Sushiro Group's Popular Sushi Izakaya 'Sushi Sake Sakana Sugidama' Opens Its First Store in Nagano Prefecture

FOOD & LIFE INNOVATIONS Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Tetsushi Okumoto) will open 'Sushi Sake Sakana Sugidama Matsumoto Ekimae', the first of its kind in the Koshinetsu region, in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture on Thursday, May 28. With the desire to have more customers enjoy our products, 'Sushi Sake Sakana Sugidama' has expanded mainly in the Kanto and Kansai regions, as well as Kyushu, Tohoku, Chushikoku, Tokai, and overseas, operating 109 stores domestically and internationally (as of April 2026). Now, entering Nagano Prefecture for the first time, we will open a franchise store, 'Sushi Sake Sakana Sugidama Matsumoto Ekimae', in front of Matsumoto Station. At 'Sugidama', we offer sushi and à la carte dishes at affordable prices, maximizing the procurement power of FOOD & LIFE COMPANIES, the same group as the conveyor belt sushi 'Sushiro'. We prepare sushi with a focus on freshness, taste, and appearance, izakaya-style dishes, and our proud selection of alcoholic beverages that pair perfectly with the meals. Sugidama's sushi comes in two types: 'Classic Sushi', where you can enjoy standard toppings like tuna and yellowtail as they are, and 'Extreme Sushi', born from our sincere dedication to sushi. For 'Classic Sushi', you can order from a single piece, as well as assorted platters of 3 or 8 pieces. Sugidama's signature 'Extreme Sushi' includes 'Speaking of Sugidama, Drinkable Salmon', cooked at a low temperature to make it soft enough to drink, and 'Makes You Want to Take a Photo, Thick-Cut 5-Piece Platter', which uses about twice the usual amount of toppings. The signature menu item is the 'Sugidama Potato Salad', modeled after the 'Sugidama' logo. It features minced pickled ginger typical of a sushi restaurant mixed with potatoes, wrapping an egg yolk, and coated with 'Sugi powder' made by roasting sea lettuce, dried shrimp, and breadcrumbs. It also features naming that makes you chuckle, with over 100 items on the menu. As for drinks, we offer over 10 types of local sake, regardless of fame, as well as non-alcoholic drinks. So, not only is it a place to enjoy drinks, but the bright plain-wood interior makes it easy for families to use. Additionally, there is a hand-drawn mural by an artist on the wall depicting Matsumoto Castle, a symbol of Nagano Prefecture. Please come and enjoy our carefully selected products and drinks at 'Sushi Sake Sakana Sugidama', opening for the first time in Nagano Prefecture. Store Overview of 'Sushi Sake Sakana Sugidama Matsumoto Ekimae' - Store Name: Sushi Sake Sakana Sugidama Matsumoto Ekimae - Location: 1-4-8 Chuo, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture - TEL: 0263-88-8135 - Capacity: 88 seats (12 counter seats / 76 table seats) - URL: https://www.sugidama-sushiizakaya.jp/shop/1980/ - Opening Date: May 28, 2026 (Thursday) - Business Hours: Weekdays: 16:30 - 23:30 (Food L.O 22:30, Drink L.O 23:00) Weekends & Holidays: 12:00 - 23:30 (Food L.O 22:30, Drink L.O 23:00) * Images are for illustrative purposes only. Recommended Products Overview (Partial) [Extreme Sushi] Sushi that goes a step ahead, created from a sincere dedication to sushi. Left: Sushi rice using rice vinegar, Right: Sugidama's sushi rice - Product Name: Speaking of Sugidama, Drinkable Salmon - Price: 260 yen (286 yen including tax) * This is a regularly sold item. * Limited quantities sold per day. Cooked at a low temperature, the salmon achieves a melty texture, offering a softness that makes it 'drinkable'. At Sugidama, to pair well with alcohol, the sushi rice is made with a blend of black vinegar and balsamic vinegar, giving it a characteristic dark color. - Product Name: Makes You Want to Take a Photo, Thick-Cut 5-Piece Platter - Price: 1,590 yen (1,749 yen including tax) * This is a regularly sold item. * While we strive to secure sufficient quantities, the number sold per day is limited as fresh fish is used. The sushi toppings, which have such an impact that you will instinctively want to take a picture when they arrive at your seat, are about twice the normal volume, so the umami of the toppings fills your mouth when you eat them. - Product Name: Medium Fatty Tuna, Salted Sea Urchin, Salmon Roe, and Caviar Super Reward Wrap - Price: 390 yen (429 yen including tax) * This is a regularly sold item. * Limited quantities sold per day. * Uses lumpfish caviar. We topped medium fatty tuna, where you can enjoy the melting fat and tuna flavor in your mouth, with salmon roe flavored with our special soy sauce using rich, sticky, intensely flavored eggs, in-store prepared salted sea urchin, and lumpfish caviar. As the product name suggests, it can truly be called a reward