SUBSCRIBERS
Japan's old-style coffee shops unfazed by Starbucks' success
Published Sun, Nov 9, 2014 · 09:50 PM
'%3e%3cpath%20d='M20.7725%2026.9924C20.9555%2026.9924%2021.1297%2026.953%2021.2951%2026.8741C21.4604%2026.7953%2021.6346%2026.6694%2021.8177%2026.4965L27.8373%2020.8125C27.9848%2020.6752%2028.0865%2020.5353%2028.1425%2020.3929C28.1985%2020.2505%2028.2264%2020.1183%2028.2264%2019.9962C28.2264%2019.869%2028.1985%2019.7343%2028.1425%2019.5918C28.0865%2019.4494%2027.9848%2019.3095%2027.8373%2019.1722L21.8177%2013.5417C21.6142%2013.3484%2021.4375%2013.2098%2021.2875%2013.1259C21.1374%2013.042%2020.9708%2013%2020.7877%2013C20.5181%2013%2020.2981%2013.0916%2020.1278%2013.2747C19.9574%2013.4578%2019.8722%2013.6765%2019.8722%2013.9308V16.8147H19.6509C18.2827%2016.8147%2017.1014%2017.0258%2016.107%2017.448C15.1127%2017.8701%2014.2963%2018.4805%2013.658%2019.279C13.0197%2020.0776%2012.5466%2021.0402%2012.2389%2022.1668C11.9312%2023.2934%2011.7773%2024.5612%2011.7773%2025.9701C11.7773%2026.3006%2011.8575%2026.5537%2012.0177%2026.7291C12.1779%2026.9047%2012.3597%2026.9924%2012.5632%2026.9924C12.7259%2026.9924%2012.89%2026.9593%2013.0553%2026.8932C13.2206%2026.8271%2013.3693%2026.6719%2013.5016%2026.4278C13.9441%2025.5936%2014.4553%2024.9413%2015.0351%2024.4708C15.6149%2024.0004%2016.2838%2023.6685%2017.0417%2023.4752C17.7995%2023.2819%2018.6693%2023.1853%2019.6509%2023.1853H19.8722V26.0998C19.8722%2026.3591%2019.9574%2026.5728%2020.1278%2026.7406C20.2981%2026.9085%2020.513%2026.9924%2020.7725%2026.9924Z'%20fill='black'%20fill-opacity='0.85'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3crect%20x='0.5'%20y='0.5'%20width='39'%20height='39'%20rx='19.5'%20stroke='%23F2F2F2'/%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_715_28555'%3e%3crect%20width='16.4491'%20height='14'%20fill='white'%20transform='translate(11.7773%2013)'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e){kind=small}
Tokyo
ABOVE the converging crowds at the famous Shibuya scramble crossing in Tokyo glows the unmissable bright green sign of Starbucks, a magnet that pulls in a steady stream of hip, young Japanese.
The American coffee company is so popular in Japan that it recently announced plans to buy out its Japanese partner for US$900 million and take full control of operations in its second-largest market.
'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M35.1847%2014.0422L9.37867%2024.1703C8.88772%2024.363%208.86989%2025.051%209.35015%2025.2688L15.0551%2027.8567C15.2097%2027.9269%2015.327%2028.0594%2015.3778%2028.2212L17.8255%2036.0078C17.9491%2036.4009%2018.4247%2036.5534%2018.7539%2036.3054L23.0143%2033.0968C23.2178%2032.9435%2023.4961%2032.9364%2023.7072%2033.0787L30.8526%2037.8975C31.2091%2038.1378%2031.6951%2037.9339%2031.7732%2037.5114L35.9896%2014.7059C36.0747%2014.2456%2035.6206%2013.8712%2035.1847%2014.0422Z'%20fill='%23FDFEFF'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M15.3125%2027.9998L30.4162%2018.627L19.3691%2029.3628L19.548%2033.3966L18.9531%2036.1248C18.3783%2036.7236%2017.9297%2036.2772%2017.8477%2036.0662L15.3681%2028.178L15.2734%2028.0233L15.3125%2027.9998Z'%20fill='%23C8DAEA'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M18.3594%2036.4259L19.3511%2029.3447L23.519%2032.9856C23.303%2032.9612%2023.1588%2032.9863%2023.0268%2033.0859L19.0712%2036.0718C18.6289%2036.4572%2018.4297%2036.4455%2018.3594%2036.4259Z'%20fill='%23A9C9DD'/%3e%3cdefs%3e%3clinearGradient%20id='paint0_linear'%20x1='33'%20y1='7.5'%20x2='19'%20y2='36.5'%20gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse'%3e%3cstop%20stop-color='%231E96C8'/%3e%3cstop%20offset='1'%20stop-color='%2337AEE2'%20stop-opacity='0'/%3e%3c/linearGradient%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
BT is now on Telegram!
For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to t.me/BizTimes
Lifestyle
Former Zouk morphs into mod-Asian Jiak Kim House, serving laksa pasta and mushroom bak kut teh
Massimo Bottura lends star power to pizza and pasta at Torno Subito
Victor Liong pairs Aussie and Asian food with mixed results at Artyzen’s Quenino restaurant
If Jay Chou likes Ju Xing’s zi char, you might too
Mod-Sin cooking izakaya style at Focal
What the fish? Diving for flavour at Fysh – Aussie chef Josh Niland’s Singapore debut
