Tokyo - There is no country more gastronomic and passionate about food as Japan. Tea-making is a semi-religious ritual, pastry chefs can gain rock star status and people can queue for hours to buy courgette-flavoured macaroons or the first special mushrooms of the season.
According to Michelin guides - in 2007 Japan restaurants was awarded an unprecedented 191, more than they have bestowed on any other city. And now the new guide, Michelin Guide Tokyo 2008.
Japan's food obsession runs deeper than the huge array of top quality of restaurants. More than one third of Japanese commerical television is devoted to food-related themes, from wacky eating competitions to earnest cooking programmes. On a per-capita basis, inner Tokyo (pop. 8.5m) boasts the highest concentration fo eateries among the world's major cities - just under 200,000 according to the Japanese government, compared with about 20,000 restaurants for Paris and 23,000 restaurants for New York City.
Japan now draws more Michelin-starred chefs than any country apart from France.
This simple reason for this dine-out culture is Tokyo's population density: People tend ot live in small places, entertain rarely at home and eat out frequently. Entertainment expenses are still generous in Japanese business and Tokyo's vast financial industry.
Ref: Financial Times "However you slice it, Tokyo has taste" - 24 Nov 2007
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