How a Japanese Sushi Chef Helped End Somali Piracy by Converting Pirates Into Fishermen
At its peak between 2009 and 2011, Somali piracy recorded more than 200 attacks per year, according to data tracked by international maritime agencies. Cargo ships faced hijackings, crews were taken hostage, and ransoms reached into the millions of dollars. The response turned global, and the United Nations passed resolutions.
NATO, the European Union, the United States, China, Russia, and others sent naval forces, while Japan deployed Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers and later established a permanent base in Djibouti. By 2012, the numbers dropped sharply. Escorts, patrol aircraft, and defensive tactics made piracy harder and riskier, and the money dried up. But this created a new problem: thousands of young men who had relied on piracy suddenly had no income.
Enter The Sushi Executive
Kiyoshi Kimura built his reputation running ‘Sushizanmai,’ a Tokyo-based chain known for high-volume tuna purchases and loud marketing stunts at fish auctions. He also spent decades building supply relationships across ports that few restaurant owners ever visit.
While discussing fish sourcing in interviews, Kimura spoke about repeated trips to East Africa and conversations with Somali fishermen, including men who once participated in piracy. What stuck with him was that piracy paid because fishing did not. When naval pressure removed piracy as an option, nothing replaced it.
Turning Enforcement Into Opportunity
Image via Getty Images/SteveDF
Kimura’s involvement focused on commerce. Through local contacts, he helped arrange fishing boats, basic training, and a buyer willing to pay for tuna caught legally. The pitch was simple: fish instead of hijack, and support families without risking prison or death.
This was significant because military crackdowns alone rarely hold long-term peace. Security experts often describe post-conflict stability using the framework of disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration. Remove weapons, break armed groups, and create jobs that make returning to crime irrational. But governments struggle with the last step because private buyers rarely step in. Thankfully, Kimura did.
Did This Actually End Piracy?
Claims that one businessman wiped out Somali piracy do not survive scrutiny. The decline had already started when Kimura’s activities became visible. Naval escorts, onboard guards, and regional surveillance explain the collapse of attacks.
Kimura simply helped reduce the odds of piracy returning. Enforcement removed the profits. Fishing restored an income. Without that second piece, former pirates faced pressure to shift into other crimes once patrols eased.
His role earned formal recognition. In 2013, the government of Djibouti awarded Kimura a medal for contributions tied to regional maritime security. It was an acknowledgment that economic stability plays a role that warships cannot fill.