A new kaiten sushi bar (sushi bars with moving conveyor belts on which different kinds of sushi are displayed) called Daruma Sushi has opened in Botany, Auckland. It offers to customers seafood selected only from the freshest catches, purchased every morning from the neighbouring fish market. In addition to the standard counter seats typical of kaiten sushi bars, Daruma Sushi also features family seats that can accommodate 4-5 persons in a group seating arrangement. Up to 30 people may avail of the use of the family seats. Daruma Sushi is the first store in Auckland opened by the Japanese food group Kazu Group, which is based in Wellington, New Zealand. It couples an interior featuring a modern, open design with the delectable experience of dining at a genuine Japanese kaiten sushi bar as it is enjoyed in Japan. So whether you are dining alone, or with friends or family, come and enjoy this unique dining experience! Sushi connoisseurs will be pleasantly surprised to discover treasured seafood and ingredients not commonly found in New Zealand.

With a wide smorgasbord of seafood and toppings on offer, as well as a $5 set meal for kids, there is no doubt there will be something for everyone to enjoy! The restaurant provides ample parking space for diners, but be prepared for some congestion during weekends. Dining at a kaiten sushi bar, you simple select the kind of sushi from the revolving display. Prices range from $2.80 to $5.00 depending on the color of the plate on which the sushi is displayed. It is also possible to request specific ingredients or toppings so there will always be something to satisfy even the pickiest diners! A typical meal for one will be priced around $20 to $40. Daruma was a Buddhist monk who is credited with being the founder of the Zen sect of Buddhism. In Japan, Daruma dolls are round dolls depicting the image of a bearded man (Daruma). They have symbolic meaning to many people. Daruma dolls are generally displayed as talismans of good luck, good fortune in business, or to ward off danger, and are often given out as celebratory or congratulatory gifts.

Because they stand back up even after being rolled over, the dolls have become a symbol for success and overcoming adversity. The eyes are normally also blank when sold. The recipient of the doll fills in one eye (with black ink) upon setting a goal, and fills in the other eye upon achieving it. In this way, the Daruma doll acts as a motivation to do whatever it takes to meet the goal.Sushi Ninja Ken and Sophie Kurota will be opening a sushi Ninja Express in Centre City next year after crowdfunding $250,000. New Plymouth will get a sushi conveyor belt restaurant after $250,000 of investment was raised in a little more than two weeks.Sushi Ninja owners Sophie and Ken Kurota launched an online crowd funding initiative on November 30 to raise between $150,000 and $250,000 to open a second store inside the Centre City Shopping Centre.The initiative was due to run until January 16, but two large investments of $90,000 meant it reached its goal on Monday afternoon. Crowds lined the street for St Pierre's Sushi, which opened earlier this month in New Plymouth.

Sophie said they were relieved the fundraising had finished so quickly.READ MORE: * Couple turn to crowdfunding to open sushi conveyor belt restaurant * Hundreds queue around a busy New Plymouth street for a free sushi lunch * Pizza, pulled pork, pressure cookers - food trends that made 2016 memorable * St Pierres Sushi to set up shop in New Plymouth * Cafe chat: New restaurant lets you meet the meat you are about to eat "We wanted to have a relaxing Christmasjapanese sushi rice cake musubi press mold maker The investment had started off smoothly, with $11,000 raised within the first hour but had slowed down as the weeks went on.jiro dreams of sushi hebSophie said it was "very nerve-racking especially when there are periods when there's not a lot coming in, and sort of up and down".sushi grade ahi tuna calgary

It was associates from Auckland, who run similar shops to the one the Kurotas want to open, who invested the large sums that got them across the line.sushi grade fish vonsSophie said they were both amazed at the response from their customers, with many of them pitching in with small amounts.sushi at home yuki gomi "That feeling alone is worth anything really, that they believe in us and we will be a success," Sophie said.jiro dreams of sushi waitlistThe couple had originally set five tiers for investment ranging from "ninja", starting at $500, up to 'emperor", which was set at $25,000 and above. Each dollar was matched with a non-voting share in the company.After talking to the Auckland investors, they also added a "Golden Buddha" tier which was set at $90,000+ and had voting shares.

The various tiers also came with different bonuses including meal vouchers, private sushi workshops and free drinks for life.According to the investment memorandum, they expected to distribute 80 per cent of the profits to shareholders each year, with the other 20 per cent reinvested back into the company. Sophie said investors would be able to re-sell their shares if they found a willing buyer, but they had explained at the various investor's information nights that they expected them to be in it for the long run.The new shop, called Sushi Ninja Express, will be be situated on the second floor of Centre City above the food court and construction is planned for early next with an opening date sometime in late February or early March.It would feature a conveyer belt around the open plan kitchen so diners would be able to see the sushi being made, with plate prices starting from $2.80.Sushi conveyer belts were popular in Japan and around the world but the restaurant would be the first of its kind in New Plymouth.Sophie said there had been some people who missed out on investing in the business because of the large pledges, but she said they were looking to franchise the business in the future and there would likely be other opportunities available.