The ¡°Indian curry¡± lunch is a Japanese salaryman¡¯s treat. Two or three mildly spiced dishes, paired with unlimited quantities of slightly sweet and extra fluffy naan, typically with a small salad and drink ¡ª a steal at only ?1,000 ($6.40) or so.
This isn¡¯t Japanese curry rice but another variation, one that, like its British equivalent, has been entirely adapted to the local market. Indeed, most ¡°Indian¡± places ¡ª thought to be north of 4,000, more than the number of McDonald¡¯s ¡ª are actually run by Nepalese.
But concerns are rising that the curry lunch might be under threat, along with 24-hour izakaya pubs and other food service businesses increasingly dependent on foreign labor. With the sector already facing the strain of inflation, migrant workers and owners are now being squeezed by limitations on visas.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.