Japan Centre, the food and retail concept from Shoryu Ramen founder Tak Tokumine, is planning to open further food halls across Europe after entering a new joint venture with Cool Japan Fund - unique funding group which helps support businesses to promote Japanese culture overseas.
Ichiba will be the first joint venture between the two companies, with the first of the new spaces set to open in London next year as part of £3m investment.
Speaking earlier this year, Tokumine hinted that a 14,000sq ft space had been secured for a new venture, with MCA understand that the group was in talks to take space at the Westfield London extension.
The aim of the new joint venture is to set up unique retail spaces across Europe to showcase Japanese food, to help increase the awareness of Japanese food ingredients and brands.
Cool Japan Fund also plans to open food culture showcases in other major cities in Europe.
Each of these spaces will have restaurants, shops and in store experiences and information for customers to understand more about Japanese food culture, cooking and cuisine.
The London showcase will feature different food stations offering fresh noodles, tempura and Japanese street food favourites. As well as a Japanese bakery, sushi and sake bar and a dine-in courtyard.
Tokumine launched a flagship site on Panton Street, just off Leicester Square, in September.
The entrepreneur is also behind London restaurants Ichiryu and Sakagura, as well as the eight-strong Shoryu Ramen chain, which is set to open in Oxford and Shoreditch before the end of the year.
