THE obsession with Japanese cuisine continues unabated in Singapore, as any hope of a travel lane opening to the most-wanted destination fades with every new Covid variant. The high-end market is where all the action is, as diners play fastest-fingers-first or exhaust personal connections to get a seat in any sushi or kappo eatery.

It's a demand that Japanese chefs and food and beverage (F&B) investors are enthusiastically tapping into, as many of the former are wooed away from their workplaces to strike out on their own, with generous financial backing. We're seeing new players in town too, brought in to bring fresh perspectives to the local scene. From this month, there are at least 5 new restaurants to explore, from destination Japanese dining to sushi, tempura and yakiniku. Let the fight for reservations begin.

Imamura is located in a renovated chapel at Amara Sanctuary Sentosa. PHOTO: IMAMURA