Kisshokichi

What Kisshokichi does

Kisshokichi (吉祥吉) is the consumer-facing brand of Kissho Group (吉祥グループ), a privately held Japanese restaurant operator founded in 2008 in Kobe by Chairman Akagi Kiyomi. The group's primary activity is operating 47 Kobe-beef specialty restaurants across six Japanese prefectures (Kobe, Osaka, Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Akita), serving approximately 620,000 customers per year and holding the No. 1 market share for Kobe beef handling among restaurants. Locations span multiple dining formats — teppanyaki counters, yakiniku, sukiyaki, shabu-shabu, steak, ramen shops, and casual counters — under several sub-brands including KOBE BEEF 5STAR, KOBE BEEF RED ONE, Kobe Beef Daichi, Kobe Beef Eikichi, Kobe Beef Amami, Kobe Beef Stone Oven Kirara, and Kobe Beef Ramen Yazawa.

The core operating model is built on whole-cow purchasing (一頭買い) of certified A5-rank Kobe beef, combined with in-house processing of all cuts and direct relationships with producers and distributors (including Nakanishi Ranch). This supply-chain configuration is the group's central technical and economic capability, enabling price points that span from ¥100 croquettes to ¥50,000 course meals using the same procurement pipeline. Secondary capabilities include a stone-oven (石窯焼) cooking method using far-infrared radiation at 400+°C, in-house Kobe beef bone-broth ramen production (16-hour simmer), and an e-commerce presence on Amazon Japan and Rakuten for both beef products and the group's original Bordeaux-rouge wine.

The business model is primarily B2C restaurant dining, supplemented by online product sales and inbound tourism / travel-agency partnerships. Pricing is per-cover unit across multiple tiers with Pay-as-you-go billing; revenue is generated one transaction at a time across formats ranging from casual (Kobe beef croquettes, nikujyu rice bowls, ramen, street-food stalls) to premium (private-room courses, teppanyaki counters, banquet seating for up to 100 guests). Marketing and acquisition rely on Google's organic reviews ecosystem, a YouTube brand channel (Kobe Beef Tourism Club), LINE stamps, the official Kobe tourism / Vissel Kobe / Kobe Luminarie sponsorships, and direct relationships with tourism agencies that embed group restaurants into inbound tour itineraries. The company is privately held, does not disclose financial statements, and reports no outside venture-capital or private-equity investment.

Name

Kisshokichi

Legal name

吉祥グループ株式会社

Website

https://www.koubegyuu.com/

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Kisshokichi (吉祥吉) is the restaurant arm of privately held Kissho Group, operating 47 Kobe beef specialty restaurants across six Japanese prefectures — the largest Kobe beef handling share in Japan — serving ~620,000 diners annually via direct-to-consumer dining, tourism-agency partnerships, and e-commerce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Japanese Beef Restaurants

NAICS

Restaurants and Other Eating Places (72251)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Steakhouses & Seafood Restaurants (THAFACAE)

Keywords

• Kobe beef restaurants
• Teppanyaki steakhouse
• Japanese yakiniku dining
• Wagyu sukiyaki hotpot
• Beef ramen noodles

Headquarters

HQ city

Ashiya

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Restaurant Dining: In-person dining at 47 Kobe beef specialty restaurants across Japan. Revenue generated from a la carte menu items and course meals. Includes various dining formats: teppanyaki counters, private rooms, half-private rooms, and casual seating.
2. E-commerce / Online Shop: Online sales of Kobe beef products and original wine through Amazon Japan and Rakuten platforms

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kisshokichi Group operates 47+ Kobe beef specialty restaurants across Japan offering multiple dining formats — teppanyaki, steakhouse, yakiniku, sukiyaki, shabu-shabu, nikujyu (beef rice bowls) and ramen — all using 100% authentic A5-rank Kobe beef sourced via whole-cow purchasing and processed in-house. The group also sells Kobe beef products and an original wine online through Amazon Japan and Rakuten, serves inbound tourism and travel-agency clients with curated restaurant recommendations, and offers collaboration retail products such as a co-branded yakiniku bento.

