A Yoshinoya outlet in Taiwan (Jiji)

Curry, Coffee, and Ramen
Hachiban, whose specialty is ramen noodles, first developed its business in the Hokuriku region of Japan. In 1992, however, it branched out, choosing Thailand as the site of its first overseas restaurant. Hachiban's presence has since expanded to more than 50 branches in the country, where its shops are so ubiquitous that some people say there is not a single shopping center in Thailand that does not have a McDonald's and a Hachiban. The ramen chain has expanded its presence to Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Malaysia, and this summer it opened a branch in Shanghai.

Diners in Hong Kong, meanwhile, now have the chance to sample the distinctive atmosphere and fare of izakaya, Japanese-style pubs, thanks to Monteroza, Inc., one of Japan's best-known izakaya operators. The company, whose domestic chains include Uotami and Shirokiya, has an outlet called Wara Wara located beside the Hong Kong Sogo department store. Encouraged by the restaurant's fast-growing popularity, the company is considering opening another branch by the end of this year in Shanghai.

One of Monteroza's rivals, Watami, has also been busy setting up shop in Asia. It boasts restaurants in Hong Kong and mainland China and is planning to open at least 10 branches in Taiwan.

Consumers in Asia are also developing a taste for coffee from Japan. UniCafé Inc., a Japanese coffee producer, established a joint venture with Mitsubishi Corp. and opened its first coffee shop, Amici Coffee, in Dalian, China. That is just the start, however, as the venture plans to create a franchise network with 100 coffee shops by 2010, beginning in late 2006.

Meanwhile, Ichibanya is a Japanese chain of curry restaurants. Joining forces with House Foods Corp., it plans to open 10 branches in Shanghai within the next three years.

Asian Potential
A number of factors lie behind the Japanese restaurant industry's keen interest in Asia. The expansion overseas has largely been prompted by conditions in the already mature home market. Competition has become intense in Japan's urban areas, squeezing profit margins. Many companies are thus looking to Asia, whose markets offer more growth potential than Japan's. Goto Shiro, Hachiban's president, recently said: "We think it's a better idea to expand overseas, where there are fewer rivals, rather than make futile attempts in fiercely competitive Tokyo."

The future of the Chinese market looks particularly bright. Many analysts believe that the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 and the World Exposition two years later in Shanghai will give a huge boost to China's chain-restaurant market. Additional factors are an expected rise in the number of Chinese eating out due to rising standards of living, plus the increasing number of Japanese expatriates living in Chinese cities seeking a taste of home.

Whether ramen or Japanese-style curry will be fully accepted by people living throughout Asia is yet to be determined. If they do, then these fast-food dishes may join sushi and tempura in becoming world-famous Japanese culinary exports.

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Copyright (c) 2005 Web Japan. Edited by Japan Echo Inc. based on domestic Japanese news sources. Articles presented here are offered for reference purposes and do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the Japanese Government.