
Following restrictions on overseas travel caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Kura Sushi—a chain of sushi restaurants—was faced with a problem: it became difficult to purchase tuna based on on-site examinations. In July 2020, therefore, Kura Sushi made a decision to safeguard the quality of its tuna. It announced it would establish a new, remote style of purchasing that utilized TUNA SCOPE. It would use AI that had mastered the skill of tuna examination to attempt the first-ever online examination from Japan.
AI Tuna, its new product, would go on to become a massive hit, selling in excess of two million plates’ worth of sushi; it also attracted international attention, with reports from Reuters and other news agencies in 57 countries around the world. TUNA SCOPE has helped usher in the digital transformation of the fishing industry and turn the challenges of COVID-19 into a business opportunity. Here, we report on its developments thus far, and prospects for the future.