While Russian President Vladimir Putin's love for judo is probably not the sole reason, Muscovites nowadays need not go scurrying around their city to find a place that serves Japanese food.
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| Russian staffers at Japanese restaurant Yakitoriya in Moscow welcome customers in samurai attire. |
Japanese fare appears to be one of the latest trends to hit Russia's capital, as Russian entrepreneurs view the opening of sushi bars or Japanese restaurants as a new opportunity to make money.
According to sources in the local restaurant industry, nearly 100 restaurants in the city have something Japanese on their menus, a dramatic rise from the 10 or so just two years ago.
Yakitoriya's first store, which opened in August last year, has its Russian staffers dressed as samurai, with signs in kanji that read "Tokyo Society" and "Health and Beauty" adorning its walls.