirty, finished plates on the table, and the stress of being seen by others as a big eater, seem to have made this an unwelcome custom for customers.

So Kura Sushi decided to respect these opinions submitted by its customers.

And what was born was the "plate collection system" for finished plates, introduced in 1996.
This plate collection system was very well received because it kept the table tidy during the meal.

This system developed further, and in 2000 Bikkura-Pon, equipped with an element of entertainment, made its debut.

The Impact of Introducing "Bikkura-Pon" and What Lies Ahead?

Kura Sushi currently holds the second-largest performance in the conveyor belt sushi industry.
While the deliciousness and variety of its sushi are significant, there is no doubt that the introduction of Bikkura-Pon and the launch of collaborations have supported Kura Sushi's popularity.

According to research on otaku culture and the economy conducted by the Faculty of Economics at Fukuoka Prefectural University (※1), the market for subcultures such as manga and anime is expanding rapidly, and significant growth is expected going forward as well. (※1)

From the plate collection system, called a renovation of the industry, to collaborations with subcultures.
Kura Sushi could indeed be said to have had foresight.

Going forward, Kura Sushi says it will also consider prizes aimed at adults.
Bikkura-Pon, which puts collaborations with subcultures into practice, will likely continue to be an element supporting Kura Sushi's growth.