Society

Fast food chains expanding in central Tokyo

Dec 08 (NHK) - Japanese sushi and hamburger chains are opening new outlets in Tokyo despite the coronavirus scourge. They are counting on rising demand for quick bites and take-out food to boost revenues.

Leading chain Kura Sushi plans to open six new restaurants by next October in areas such as Shibuya and Shinjuku. They are central transport hubs with heavy foot traffic.

The chain hopes to attract new customers, including office workers.

With pubs and restaurants being forced out of central Tokyo, vacant premises are easier to find.

The Japan Foodservice Association says the restaurant industry as a whole suffered a 5.7 percent drop in sales in October compared with a year earlier.

However, sushi chains and other fast-food businesses saw their revenues rise by 1.8 percent.

Another sushi chain is planning to open small stores in central Tokyo with service limited to take-outs.

The Mos Burger and Denny's family restaurant chains have also set up take-out only outlets in Shinjuku.

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