JAKE DE PAUL: CONVEYOR BELT SUSHI TURNS 50 >>>

Fifty years ago today Jan Brady was born. The Broadway musical My Fair Lady opened for its first night in London on this date 50 years ago. OK, not exciting.  Here’s the money shot: Conveyor belt sushi was invented 50 years ago today in Osaka, Japan. The first revolving sushi restaurant in the world, called Mawaru Genroku Sushi, opened its doors in April 1958 in what is now Higashi-Osaka. Today, there are thousands of conveyor belt sushi (kaiten sushi) restaurants in Japan.

I’ve been going ’round and ’round on conveyor belt sushi vs. a sushi bar. On the one hand, there’s the entertainment value of watching sushi being made right in front of you, not to mention a reasonable assurance of freshness. On the other hand, when you see something you want on the conveyor belt, you just pick it off the line and eat it. At the end of a meal, a server simply tallies up the colored coded plates you’ve accumulated, along with any extras like beer, soup, sake and you’re out of there quick.

Better take in some more 'round research tonight. After all, it’s a celebration.

LINK: Sushi Revolution, 5225 Tacoma Mall Blvd., Tacoma, 253.475.5559. What happened to their Web site?

LINK: Blue Island Sushi & Roll, 35002 Pacific Highway S., Federal Way, 253.838.5500