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The story
Sugakiko Systems, which operates the Nagoya-based ramen chain Sugakiya, announced on October 2, 2026 that it has made Domdom Hamburger — said to be Japan’s first hamburger chain — a subsidiary. The company raised its equity stake to over 50%, though the acquisition price was not disclosed, and Domdom will keep its name and continue to be run by President Shinobu Fujisaki. On 5ch’s Breaking News+ board, posters discussed the contrast between Sugakiya’s stores being heavily concentrated in the Tokai region while Domdom has only a handful of locations even in greater Tokyo, along with their fondness for Domdom’s quirky menu items like the crab burger and the shungiku (edible chrysanthemum greens) burger — mixing surprise and anticipation over the pairing of the two chains.
Sugakiko Systems (Nagoya), which operates the ramen chain Sugakiya, announced on the 2nd that it has made Domdom Food Service (Tokyo), operator of “Domdom Hamburger,” a subsidiary. It acquired additional shares, raising its equity stake to over 50%. The acquisition price was not disclosed. The move is meant to speed up the sharing of store-operation know-how between the two companies and strengthen their business foundations.
Domdom Hamburger is said to be Japan’s first hamburger chain. Even after becoming a subsidiary, Domdom will keep its company name, and President Shinobu Fujisaki will continue to lead its management. Sugakiko Systems reportedly had already taken a partial stake in Domdom Food Service back in December last year.
Sankei Shimbun, October 2, 2026, 18:32
Source: sankei.com / Original article here
What people said
Oizumi Gakuen — isn't that Uga-chan's hometown? (TV announcer Natsumi Uga)
Sounds like Oizumi Ryokuchi (a park down in Osaka) — did one of them rip off the other's name?
Both are here, actually — though the Sugakiya just opened in October.
There's one in Kanazawa-Hakkei. The Mitsukyo and Kamimizo locations closed though.
That's the kind of crazy stuff only Domdom does.
That's still within normal range — come back after you've had the shungiku (chrysanthemum greens) burger.
The president and the company name stay the same.
From Wikipedia:
"The equity stake isn't disclosed, but the largest shareholder is President Fujisaki herself.[15]"
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOCC164DH0W6A110C2000000/
Apparently so.
Since it's Domdom, this must be the GQuuuuuuX version lol (a reference to the Gundam GQuuuuuuX anime)
Domdom employee: "Huh, what do you mean?"
Like putting Sugakiya soft-serve on top of Domdom's karinto manju (fried-dough sweet bun)?
What about First Kitchen and Freshness Burger?
There's a collab with FLABOIS, and Mamiko (the Domdom mascot) is in on it too
https://domdomhamburger.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SNS01.jpg
https://domdomhamburger.com/topics/7642.html
Who's actually buying the collab clothes, though?
Forget some minor chain like that — if you're going to do it, buy McDonald's or Burger King.
McDonald's: "No thanks."
Burger King: "We're doing just fine without Sugakiya buying us, thanks."
Too bad — they already opened ones in Nagatsuta and Honatsugi.
Yeah, Domdom's karinto manju really is weirdly good — it's on a level that beats what you get at an actual Japanese sweets shop.
Nope, it'll just stay "Domdom." There's already a Domdom store open in Osu, Nagoya.
No way — guess I'll have to check it out sometime.
Don't eat the spork itself lol
There's a ton of 'em in Aichi, y'know ("dera" is Nagoya dialect for "really/a lot").
They're everywhere in the Tokai region — there's even one inside Ghibli Park's Morikoro Park.
Among ramen chains, Sugakiya actually has a fairly large number of stores — they're just heavily concentrated in Tokai, especially Nagoya.
Aside from Ohsho and Ringer Hut, the top chain Hidakaya leans so heavily on Kanto that people from Kansai barely know it. Ramen chains in general tend to be intensely regional like that.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HTnZqLGbEAAHaww.jpg
Background and Key Points of the Discussion
Domdom Hamburger is regarded as Japan’s first hamburger chain, but it has shrunk dramatically from its peak, and today only a handful of locations remain even in greater Tokyo, such as the Oizumi Gakuen store. Reactions in the thread were split: some posters said Sugakiya should have gone after McDonald’s or Burger King instead, while many others voiced real affection for Domdom’s quirky offerings like the crab burger, the shungiku burger, and its karinto manju. Sugakiya itself is also a chain whose stores are concentrated in Aichi and the Tokai region, with still few locations in Kanto — the fact that neither company is a nationwide household name fueled comments like “I’ve never even seen a Sugakiya store.” The plan is to keep Domdom’s name and have President Shinobu Fujisaki continue running it after the acquisition, so how much of Domdom’s distinctive character survives will be worth watching.
*This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of the 5ch (Breaking News+) thread “[Breaking] Sugakiya🍜 Acquires Domdom Hamburger🐘.”
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