Japanese restaurants fight back

THEY may be down but not out. Japanese restaurants may be having an even tougher time than other eateries in the current dining climate, but many are doing what they can to win back customers who’ve headed to Japan where choice is plentiful and cheaper thanks to the falling yen.

While the outlook looks bleak and the casualty count might rise, the winners here are Japanese food lovers who get to enjoy lower prices and other affordable options now and in the coming weeks. In Friday’s edition of BTLifestyle, we talk to restaurant owners about how they’re coping, and where the best places are to get your Japanese fix in between your trips.

Meanwhile, get into the Chinese New Year spirit with our spread on ang pow designs, as we pick some of the most eye-catching red packets to mark the start of the Year of the Dragon. At the same time, we offer some ideas for reunion dinners at home with takeaway options to choose from.

In Arts, we check out an exclusive fine art club that just opened, catering to C-suite clients. And for fans of chef Andre Chiang, get the details on what he’s planning to do in Singapore.

In Dining, get a taste of zen dining at Takahashi, a new sushi joint in Mohd Sultan Road that’s the first Singapore outpost of its namesake in Tokyo.

Get all this and more in this Friday’s issue of BTLifestyle.