Tokyo jumps on vegetarian drive

No animals killed: Customers dining and a dish of spicy glass noodles (below) at the vegan Izakaya Masaka restaurant in the Shibuya area of Tokyo. — AFP

Even on a weekday, there’s a queue at Tokyo’s vegan Izakaya Masaka, including many tourists eager to try meat-free versions of Japanese classics like fried chicken and juicy dumplings.

While millions of visitors have happily savoured Japan’s fish- and meat-heavy cuisine, options for vegetarians and vegans are harder to find.