Product overview

Kisshokichi Group operates Japan's largest portfolio of Kobe beef specialty restaurants (47+ establishments), offering premium dining experiences through multiple brands and styles including teppanyaki, yakiniku, sukiyaki, shabu-shabu, stone kiln grilling, ramen, and casual wagyu cuisine. The group positions itself as the 'world's most reasonable' provider of top-grade Kobe beef through whole-cattle purchasing and in-house processing. Key brands include KOBE BEEF 5STAR, KOBE BEEF RED ONE, 神戸牛 大地 (Daichi), 神戸牛 栄吉 (Eikichi), and various teppanyaki/yakiniku specialty stores. The portfolio spans six prefectures (Kobe, Osaka, Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Akita) and serves diverse segments from solo diners to groups of 100. Beyond restaurants, the group offers e-commerce sales, proprietary wines, and collaboration bento products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 吉祥吉オリジナルワイン: Original Bordeaux rouge wine created specifically for pairing with Kobe beef, using grapes from Bordeaux, France, and bottled at a winery at the foot of Mt. Fuji.

Products and services

• Kobe beef teppanyaki & steak dining Signature A5-rank Kobe beef steaks served at teppanyaki counters with skilled chefs cooking in front of customers, available in cuts including red meat, premium lean red, special rare cuts, sirloin, fillet, and chateaubriand (110g to 330g portions). Offered across branded locations including Kobe Beef Daichi (神戸牛 大地), KOBE BEEF RED ONE, KOBE BEEF 5STAR, Kobe Beef Eikichi (神戸牛 栄吉), Kobe Beef Amami (神戸牛 天望), and the flagship Kisshokichi Sannomiya (吉祥吉 三宮店). For diners seeking live cooking performance and customizable courses.
• Kobe beef yakiniku (BBQ) dining Korean-style BBQ featuring 100% Kobe beef with various premium cuts including rosu, kalbi, and rare parts such as haneshita and misuji, plus course meals and all-you-can-drink options. For diners and groups preferring table-grilled Kobe beef.
• Kobe beef sukiyaki (hot pot) dining Japanese hot pot dish using A5-rank Kobe beef with the group's original light broth that highlights the meat's natural sweetness and umami, prepared by experienced Japanese cuisine chefs. For diners seeking a refined traditional hot-pot format.
• Kobe beef shabu-shabu dining Japanese hot pot in which ultra-thin Kobe beef slices are briefly dipped in bubbling broth and served with ponzu sauce to complement the meat's delicate sweetness. For diners wanting a lighter hot-pot experience.
• Kobe beef nikujyu (beef rice bowl) Premium rice bowl featuring seared Kobe beef steak layered over rice and topped with onsen tamago (soft egg), positioned as a new Japanese culinary experience popular on social media. For casual lunch diners and visitors wanting a quick premium Kobe beef bite.
• Kobe beef ramen Noodle soup dish utilizing Kobe beef bone broth simmered for 16 hours, combined with Hyogo Prefecture non-pressurized raw soy sauce and Awajishima natural salt for a rich, concentrated flavor. For ramen diners and consumers wanting an accessible-format Kobe beef experience.
• Kobe beef stone oven steak (石窯焼ステーキ) Steak cooked at 400°C+ in a stone kiln (石窯焼) using far-infrared radiation to quickly sear the exterior while keeping the interior juicy, producing a distinctive flavor compared to teppanyaki preparation. Available at select locations including KOBE BEEF 5STAR and Kobe Beef Stone Oven Kirara (神戸牛石窯焼ステーキ 吉らら). For diners seeking the group's proprietary high-heat roasting method.
• Kobe beef online shop E-commerce channel selling Kobe beef products and original wine through the Kisshokichi-branded storefront on Amazon Japan and Rakuten, enabling customers to order premium beef for at-home dining. For retail consumers and gift purchasers outside the restaurant geography.
• Kisshokichi Original Wine (吉祥吉オリジナルワイン) Proprietary Bordeaux rouge red wine developed specifically for pairing with Kobe beef, made using grapes from Bordeaux, France, and bottled at Fuji-sanroku Winery (富士山麓ワイナリー) near Mt. Fuji. Features berry and oriental-spice aromatics with a rich flavor profile. Available at group restaurants and via the online shop in half-bottles. For diners and gift purchasers wanting a wine tailored to Kobe beef.
• Kobe beef yakiniku bento (Kisshokichi × Awajiya 神戸ビーフ焼肉弁当) Co-branded yakiniku bento box priced at ¥1,500 (tax included), developed with bento maker Awajiya (淡路屋) with original sauce jointly created by the two companies' chefs to maximize Kobe beef flavor. Sold nationwide at Awajiya stores. For retail consumers and travelers buying bento at stations such as Shin-Kobe.

