Kunihiko Tanaka

EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2026 finalist, Japan
President and Representative Director, Kura Sushi, Inc.

Kunihiko Tanaka is focusing on quality and sustainability to change how families enjoy sushi.

Kunihiko Tanaka has transformed how the world experiences sushi. When he founded Kura Sushi, he set out to take luxury food that was once reserved for special occasions and make it accessible to everyday families. He pursued this vision without compromising on quality. Today, his vision has helped the company grow into a conveyor-belt sushi giant with more than 700 locations worldwide, including 551 in Japan and 146 overseas.

Kunihiko was early to recognize that innovation could redefine tradition. He shifted sushi dining from counter seating to family-friendly booths and pioneered reservation systems, tableside touchscreens and automated operations that today serve as industry models. Kura Sushi’s proprietary hygiene, time-tracking and production technologies have made the company a leader in food tech.

Health and sustainability have guided Kunihiko’s philosophy from the start. The company eliminated artificial additives and pioneered whole-boat purchasing, buying entire catches directly from fishermen. This both reduces waste and spotlights underused species, introducing consumers to new fish varieties. Kura Sushi even developed organic farmed fish designed to match the flavor and quality of wild-caught seafood.

Beyond its domestic success, Kura Sushi became the first Japanese restaurant company listed on NASDAQ. Its US locations now outperform major global chains in revenue per square foot, making it a top performer in the American market.