Trump sushi – US president invests in Japanese chain

US President Donald Trump reportedly bought shares in the US subsidiary of popular Japanese conveyor-belt sushi operator Kura Sushi, according to a regulatory filing, Japan’s Kyodo News reports.
The disclosure, filed with the US Office of Government Ethics, showed a purchase on February 2 of shares in Kura Sushi USA valued somewhere between $1mn and $5mn.
The company is listed on the Nasdaq exchange and is also found all over Japan, and Taiwan.
Founded in 1995 in Osaka, Japan, the company expanded internationally with its first overseas outlet opening in Taiwan in 2014. Today it is seen as a “tech-enabled” sushi chain, using automation to reduce labour costs and increase efficiency by way of a revolving conveyor belt sushi delivery system and tablet-based ordering system. Diners have the possibility of winning prizes after inserting used plates into a slot system.
The Trump filing covers transactions between January and March and shows Trump trading a wide range of equities, including Nvidia, Amazon, Boeing, Microsoft and Oracle. According to reports, US and European media have reported that total transactions over the period ranged from $220mn to $750mn.
While sitting US presidents are permitted to hold and trade stocks while in office, though they are required to disclose activity meaning that there is nothing fishy in the investment. The White House has denied any conflicts of interest, according to the reports.
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