GoKawiilSushi Zanmai owner Kimura says he funded Somali fishing boats to curb piracy
Kiyoshi Kimura, owner of Japan's Sushi Zanmai restaurant chain, says that during the 2011 peak of Somali piracy he brought in four fishing boats and offered to buy their catch, aiming to give pirates an alternative livelihood. Somali piracy, which saw 237 ship attacks in 2011 despite patrols by roughly twenty navies, subsequently declined sharply, though it is disputed how much credit his initiative deserves versus naval patrols, armed guards and onshore security changes.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The account highlights how commercial actors, not just military and government responses, framed themselves as contributors to solving a major maritime security crisis. Attribution of the piracy decline remains contested, so Kimura's narrative should be read as one claimed factor among several, including multinational naval deployments and hardened shipping defenses. It also underscores Kimura's broader public image as a figure who intervenes in global seafood supply chains, echoing his record-setting tuna purchases.
- Kimura claims he sent four fishing boats to Somalia in 2011 to offer pirates fishing work instead.
- Somali piracy attacks declined after peaking in 2011, but causes are debated among experts.
- Kimura is also known as Japan's 'Tuna King' for record-breaking bluefin tuna auction purchases.
Source: japaninsides.com, 2026-10-09
Published there as: “Japan's Most Famous Tuna Buyer Says He Turned Somali Pirates into Fishermen”
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