[From Asakusa to the World] The shock of a "5-minute shelf life"! Maki-sushi specialty store "Hand Roll Tokyo" plans to open in Southampton, UK, around May. Special interviews with local franchisees are also being accepted!

■ From the back alleys of Asakusa to the world.
Hand Roll Tokyo, a maki-sushi specialty store operated by kamibito Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Daigo Terakita), will open its first overseas location, the "Southampton Store," in the UK around May, two years after the brand's inception. In the UK, which is currently experiencing an unprecedented Japanese food boom, we will share Japanese food culture with the world as a healthy fast food option.

■ Why the UK now? Explosive demand for "Japanese food x Healthy"
Currently, there is a rapidly growing need for "Healthy Fast Food" in the UK, particularly among the younger generation. Instead of using pre-made, soggy nori, our store uses the highest grade of first-harvest nori from the Ariake Sea (Mats-rank) to achieve the ultimate "crispy texture." This maki-sushi, which we claim has a "5-minute shelf life," offers an excellent PFC balance, including Omega-3 fatty acids from salmon and vitamins and minerals from the nori. Through our unique "labor-free operation system," we will provide high-quality, freshly rolled deliciousness even in the UK, revolutionizing the local diet.

■ About the UK location
The new "Hand Roll Tokyo Southampton Store" will open on the main street (55 High Street, Lyndhurst) of Lyndhurst, located near the port town of Southampton in southern England. This area is a beautiful town where historic British brick architecture harmonizes with rich nature, and it is a very lively street where many locals and tourists pass by every day. Currently, there are no Japanese restaurants in this surrounding area, placing us in a very favorable market environment with few competitors. On a traditional British main street, brand-new Japanese "maki-sushi" will become a one-of-a-kind presence, blowing a fresh breeze into the local food culture. It is an optimal location for people to easily stop by while sightseeing or strolling.

■ New Store Overview
Store Name: Hand Roll Tokyo Southampton Store
Scheduled Opening: Around May 2026
Address: 55 High Street, Lyndhurst, United Kingdom SO43 7BE
Business Hours: 11:00 - 18:30
Payment: Cash, Card
Seating: 2 standing tables
Parking: Paid parking available nearby

Features of "Hand Roll Tokyo," which achieved an unprecedented crispy nori texture

① High-grade Nori
Among the many types of nori, we use the highest grade "Mats" rank, which is carefully roasted from soft, first-harvest Ariake nori. We use nori that is thick, melts in the mouth, and has a flavor and aroma suitable for maki-sushi. We achieve a crispiness that cannot be expressed in pre-made products by serving them freshly rolled.
The catchphrase "5-minute shelf life" indicates the time the nori remains crispy.

② Powdered Soy Sauce
By using powdered soy sauce instead of liquid, you can enjoy the nori in its crispy state.
Also, because it is not overly salty while still allowing you to feel the flavor of the soy sauce, it enhances the taste of the ingredients and the vinegared rice. *Some products use soy sauce-based spices.

③ Size of the Maki-sushi
We serve one hosomaki (thin roll) cut into two pieces. Also, compared to general hosomaki, it contains more than three times the ingredients, so it is very satisfying.
Additionally, because there is less rice, it is perfect for eating on the go or for dieting.

④ Store
Some people may think that a sushi restaurant is difficult for a woman to enter alone, but our store has a cafe-like design, so you can visit with peace of mind. Also, there are benches outside and a small eat-in space inside, so many groups of women and couples use those.

Thoughts on the founding of Hand Roll Tokyo
The idea for Hand Roll Tokyo came from the thought that it would be nice to be able to eat sushi with one hand while watching sports. However, while medium-thick rolls like Eho-maki are delicious, they fall apart and are a bit difficult to eat, so the trigger was to provide a product that is a thin roll with more ingredients.
However, there were almost no maki-sushi specialty stores in Japan, which made me anxious, but I decided to start the business after hearing that there are as many maki-sushi specialty stores in Australia as there are McDonald's stores.
Using Japanese ingredients that we can be proud of to the world, such as nori and powdered soy sauce, I want to develop a Japanese-born fast food chain from Japan to the world. With the desire for not only Japanese people but also people overseas to eat it, we opened the first store in Asakusa in March 2024. Our store celebrated its second anniversary on March 15, 2026. During these two years, we have been featured on major media information programs such as "ZIP!" and "N-sta." The third year is our long-awaited overseas expansion. Looking ahead to further global expansion starting with the UK, we plan to hold an online briefing session for "Africans living in Japan" at the end of April. We will continue to devote ourselves to letting as many people as possible know the goodness of maki-sushi.