From Novice to Sushi Chef in One Month: "Sushi Academy" Launched to Solve Recruitment Challenges

Atom Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture; President: Takeshi Ueda), part of the Colowide Group, has established the "Sushi Academy" in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. This in-house training institution aims to solve recruitment and training challenges for sushi chefs, enabling individuals with no prior experience to acquire the fundamental skills and knowledge to prepare sushi in as little as one month.

The profession of a sushi chef has traditionally been perceived as having a high psychological barrier for younger generations and inexperienced individuals, due to the image of rigorous training and the long time required to master the skills. This has made it difficult to secure personnel. To address these industry-specific recruitment challenges, our company recognized the need to create an environment where young men and women, as well as those without experience, could confidently pursue a career in the sushi industry, leading to the establishment of this academy.

Previously, the training of sushi chefs was often left to individual stores and instructors, leading to issues such as inconsistencies in cooking techniques, including how to form sushi rice balls, a lack of systematic learning opportunities, and unclear timelines for skill acquisition. Furthermore, placing inexperienced staff directly into practical work environments immediately after joining created significant psychological and physical burdens. This highlighted the necessity for a system that allows employees to begin working after acquiring a certain level of skill. Our company has spent approximately one year verifying and improving the educational content, working to build a system for learning correct techniques through a standardized method in a short period. The "Sushi Academy" is the culmination of these efforts.

[Features of the Sushi Academy]

1 Intensive Curriculum to Stand at the Sushi Counter in One Month, Even for Beginners

The Sushi Academy offers a short-term intensive program focused on the fundamental skills required for sushi chefs in the field.

The curriculum covers everything from basic cutting and forming techniques to hygiene management. By emphasizing concentrated practice, it is designed to enable even those with no prior experience to steadily acquire skills.

2 Standardizing Learning and Eliminating Skill Discrepancies

We have organized the techniques and procedures that previously varied by instructor and clarified our company's correct methods. An environment for learning skills through video has been established, and by combining this with in-person instruction, we aim to enhance comprehension and learning efficiency. The program operates on a small-group basis with a maximum of six students per instructor, allowing for guidance tailored to each individual's proficiency. The Sushi Academy is also open to current employees, serving as a place for skill learning and review.

3 The Academy as a Gateway Connecting Recruitment and Training

The Sushi Academy is positioned not as an external chef training school, but as an internal training system initiated by recruitment. Both inexperienced individuals and those with some existing skills can learn our company's standards in the same environment, clarifying "what can be learned" and "to what extent they will be able to perform," thereby reducing anxiety at the application stage. While currently operating in Nagoya, we plan to expand to the Kanto region in the future, working to establish a system that can offer our training program to a wider audience.

Through the Sushi Academy, we aim to create an environment where the next generation can more easily aspire to become sushi chefs, shift the perception of the profession away from arduous training, and foster the development of long-term, successful employees. By resolving technical anxieties, we hope to broaden the perspective of the sushi industry as a whole and secure the next generation of talent.

[Sushi Academy Overview]

- Content: One-month intensive training program covering sushi techniques, hygiene management, and basic theory.

- Target Audience: New graduates, mid-career hires, and existing employees.

- Capacity: Maximum 6 people.

- Address: 2-318 Shiomi-ga-oka, Midori-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi Prefecture

[Company Overview]

Company Name: Atom Co., Ltd.

Headquarters Location: 12F, Landmark Tower, 2-2-1 Minato Mirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, 220-8112

Business Activities: Management of directly operated and franchise food and beverage chains in the Tohoku, North Kanto, Tokai, and Hokuriku regions.

Established: January 1972 (Absorbed Zicto Co., Ltd. on March 26, 2009)

Capital: 100 million yen

Official Website: [URL not provided]

Company Name: COLOWIDE CO., LTD.

Headquarters Location: 12F, Landmark Tower, 2-2-1 Minato Mirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, 220-8112

Business Activities: 1. Restaurant management 2. Procurement, sales, and processing of various foodstuffs.

Established: April 1963

Capital: 43.814 billion yen

Number of Stores: 2,633 stores (as of the end of March 2026)

Official Website: [URL not provided]

The Colowide Group is a comprehensive food industry producer that operates a diverse range of dining brands nationwide, with the corporate philosophy of "Everything for our customers and employees." From izakayas to restaurants, dessert shops, catering services, and food manufacturing and distribution, the group works as one to deliver deliciousness and peace of mind.

Moving forward, driven by our "passion for food," we will continue to strive to create experiential value that allows as many customers as possible to feel "It was fun, it was delicious."

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