The Story of the Commercial Kitchen Equipment 'Sushi Machine', Born From Many Challenges
Completion of the first Sushi Machine (1981)
Sushi Machine
Achieving the elasticity of the human palm
The first and current models of the Rice-Serving Machine Fuwarica
Sushi and rice balls are becoming commonplace around the world
Japanese manufacturer SUZUMO is striving for the popularization of food culture and the evolution of its 40-years of sushi machines
NAKANO-KU, TOKYO, JAPAN, February 9, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Suzumo Machinery Co., Ltd. has announced the story behind their development of the machines, which represents the implementation of the passion” put into their machines as they approach their 65th anniversary. SUZUMO has been spreading Japanese food culture around the world through the development of its "Sushi Machine" and "Rice-Serving Machine," which are used by restaurant chains and supermarkets in over 90 countries. Their products are not simply labor-saving machines. Behind their creation lies turbulent times, confrontations with sushi chefs, and a passion to "enrich Japanese Food Culture."
- The passion and vision poured into the machines
These days, delicious sushi can easily be found on street corners all over the world. Supporting this now common occurrence are SUZUMO’s two main products: the "Sushi Machine" and the "Rice Serving Machine (Fuwarica)." These products, which shape rice balls and serve rice in place of humans, are not only tools for efficiency, but every aspect of their design reflects the founder Kisaku Suzuki's mission to "protect Japan’s rice-based food culture," his concern about the changing social climate, and SUZUMO’s vision of "Delivering “Deliciousness” and “Warmth” to the world."
- Repeated challenges lost to history
When SUZUMO was founded in 1961, it was a producer of confectionery manufacturing equipment. A turning point came in the 1970s, when rice consumption was declining due to the rice production reduction policy. The founder resolved to "rediscover the value of rice and turn sushi, which was then an luxurious dish, into a popular food that anyone could enjoy." However, development proved to be a challenging task. Along the road to creating the product that is now used all over the world, there were countless unrecorded challenges and hands-on trials and errors in the field.
- Challenging the idea of “we can do it ourselves”
Initial reactions to development were lukewarm with people wondering why they needed an expensive machine to do something they could do by hand. However, the decision was not simply a technological innovation, but a "challenge" to spread food culture itself. SUZUMO received a particularly harsh reaction from sushi chefs. When a sushi chef was asked for advice regarding the first prototype, he said “this isn’t sushi, this is a dumpling.” It was believed that it was nearly impossible to recreate the "exquisite texture that makes rice balls melt in your mouth" with a machine.
- Five years blindly searching for the elasticity of the palm of a hand
A year passed after the sushi produced by the first prototype was dismissed as "a dumpling." When the second model was finally completed, sushi chefs dismissed it as "still too hard." At first, the development team blindly focused on the question of "how to replicate the elasticity of a human palm, with no obvious answer in sight. A breakthrough came with the unusual idea of attaching an urethane-based rubber with sponge-like elasticity to the metal part that comes into direct contact with the rice. This change in mindset, "making a machine with the softness of human skin," led to the completion of the first sushi machine in 1981, which was approved by the artisans. It had been five years since development originally began.
- A part that melts at 90°C and a broken hinge the day after an exhibition
The "Rice Serving Machine (Fuwarica)," released in 2003, also faced a series of difficulties during development. While the Sushi Machine handles sushi rice at around 40°C（104°F）, the Fuwarica handles freshly cooked white rice at over 90°C（194°F）. The temperature was so high that the resin parts would initially turn brown, become brittle, and crumble. Condensation also frequently led to failure of intricate parts. After the machine was finally completed and unveiled at an exhibition, one of the hinges on the machine's lid broke the next day. Despite these difficulties, the development team resolved all of the strict demands from the sales team and completely redesigned the machine, eventually achieving a design that could withstand use in a 24-hour store.
- Each grain examined with tweezers to achieve the texture of “powdered snow”
SUZUMO wanted beyond automation, striving for a taste that surpassed food made by hand. Founder Kisaku Suzuki's vision was "a fluffy presentation like powdered snow." The development team worked extremely hard to recreate this ideal texture. To ensure that the rice dispensed by the machine was not damaged, each grain of rice was picked up with tweezers and visually inspected to confirm that the cross-section was not crushed and that no "broken rice" had formed. It is this "obsession with each grain" that forms the foundation of Fuwarica's technology, which enables rice served by machine to taste better than rice served with a paddle.
- “Machines are merely means to an end,” the motive behind SUZUMO’s commitment
SUZUMO is often thought of as a manufacturer of machines, but they assert that they "want to spread sushi even further and enrich the eating experience” and that “machines are merely a means to that end." This strong desire drives their commitment to not only producing precision machinery, but also to the value that lies beyond, such as how the machines change the way clients run their stores and how they delight those who taste their food.
- Looking to the future; how Suzumo remains on top both locally and abroad
While the world faces serious labor shortages and rising food prices, SUZUMO continues to take on new difficulties, fueled by a desire to be a reliable partner that customers can approach first in the food industry. By combining robotics technology with AI and other systems, they aim to become a partner that goes beyond the kitchen, supporting the entire restaurant operation. The passion that began with the dream of "popularizing sushi" in 1981 has evolved, and their new mission is "supporting the global food infrastructure."
Company Information:
Name: Suzumo Machinery Co., Ltd.
Address: Nakano Central Park East 6F
4-10-1 Nakano, Nakano Ward, Tokyo
Home page:
https://www.suzumo.co.jp/ (Japanese)
https://www.suzumokikou.com/ (English)
https://suzumoamerica.com/ (North American site)
- Delivering “Deliciousness” and “Warmth” to the world
SUZUMO developed the world's first sushi machine in 1981 and has since become a leader in rice processing machines. Their machines are widely used for a variety of dishes, including sushi, rice balls, and rice bowls, in over 90 countries around the world. They sit atop the market both globally and domestically for sushi and rice-serving machines. (Source: Fuji Keizai, Labor shortage and Potential Demand & Consideration on Automated Robots, Sales Quantity and Value in 2022 for Sushi Machines and Rice-Serving Machines.) SUZUMO has also attracted much attention in the industry, being honored at 20th Foodservice Awards 2023 (sponsored by The Foodservice Journalists' Club). As the restaurant industry faces serious labor shortages, Suzumo Machinery Co., Ltd. is actively working to solve these difficulties by making significant contributions to streamlining restaurant operations. In recent years, SUZUMO has strived to provide comprehensive solutions for restaurants through innovative products and services, including the "S-Cube (Super Compact Sushi Machine)" released in 2024, the automatic seating AI system "ARESEA," and the AI image recognition system "VisREGI" to released in 2025. Inspired by their motto of "Delivering “Deliciousness” and “Warmth” to the world," SUZUMO is constantly pioneering new food businesses by quickly identifying and proposing solutions to increasingly diverse food needs.
SUZUMO-PR
Suzumo Machinery Co., Ltd.
suzumo-pr@suzumo.co.jp
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