Restaurant Owners Uncorked - By Schedulefly

Koji Kanematsu, the founder of Onigilly Japanese Kitchen, who shares his nearly 20-year journey of introducing Japanese rice balls to the American market. Transitioning from a background in tech startups, Koji applied a systems-oriented approach to transform a 2008 street cart into a growing franchise brand. The conversation covers his early challenges securing funding as an immigrant, the strategic pivot from urban business districts to suburban shopping centers during the pandemic, and his "Panda Express" vision for making onigiri a mainstream, healthy fast-food staple. Koji emphasizes the importance of balancing data-driven tools with human instinct and selecting franchisees who are driven by a passion for the product rather than just financial gain.10 Key Takeaways Identify a Market Gap: Koji founded the business after realizing he couldn't find the healthy, quick, and affordable lunches he enjoyed in Japan while working in San Francisco. Systems-Driven Scaling: Influenced by his tech background, Koji