Shows
Franchisor Hot SeatOnigilly | Koji KanematsuMeet Koji Kanematsu, Founder and CEO of Onigilly.https://www.linkedin.com/in/kojikanematsu/
What is Onigilly?
Onigilly is a quick-service restaurant specializing in Japanese onigiri, rice triangles wrapped in nori, filling a gap in the American market for healthy and affordable food. Founded by Koji Kanematsu in 2006, Onigilly offers a streamlined operational model with a smaller footprint and lower investment compared to traditional restaurants.
Partnering with dedicated commissaries for consistent quality, Onigilly operates with a lean staff of four to five employees during peak hours. The brand is currently...2025-05-0630 min
Lettuce WrapThis Country Needs Onigilly, with Koji Kanematsu of OnigillyThe lack of decent lunch options led Koji Kanematsu to launch Onigilly, serving onigiri—traditional Japanese rice balls—to busy American workers. He now has an ambitious mission to build Onigilly into a nationwide chain of at least 500 locations, as a healthier alternative to Subway and McDonald’s. He joins us to share his vision, how his early career in high tech and mobile gaming prepared him for the food business, and why the death of his childhood friend inspires him to always move forward.
The end of this episode mentions the death of Koji’s friend by suicide. If you or s...2019-08-2400 min