Press Release
Cool Japan Fund Inc.
Tokyo, December 8, 2014
Investing in a restaurant business to communicate
Japan’s incredible food cultures in major Western markets
Cool Japan Fund announced the decision to invest approximately 700 million yen andarrange a credit facility of 1.3 billion yen for Chikaranomoto Holdings Co., Ltd. towards theopening of Hakata Ippudo branches in major Western cities. This funding will also be used
to establish “central kitchens” which would serve as development platforms available forother Japanese restaurant companies that wish to expand overseas.
Cool Japan Fund anticipates that this project will evolve into a model for other Japaneserestaurant businesses in the competitive markets of major Western cities. Cool Japan’s aim
is to support the establishment of a wide range of Japanese food brands, including excellent
sake, in addition to helping create a larger fan base and providing more support for the global
expansion of the Japanese restaurant industry.

Offering ramen, sake and other drinks, and sides that include typical Japanese snacks.
The Sydney location operates under the “ramen dining” concept (Photo provided by Chikaranomoto)Since last year, Japanese cuisine or “washoku” has received a great amount of attention fromaround the world as it was registered on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible
Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and it is expected that interest will continue to rise in therun-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
However, a number of issues must be resolved in order for Japanese restaurant businesses
to expand their operations overseas, particularly in the West, due to differences in foodculture, the cost of opening branches, and difficulties in employee education andprocurement.
Hakata Ippudo first started in Fukuoka as a ramen restaurant. Since founding their firstoverseas branch in New York in 2008, the company has further expanded its operations,mainly in Asia. Their European operation, however, did not manage to flourish until recently.
The first European branch was opened in London in October this year, and the company islooking into accelerating full-scale expansion into the Western markets.
Cool Japan Fund announced the decision to invest approximately 700 million yen andarrange a credit facility of 1.3 billion yen for Chikaranomoto Holdings Co., Ltd. towards theopening of Hakata Ippudo branches in major Western cities. This funding will also be used
to establish “central kitchens” which would serve as development platforms available forother Japanese restaurant companies that wish to expand overseas.
It is expected that “ramen-dining,” a unique business model created by Chikaranomoto
Holdings to serve lots of side dishes adjusted to local food preferences, plays a key role inhelping to spread Japanese food culture by distributing Japanese beverages like “sake” ininternational markets.
Chikaranomoto aims to share the knowledge gained from their global expansion with otherJapanese companies by offering consulting services and hopes to contribute to theinternational expansion of the Japanese restaurant industry as a whole.
Through these efforts, Cool Japan Fund aims to establish a strong “Japanese Cuisine” brand,
increase the numbers of Japanese food fans, and help develop Japan’s food industry.

[About Chikaranomoto Holdings Co., Ltd.]
Established: October, 1986
Business Domain:
Operation of Hakata Ippudo and other restaurants and bakeries, consulting services
regarding ramen and other eating/drinking establishments, farming corporation, foodproduction, operation of research facilities, operation of a flour-based foods facility, foodeducation, cooking classes.
Location of Head Office: Yakuin 1-10-1, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka
President and COO: Toshiyuki Kiyomiya
Website: http://www.chikaranomoto.com/english/）◆Contact for details regarding this document:
Cool Japan Fund

Tel: +81(0)3-6406-7500