Trump buys huge stake in popular Los Angeles conveyor sushi chain

President Donald Trump has added an unexpected company to his investment portfolio — an Irvine-based sushi chain known for serving dishes on conveyor belts, for robot servers and anime-themed prizes.

Financial disclosures released this week show Trump purchased between $1 million and $5 million worth of shares in Kura Sushi USA earlier this year, according to Bloomberg. The move quickly drew attention from investors and diners alike, sending the company’s stock climbing more than 5% after the investment became public.

Kura Sushi USA, which is controlled by Japan-based parent company Kura Sushi, operates more than a dozen locations across the Los Angeles region, including restaurants in Little Tokyo, Koreatown, Sawtelle, Arcadia, Glendale, Sherman Oaks and Torrance.

The restaurant brand has built a following around its fast-paced “revolving sushi” concept, where plates of nigiri, rolls and side dishes travel through dining rooms on conveyor belts. Customers can also place custom orders using touchscreen tablets, with food arriving through a second “express” lane often described by the company as a “bullet train.”

Kura markets the experience as “eater-tainment,” combining traditional Japanese dishes with arcade-like elements.

After diners finish a certain number of plates, they can win prizes tied to Japanese pop culture franchises, while drinks are sometimes delivered by robotic servers. Menu offerings range from bluefin tuna and salmon roe to more unconventional items, like crispy rice hot dogs and cod fish tacos.

The company traces its roots back to Japan in 1977 before expanding aggressively in the United States. Analysts say the US arm of the business has posted strong recent performance, particularly in California markets where demand for casual Japanese dining continues to grow.

Trump’s financial disclosure showed thousands of trades made during the first quarter involving major corporations including Nvidia, Apple and Amazon, though representatives for the Trump Organization have maintained that the president’s assets are handled independently through outside financial institutions.

“A spokesperson for the Trump Organization has said all of the president’s assets are managed independently by third-party financial institutions responsible for all investment decisions, and that neither Trump himself, his family nor the company is involved in making trading decisions.”

News of the investment also sparked discussion overseas, with some social media users in Japan jokingly questioning whether Trump had ever actually eaten sushi. Meanwhile, shares connected to the chain’s Japanese parent company also rose in Tokyo trading following reports of the purchase.

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