News Sushiro to offer virtual conveyor-belt sushi

[thomas]

Sueshiro, which made headlines earlier this year for suing a teenager who posted a viral video online that showed him committing unhygienic acts at one of the chain's outlets, such as putting saliva on a dish of sushi before it was served to another customer, has introduced a large touchscreen to virtually showcase its dishes instead of having plates of actual sushi parading past diners.

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Dubbed Digital SushiroVision, or Digiro, a monitor at each table and counter seat shows animated images of sushi dishes riding around on the conveyor belt that can be ordered. "Digital technology has helped us create a new way to enjoy conveyor-belt sushi," said Kohei Nii, the president of Akindo Sushiro Co., the chain's operator. "Digiro offers a happier and more entertaining dining experience." The move comes after customers became more concerned about hygiene following the COVID-19 pandemic, Nii added. Customers can touch the screen to select what they want, and their orders will arrive via the conveyor belt. Digiro also features family-friendly games that come with prizes. The screen, about 50 centimetres long and 150 cm wide, has been rolled out at the Shinjuku Nishiguchi outlet in Tokyo and the Esaka outlet in Suita, Osaka Prefecture. It will be available at the Tenpaku Yakiyama outlet in Nagoya in October.

Sushiro offers virtual conveyor-belt sushi instead of real thing | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

 

[mdchachi]

That's a good idea. I bet it helps with the impulse purchases. Easier than drilling down in a menu.

 

[johnnyG]

We go to this place now and then. It says conveyor belt, but it's always been different than that. At the tables you order via a touch screen, and then several minutes later your order is delivered on a 'shinkansen'. From where it was made, it zips right to your table, up to four plates on two cars, then push a return button when you've offloaded it. There are two levels to each table, serving multiple tables that way. The cars move fast, it would not be possible to touch one coming past your table to the next group--it would knock things all over.

Larger orders (sets, various soups) are delivered by hand. Their takeout is also good.