Photo/Illutration A Gusto restaurant in Tokyo (Hisashi Naito)

Skylark Holdings Co., a major restaurant group, has begun developing a line of specialty onigiri rice balls and plans to test their popularity at restaurants this autumn.

The company believes that if high rice prices cause people to avoid eating the staple food at home to save money, it could create a business opportunity for restaurants, said Makoto Tani, Skylark Holdings chairman.

In September last year, Skylark Holdings raised the prices of rice dishes at its flagship chain restaurant Gusto, as well as its Jonathan’s and Bamiyan restaurants, following an accelerated rise in rice prices, but customers haven’t switched to wheat flour dishes such as pasta.

“Customers want to enjoy delicious rice dishes, especially when dining out,” Tani said.

The company is currently developing a slate of premium onigiri, emphasizing where the rice was grown and using exclusive ingredients to stand out from standard convenience store offerings.

Skylark Holdings plans to introduce the rice ball menus on a trial basis at some of its restaurants this fall, and if they prove popular, expand sales nationwide.

The company isn’t worried about procuring rice at the moment, since it has long-term contracts with farms through its wholesaler and other suppliers.

Onigiri are a staple takeout food at convenience stores and bento shops. Recently, specialty onigiri stores offering premium rice balls have also been on the rise.

The major restaurant chain’s new menu could make onigiri a common offering in restaurants.

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