Quantifiable outcome

• Kobe beef ranked 5th in World's Most Expensive Foods TOP10
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• ヴィッセル神戸 (Vissel Kobe)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 April 2026吉祥吉グループ is an Official Silver Partner of Vissel Kobe football club. Co-sponsored premium stadium tour campaign offering 15 pairs (30 people) complimentary stadium tours to customers who dine at partner restaurants during the April 29 match against Cerezo Osaka.
• 神戸ルミナリエ (Kobe Luminarie)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 January 2026Participation in the 31st Kobe Luminarie official coupon campaign. Campaign runs January 16 to February 15, 2026. Participating stores (Kisshokichi Sannomiya, Yazawa Hankyu Sannomiya) offer special services to visitors presenting official Luminarie coupons from paid viewing tickets or thank-you tickets.
• 淡路屋 (Awajiya)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2025Collaboration to create 'Kisshokichi × Awajiya Kobe Beef Yakiniku Bento' priced at ¥1,500. Both companies' chefs collaborated on sauce recipe to maximize Kobe beef flavor. Product sold at Awajiya stores nationwide.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Yoroniku (よろにく): Yoroniku is a famous Tokyo-based premium yakiniku restaurant serving A5-grade Japanese beef including Kobe beef, with locations in Nishi-Azabu and other high-end Tokyo districts. It is directly comparable to Kisshokichi in terms of premium-beef positioning and serves a similar business entertainment and special-occasion clientele.
• Bifteck Kawamura (ビフテキ カワムラ): Bifteck Kawamura is a Japanese steakhouse chain headquartered in Osaka offering high-grade wagyu and Kobe-style steaks across multiple locations. It directly competes with Kisshokichi in the premium steakhouse category in the Kansai region, particularly in Osaka where Kisshokichi has 12 stores.
• Kobe Plaisir (神戸プラジル): Kobe Plaisir operates Kobe beef specialty restaurants including a flagship in Kobe's Kobe Plaisir building, offering teppanyaki and steak courses targeted at tourists. It competes with Kisshokichi for inbound tourists visiting Kobe and overlaps on premium A5 Kobe beef menus and teppanyaki service.
• St. Beef House (セントビーフハウス): St. Beef House is a Japanese steakhouse chain offering high-grade domestic beef including Kobe beef across multiple locations. It is comparable to Kisshokichi in teppanyaki and steak formats, targeting families and groups in the mid-premium price segment.
• Nikuya no Daidokoro (肉屋の台所): Nikuya no Daidokoro is a Japanese yakiniku restaurant chain specializing in high-quality wagyu beef with locations across major Japanese cities. It shares with Kisshokichi a focus on premium beef cuts and offers directly overlapping yakiniku dining experiences targeted at casual-to-premium diners.
• Kushi Hachi (焼肉 牛の蔵 Gyunokura): Gyunokura (also branded under Kushi Hachi-type concepts) is a Japanese yakiniku restaurant chain offering A5-grade wagyu including Kobe beef across multiple locations in Japan. It directly overlaps with Kisshokichi's yakiniku sub-brand in product offering and target customer.
• Mouriya (Steak House Mouriya): Mouriya is a long-established Kobe beef steakhouse group headquartered in Kobe, with multiple locations in Kobe and Tokyo offering premium Kobe beef courses and teppanyaki. It is the most direct head-to-head competitor to Kisshokichi in authentic Kobe beef dining, sharing the same supplier base and tourist clientele.

Broad incumbents

• Jojoen (叙々苑): Jojoen is one of Japan's largest premium yakiniku chains with dozens of locations nationwide, offering high-grade wagyu in a more accessible format. It is a broader incumbent that overlaps with Kisshokichi's yakiniku sub-brand and competes for celebratory and business dining occasions, though it does not specialize exclusively in Kobe beef.
• Royal Host (ロイヤルホスト): Royal Host is a large nationwide Japanese family restaurant chain under the Royal Holdings group offering steaks, hamburgers and broader menu items. While it does not specialize in Kobe beef, it is an incumbent in the Japanese beef-steak category and competes for casual family and group dining occasions that Kisshokichi also targets at its lower price tiers.
• Asakusa Imahan (浅草今半): Asakusa Imahan is a long-established Japanese sukiyaki and shabu-shabu restaurant chain with a heritage brand and multiple Tokyo-area locations. It competes with Kisshokichi for special-occasion and tourist diners seeking premium beef in traditional formats, though it is broader in category scope (sukiyaki/shabu-shabu) and does not specialize in Kobe beef.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnJdz6Uw-eE_9RS2RW8L35w
• Xx.com/kobebeefNO1
• Facebookfacebook.com/kisshokichi

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kisshokichi