"The three greatest inventions originated in Japan."
In the early 1990s, a pub in Newport, Wales, United Kingdom, had two innovative (Japanese) creations: Karaoke and Pac-Man game machine, although some customers did not know their origin. Alongside these, the 'kaiten-zushi', or conveyor belt sushi, also has gained popularity in British society, for example, YO! Sushi. This unique dining experience, where plates of sushi travel on a conveyor belt past customers, originated in Japan.
The first conveyor-belt sushi patent was granted in 1962 to "Genroku Sushi", the first conveyor-belt sushi restaurant, marking the beginning of culinary automation and adding an entertainment feel at tables. Over the years, conveyor belt sushi has transcended its Japanese origins, with restaurants worldwide. The circulating sushi restaurants in Japan have been incorporating new technologies such as seat reservation systems, automated takeaway delivery, tablet-based ordering, and non-rotating conveyor belts.
In Japan, Ishino Seisakusho, a company based in Ishikawa prefecture, about 250km north of Kyoto, has significantly manufactured the core technology behind conveyor belt sushi.
As sushi chains expand globally, there has been growing interest in filing patent applications abroad for conveyor systems. A search in the European Patent Office database (Espacenet) using the applicant name "Ishino Seisakusho" resulted in 19 hits. Among them, 13 applications were filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office, three in China, two in South Korea, and one in Hong Kong.
In general, deciding where to file patent applications is crucial for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups. Given the high costs, these entities often prioritize countries anticipating significant sales. This becomes particularly challenging for start-ups with limited financial resources, making investor support essential for protecting their innovative technologies.
Cut and pasted from the Japan Utility model S37(1957)-18529, Mr Shiraishi, owner of Genroku-sushi.