Number of Japanese restaurants overseas down for 1st time amid China slowdownListen to this articleCustomers line up in front of a restaurant at the Coredo Muromachi commercial complex in Nihonbashi district in Tokyo on Friday. The number of Japanese restaurants operating overseas fell for the first time this year, led by a decline in China. (Photo: Bloomberg)The number of Japanese restaurants operating overseas fell for the first time in 2025, pressured by a sharp decline in China amid its economic downturn, a government survey showed. Nevertheless, China remained the country or region with the largest number of Japanese restaurants abroad in 2025, followed by the United States, with some 26,360 eateries, South Korea at 19,800 and Mexico with 7,430. Based on a Foreign Ministry survey, the report was compiled as the government seeks to expand exports of Japanese food products abroad, with the number of overseas restaurants serving as a key reference for their uptake.

Source: Bangkok Post December 30, 2025 14:10 UTC